Niek

New album: Oh Boland || Cheap Things

By / / Power Pop, Punk / 1 Comment

I have to assume I’m not the only one who forgot about Irish hard rockin’ anthemic powerpop band Oh Boland. The band released their excellent debut Spilt Milk six years ago on Volar Records, which made my 2016 AOTY list. After that….[insert tumbleweed.gif]. Suddenly this week, the band dropped their followup Cheap Things. Apparently, the record was recorded not too long after Spilt Milk (in two days!), but major life events put the band in the backseat.

Despite the hiatus, it doesn’t sound like Oh Boland lost any of their intangibles. Loud guitars? Soft-loud dynamics? Hard drumming? Anthemic choruses? Charmingly messy vocals? A wealth of pop hooks? Yep, all still here. And we all are the beneficiaries. If you liked Spilt Milk, you will absolutely love Cheap Things. And don’t say your musical tastes changed in the past six years, because this kind of music will never grow old, especially when performed with the infectious energy of Oh Boland. Songs like Cheap Things, Don’t Make It Easy, and Living Off The Land make me long for sweaty and loud live music, screaming along with friends and strangers.

Cheap Things is out now, and apparently they’ve already recorded their next record. I’ll write about that one in 2028, I guess.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Romero || Turn It On!

By / / Garage Rock, Power Pop, Punk / 2 Comments

Today marks the release of Turn It On!, the debut LP of Melbourne’s finest powerpoppers Romero. It’s a release I’m sure anyone who heard the band’s first single two years ago has been dying to meet. And, I’m pretty sure anyone that fell for that single (Honey) will love Turn It On! front-to-back.

Romero are something else. Listening to their music is like finding your soulmate, there is that instant connection. I only recall having that feeling with one other band in recent years. That was Sheer Mag, who Romero supported at live shows and clearly channel in some of their songs, most notably on the killer title track that is built on soaring guitar licks, groovy rhythm and the electrifying voice of singer Alanna Oliver – watch the video below.

Throughout the record, Romero sounds inspired, powerful and soulful. Some bands have a great singer, others a great rhythm section, and still others crazy good guitarists. Then there are bands that may have great talent, but use that to make something that may bring in money and mainstream coverage, yet sounds sucky. Romero’s Turn It On! is what happens when you put it all together: great talent, chemistry and killer musical taste. I simply love this record, need I say more?

The record includes previously released bangers in Honey, Neapolitan and Troublemaker, and 8 new hits that will sure to get you turn the volume all the way up. It’s on a direct route to the top spot in my AOTY list so far.

Turn It On! is out now through Cool Death Records, Feel It Record with Drunken Sailor picking up the UK/EU release.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New album: Mick Trouble || It’s Mick Trouble’s Second LP

By / / Indie Pop, Jangle Pop / 1 Comment

So here we are. After It’s The Mike Trouble EP, Here’s The Mick Trouble LP, we arrived at It’s Mick Trouble’s Second LP. And like the difference in release titles is minimal, so too is the difference in Mick Trouble’s sound on the three releases hardly noticable. For which I’m grateful, because Mick Trouble (aka Jed Smith of My Teenage Stride and Jeanines) already is possession of the winning formula for creating underground pop hits.

It’s Mick Trouble’s Second LP offers more of the jangly chiming guitars, crisp bass work, hyperactive drums, pop hooks, and Television Personalities worship we’ve come to associate with Mick Trouble. Most of the record is vintage British underground pop that sounds authentically ’80s, but there also some fun exceptions like the Zombiesesque ’60s hit The Bleeding Downs. Currently, my favorite track is Top Of The Flops, a song I’m not ashamed to admit having played five times in a row just now.

It’s Mick Trouble’s Second LP is out now through Emotional Response. You should get it, probably, really, surely.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New album: Angry Silence || Strange Times Call For Strange Measures

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

When a band receives the support of nine labels to release their new record, it must be something special. Strange Times Call For Strange Measures by France five-piece Angry Silence is exactly that.

Musically, Angry Silence – such a great bandname by the way, operate somewhere between underground pop, punk, indie rock, emo, noise and ’90s alternative. Their sound transcends (sub)genres, and the sonic direction of the record is pleasantly varied. One consistency throughout: the realness and heartfelt quality of the music. You need not read the lyrics to know that Angry Silence is a band that cares. About their music, but also about the state of our society.

Strange Times Call For Strange Measures is the kind of record that will take multiple plays to fully appreciate, and patient listeners will reap the rewards. Below I provide two gateway songs that I hope will pique your interest.

If you need any more reason to buy this record, know that it is dedicated to the father of one of the band members. Upon his travel to Peru, the father (Michel) became outraged by the condition of people with disabilities over there. In response, Michel managed to get a collective back home to collect wheelchairs and transport them to Peru in the ’80s – the first of many. It’s Michel that you see from behind on the front of the record cover. The back cover shows the opening of a container full of wheelchairs upon arrival in Peru. So yeah, a social heart is part of the DNA of Angry Silence.

Strange Times Call For Strange Measures is out now on LP for a budgetfriendly price and through nine (!) labels. Find links to the labels through the band’s Bandcamp page (click below).



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New EP: Pomegranate Tea || In Contrast

By / / Indie Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

Eleven months ago, I became a fan of Massachusetts trio Pomegranate Tea due to the sheer quality of their EP Life Is Getting So _______. The band reinforced my fondness with their new six-song EP In Contrast.

On In Contrast, Pomegranate Tea kinda sound like an early ’00s pop punk band. But instead of overdosing on autotune and overdubs, the band adds awesome mathy and twinkly guitar work and pretty sweet dynamics in the rhythm department. With their previous EP I couldn’t decide how to describe the band. I did try though: “A more straightforward version of Braid? A more accessible version of Cap’n Jazz? A more dynamic version of Promise Ring?” With In Contrast, I would say: a more mathy version of Midtown. Even more so, on standout track Margaret, Pomegranate Teas sounds like Midtown meets Los Campesinos.

Rad stuff from a pretty cool band.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Salvaje Lola || Que No

By / / Alternative Rock, Garage Rock, Power Pop / Leave a Comment

Que No is the debut LP by Spanish rockers Salvaje Lola. But from the band’s polished and accomplished sound and accompanying professional video’s, it’s clear that Salvaje Lola has a lot of ambition and desire to appeal to a broad audience. Which makes absolute sense given their level of talent and songwriting aptitude.

To my ears, Salvaje Lola shines brightest when they go for Kurt Bakeresque powerpop-‘n’-roll. Esta Ciudad, Ardiendo and Pareja De Baile are prime examples of songs that contain an equally high amount of hooks and energy. But with Amor En Crudo, Salvaje Lola show they’ve also mastered the powerpop ballad. Que No by no means is a perfect record, however – some of the slower stuff is too pop-oriented for me I guess, but perhaps it will grow on me. Regardless, it contains plenty of bangers I will play often this year.

Que No is out now on Family Spree Recordings.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Limoges || Milan Shakes, Turin Shocks

By / / Power Pop, Punk / 1 Comment

It’s always informative to see which song a band picks as the default song on their Bandcamp release page. In a world of limited attention, time and effort, you’d best make a good first impression. Italian pop punks Limoges could’ve probably picked any song of their new LP Milan Shakes, Turin Shocks, but they picked the absolute best. The Girl I’ll Meet Yesterday may have a title that is grammatically off or technically impossible, but it’s an instant classic in the pop punk canon. It’s the kind of song that will kickstart your heart, especially if you grew up on a steady diet of Mutant Pop, Lookout!, and/or Stardumb Records.

The song also is a gateway to the remainder of the record. I particularly like the middle part of the record with its 1-2-3 punch of Late Night Giaveno’s Perspective, Little Kid From Lucania, and Milan State of Mind. I also love the 80 second appropriately title album closer This Sounds Like The End. Limoges are decidely old school, seemingly unworried about what is hip or cool or happening. They are all about the melodies and the songs, and it shows.

Milan Shakes, Turin Shocks is pop punk bliss. Out now on Hey Pizza! Records (LP), Memorable But Not Honorable (Tape) and Slack (CD).



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Hey Pizza! Records

New album: 1-800-Mikey || Plushy

By / / Garage Rock, Indie Pop, Power Pop, Punk / 1 Comment

Last time we checked in with 1-800-Mikey (aka Sydney-based Michael Barker), he just dropped a fun self-titled EP. The four songs of that EP and nine new tracks together make up 1-800-Mikey’s debut LP Plushy. Barker wrote and recorded all of the songs in the pandemic years, helped out by Kel Mason and Tee Vee Repairmann who picked up their drumsticks on some of these songs.

Plushy builds on the songs of the 2020 EP. Expect lo-fi garagepop that is punky, synthy and super catchy. It’s about guaranteed that 1-800-Mikey will make you bop your head and shake your ass. The record is only 20 minutes long, but feels even shorter. Time flies when you’re having fun, huh?

Physical release expected June 1 in September through Erste Theke Tontraeger (EU) and Under The Gun (USA). Fans of Jacuzzi Boys, Mean Jeans, and Radioactivity should take note.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Erste Theke Tontraeger

New album: Alfatec || A Thousand Tears

By / / Punk / Leave a Comment

My brain made an immediate association with Minor Threat’s Filler when I first heard the opening (and title track) of Alfatec’s A Thousand Tears. Alfatec are an Italian hardcoreband from Firenze, who clearly are inspired by ‘80s American hardcorepunk – in addition to Minor Threat, Adolescents, Side By Side, Wide Awake and a whole bunch of bands that are on the tip of my tongue come to mind.

Alfatec are not lightning fast, and they are unafraid to incorporate some rockin’ riffs in their songs. But ultimately this is throwback ‘80s hardcore, with intense and heartfelt vocals. With their A Thousand Tears album, Alfatec evoke a sense of nostalgia that I don’t mind at all.


Add to wantlist: Streaming only for now

New album: Televisionaries || Mad About You

By / / Blues & Roots, Garage Rock, Power Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

Rock-‘n’-roll dance party starting in 1-2-3-4.

We’ve been looking forward to Televisionaries’ debut LP for quite some time, and that anticipation increased even more once we did a Gimme 5 feature with one of its members (Trevor Lake). Televisionaries (Rochester, NY) are three Lake brothers (Austin, Brendan, and Trevor) backed up by their buddy Aaron Mika on drums. Although they grew up as skateboarding punk kids, they quickly developed a taste for surf music and other early rock-‘n’-roll styles and an obsession with NRBQ, Nick Lowe & The Kinks.

Ultimately, those combined influences have lead to their debut LP Mad About You. It is an absolute blast and a time portal to the dancehalls of the ’50s and ’60s. There is a pureness to the songs on Mad About you, and at no time the old timey surfrock-‘n’-roll of Televisionaries feels inauthentic or filled with faux romanticism. Here’s a band that is not faking it, but using their talents to communicate their love for great rock-‘n’-roll and pop music.

On the dance floor, Televisionaries will challenge you to keep up with the pace of some of their songs (listen to the title track, Ultimatum and Annie), but also offer a swooner in Satisfaction Guaranteed. In between, Televisionaries aim for pop perfection, and with songs like Girls and Over And Out they succeed or, at the very least, come eerily close. Never does the record become too sappy or sugary. Instead, the band is unafraid to give their songs some welcome bite.

The Lake brothers and Aaron Mika sound in perfect harmony on Mad About You. It’s a must own and out now through Nutone Records (a division of Hi-Tide Recordings).



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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