Chester County (PA) quartet Log Flume make a splash with Splash Hit!, their debut album that’s way easier to love than it is to Google. Speaking of which, did you know the first modern log flume ride, El Aserradero, opened at Six Flags Over Texas in 1963?
Back to the music! Log Flume blend breezy ’90s power pop with contemporary indie punk in a way that’s bound to melt the hearts of power-pop fans and give geek rockers a confidence boost worldwide. Their sound is polished but packs a punch, with palm-muted guitars trading off with huge, anthemic riffs. The hooks are impossible to escape, and the vocal harmonies will make you want to join in, even if you, like me, are tone-deaf.
Hit play on OMIT and you’ll stumble upon a rockin’ guitar pop anthem that feels timeless. This gem lands early on the album, right where the band fully hits its stride. It’s preceded by the alt-pop standout At Your Leisure, and after it comes another highlight in Wilted Dream.
By the end of the record, even though theme parks aren’t my thing, I’ve become a full-fledged Log Flume fan. A second listen reveals all the nuances — like how opener Angel’s Flight nails the Bandwagonesque-era Teenage Fanclub sound, or how DB Cooper is a punky power-pop delight. The 90-second Rom Pom Pom builds tension for a full minute before delivering its cathartic payoff, and Elevator Up wraps up Splash Hit! with an explosive finish.
The Collect Pond bring a raw, noisy energy to their latest album Lightbreaker, but their subdued, low-mixed vocals and airy song dynamics soften the sharpest edges, creating an intriguing sense of tension throughout. Given the album’s richness, its brevity caught me by surprise — it feels both full and fleeting. This is the band’s third album, and the first one that truly resonates with me. I’m really digging its lo-fi, jangly indie rock vibe and the punchy energy it delivers.
The Collect Pond (Boston) consists of Danny Moffat (vocals/guitar), Roger Maranan (bass/keys), Rob Carrington (drums), and Ben Bonadies (guitar/bass). Lightbreaker is out now on Candlepin Records.
Jeffrey Novak, that name sounds familiar, right? We are dealing with the Nashville-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, with quite a bit of solo work under his belt, but also with bands like Cheap Time, Rat Traps, Savoy Motel and Cookie Jar. Blood Celebration is his latest full-length album, featuring ten original songs that fall somewhere between pop, rock and folk.
Brilliant storytelling and earworm melodies meet a sense of melancholy, spontaneity and intimacy here. This can be explained by the process of creation (do yourself a favor and read the backstory at Bandcamp), because that was a journey that started with a burn-out and writing a book about Jay Reatard, and then ended up with a local drug dealer who got robbed by his neighbor (the inspiration for Wide-Eyed, Innocent, and Free), being struck down by Covid again, and recording at night in the tiny sewing room of the artist’s girlfriend. It led to a timeless record that is fascinating in every respect.
Blood Celebration is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP, through Memorabilia Records and Merchandise. Featuring Jeffrey Novak (vocals, guitar, bass, organ), Jessica Breanne (vocals), Will Mann (harmonies, backing vocals) and Ryan Donoho (drums, percussion).
Not all new music is really new, as many artists cover songs. Sometimes these are songs by their favorite artists, eg as a tribute to such a musical hero for a special reason, or they simply feel that a song deserves to be dusted and polished to reacquaint fans with great songs from the past. Other times, bands cover songs as a parody. Regardless of intent, some of those cover versions are so good or so much fun, we’d like to put a spotlight on them. Chosen from a wide range, here are – in random order – ten of our favorite covers from last month – links to the pages where you can add them to your wantlist included.
You already read our review of Dandy Boy’ Cleaners From Venus tributeTales of a Kitchen Porter today, and earlier that of The Half-Cubes’ Pop Treasures LP, but as always there are many more covers worth sharing.
Yipi Yipi Hey! || Cover: Generador || Original: Chan Romero The title probably doesn’t immediately ring a bell, but this is a raucous cover of the 1959 rock ‘n’ roll classic Hippy Hippy Shake in Spanish. It is the closing song of Generador’s four-track Queremos Diversión EP, out on 7″ vinyl through Discos Marginales and Snap!! Records. Cool stuff by Annie Baby (drums, vocals) and J.Horror (guitar, vocals), produced by Jorge Explosión, unfortunately already over after 01:37.
In Between Days || Cover: Vista Blue || Original: The Cure The Cure returns on November 1st with Songs of A Lost World, their first new album in sixteen years, a good reason to look back at their old work beforehand. Nashville’s Vista Blue picked up 1985 hit In Between Days and poured their characteristic pop-punk sauce over it. It is the opening track of their Be Good EP, which also contains covers of Lemon Demon, Waxahatchee and Lightning Seeds. At the same time, they proved once again that they also write fun songs themselves with the Vista Blue Are The Pop Punk Preservation Society single.
Take On Me || Cover: Pacifica || Original: A-ha Last year, Argentinian rock duo Pacifica — internet friends Inés Adam and Martina Nintzel — released their debut album Freak Scene (via Tag Music). Six of the eleven tracks are now revisited in alternate versions on Freak Scene (Live), supplemented by a cool cover with a rocking rhythm section that catapults this 1985 pop tune into 2024.
Autobahn || Cover: Caleb Fraid || Original: Kraftwerk Almost Halloween Time Records, an independent record label based in Italy that you see on our blog with some regularity, has brought together nineteen of their artists on the compilation AHTung! (subtitle: Eine Sammlung von Sauerkraut). The handmade cover art is a nod to Neu!‘s influential eponymous album from 1972, musically it concerns Krautrock in the broadest sense of the genre. Houston-based DIY artist Caleb Fraid unleashed his lo-fi hometaping techniques on Kraftwerk’s 1974 masterpiece (one of three covers here)—the result couldn’t be further from the electronic original, but it’s quite intriguing, as are the rest of the songs on this collection.
Daniel || Cover: Real Estate || Original: Elton John Earlier this year, New York indie rock outfit Real Estate released their Daniel LP (on Domino Recording Co Ltd). It doesn’t have a title track, so they kicked off their “for Daniels only” release show with a cover of Elton John‘s 1972 hit Daniel. According to BrooklynVegan, the British icon gave it his blessing, reason enough to record a studio version as well. A good story, a good song too.
Baby, I Love You || Cover: The Beatersband || Original: The Ronettes The Beatersband are an Italian trio – Donatella Guida, Leonardo Serrini and Caio Nipi – who have made a trademark of rearranging the 60s girl group style in a punk rock key. As a tribute to Joey Ramone and Ronnie Spector, they just released the album Bad Girl, featuring nine attractive covers, with this one as one of the highlights.
Intergalactic || Cover: ’68 || Original: Beastie Boys Pure Noise Records will release the compilation Dead Formats Volume 3 on October 17th, featuring sixteen loud cover songs (be sure to check out Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 if you don’t know them yet). A few tracks are already available, including Misfits’ Halloween by Cloud Nothings and Pavement’s Harness Your Hopes by Lavalove – very nice – but most notable is this contribution from Atlanta’s noise rock duo ’68 (they made waves last year with their album Yes, and...), delivering 3:48 of musical madness.
Comfortably Numb || Cover: Body Count feat. David Gilmour || Original: Pink Floyd Body Count, the legendary rap metal outfit from Los Angeles fronted by Ice-T, will release a new full-length on November 22nd, called Merciless (on Century Media Records). A six-minute-plus intense cover of Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb, featuring none other than David Gilmour himself (the guitarist, vocalist and songwriter of the British rock band), is already out as a single. Wow.
On the Darkside || Cover: Broken Gold || Original: John Cafferty Broken Gold is an Austin-based punk rock four-piece, who released the Wild Eyes LP last May, and now surprise with a solid and intense cover that excels in heartfelt vocals.
Death Star || Cover: The Hold Steady & Jesse Malin || Original: Jesse Malin As you probably know, New York songsmith Jesse Malin has been paralyzed since May last year due to a spinal stroke. Since then, a lot has happened, and his musician friends have not been idle. With big names like Bruce Springsteen, Billie Joe Armstrong, Dinosaur Jr., Frank Turner, Lucinda Williams & Elvis Costello, Spoon, Susanna Hoffs, Graham Parker, Ian Hunter, Low Cut Connie, Willie Nile and Rancid, no less than twenty-seven of his wonderful songs have been re-recorded. Proceeds from the tribute and benefit album Silver Patron Saints (out via Glassnote Records), will go to his Sweet Relief Artist Fund as a contribution to the artist’s recovery journey. We could have chosen almost any of the tracks, but we embedded The Hold Steady’s successful take on New York Before The War‘s Death Star.
Blitz Vega is the US-based Britpop revival project of Kav Sandhu (formerly of Happy Mondays) and Andy Rourke (The Smiths), who have now finally released their first full-length album after several years of playing together. It will also be their last, as Rourke succumbed to his terminal battle with cancer last year (it had largely been written and recorded before). The Northern Gentleman LP, titled in his honor, sort of documents the duo’s time together. In the ten songs you can hear the creative connection of the duo, but also the challenges and emotions they went through. On its own it is a solid album, inspired by the Madchester sound, with a cool groove and haunting vocals. Standout tracks include Strong Forever (featuring Johnny Marr), Lost Myself (about losing people, trying to find the balance to be able to get on with life) and outlier Pass The Gun (chemical beats, turntablism and a shout-along chorus). To be embraced by both rock and dance fans.
Northern Gentleman is out now on vinyl LP trough FutureSonic Records. Rourke insisted that Blitz Vega also play live—joining Kav on stage are Asa Brown (keyboards, backing vocals), Rex Roulette (guitar), Greg Gent (guitar/backing vocals), George Yelding (bass and Craig Eriksson (drums).
Jersey-based garage rock trio Dribbler – Adam Bouteloup, Benjamin Pearce and Ryan Burnouf-Trow – are back with the song Better Out Here, as energetic and infectious as can be, an instant favorite at Add To Wantlist HQ (it’s not hard to relate to the lyrics: “I saw dark skies and said // This cloud is a war // Sometimes, it’s better out here”). The virtual B-side is an alternate, heavy version of La Fraide Rue, the closing track from their 2021 Biglife! LP—then acoustic and understated, now with electrified riffs.
Better Out Here b/w La Fraide Rue, recorded, mixed and mastered by Nic Dinnie, is out now digitally.
Best Bets’ On an Unhistoric Nightwas my favorite record of 2022, and their follow-up, The Hollow Husk of Feeling, might just take the top spot this year as well. This new album has all the elements that first made me fall in love with the New Zealanders: punchy rhythms, jangly guitars, a touch of angst, and irresistible melodies. Their powerpop is a brilliant blend of Britpop, power pop, New Zealand underground pop, and American indierock (listen to the very Superchunk-like When You Walk Out), created by musicians who clearly own more than a few classic punk records. Best Bets plays with the fervor of a fresh-faced band but delivers their songs with the confidence of seasoned veterans.
The record kicks off with Heaven, an anthem perfect for rolling down the windows and belting out the chorus. Then comes Sylvania Waters, an upbeat, sunny jangle-pop hit that keeps the momentum going. Monster follows as one of those quintessential Best Bets songs, with a verse brimming with nervous energy and a chorus that sticks like glue. By the time we’re three songs in, I’m already messaging my brother Dennis (aka Add to Wantlist’s head honcho) to say this album is shaping up to be a repeat favorite.
And the hits just keep coming. Hairshirt is fueled by infectious organ riffs, Spooky Signals is an earworm you won’t shake, and Autumn Morning is a pure powerpop gem. The Last Grand Prix adds a playful twist, while Pensacola showcases a tight bass and guitar love affair. Then there’s the heartfelt power ballad When You Walk Out, the short and speedy Malaise Era, the rockin’ Pillory Parade, and finally, We Are Prepared, which might just be the most New Zealand-sounding track of the bunch.
Yes, I’ve basically listed every song on the album — and yes, it’s that good. The Hollow Husk of Feeling is out now on Meritorio and Melted Ice Cream, and it’s another scorcher from Best Bets. Don’t sleep on it.
Connecticut-based six-piece Shirese has another album out, called Hardly Cricket, and it’s a pretty cool one. Bill Davidge, George Matthiessen, Kelly Filush, Matt Paolillo, Nicholas Serrambana and Seany Nuelle recorded eleven energetic and enjoyable songs that we should probably label as lo-fi garage psych, but they are distinguished by riffs reminiscent of Cheap Trick-esque classic rock from the 70s. The musicians kick off the new record with standout track New Music, which is right up our alley in terms of both lyrics and sound. Then they take various side roads, where behind every bend another surprise awaits, such as an exciting guitar duel or catchy whoo-hoo harmonies. There’s a lot to discover and enjoy here, and it’s all done so well.
Hardly Cricket is out digitally and on vinyl LP through Grapefruit Records and C/Site Records.
After Joseph Matthew Eagan Witkowski’s career as a professional baseball player ended tragically, Joey Wit‘s career as a gifted songwriter took off. His sophomore full-length Rose Gold consists of ten melancholic songs – folky alternative rock – that explore the different sides of life. It’s a solid album full of atmospheric melodies and ravishing moments, with memorable lyrics (“Giving up this precious life of mine // We’re all riding on borrowed time”), potent vocals and a marvellous rhythm section, expertly produced.
Rose Gold, produced by Mick Connolly, is out digitally via H1 Massive. Featuring Joey Wit (vocals, guitars, bass, percussion), Mick Connolly (guitar, bass, backing vocals, percussion) and Matt Starr (drums), with Clay Selmont, Ricky Byrd, Shaun Flynn, Nathanael Oakes and Jared Schmidt on select tracks.
Kingston, Ontario’s The Meringues are back on stage with their sophomore full-length, Pavlova’s Dog. In eleven dynamic songs, Amanda Pants (vocals), Ted Evans (vocals, guitar, synth), Jackson Baird (bass) and Alastair Morrison (drums) break down the boundaries between power pop, new wave, post-punk and alternative rock. They distinguish themselves in provocative vocal interplay, set to a driving backbeat, richly orchestrated melodies and original hooks. Although the introspective lyrics are quite dark at times (“All the games inside your head // I wanted out but the sand was flowin’ down” – from Outta Time), the album radiates so much passion and joy that a cheerful aftertaste prevails.
Pavlova’s Dog, performed & produced by The Meringues, is out now digitally (self-released).
