Garage Rock

New album: The Sino Hearts || Rock ‘N’ Roll Hurricane

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

The Sino Hearts are based in Bejing, China. They play garage/powerpop/rock-‘n’-roll hits with a punk attitude – it is clear that the band adores Exploding Hearts. The band already has two records under its belt, neither of which was perfect, but both contained several killer tracks. That’s why I am excited by their new release. On Rock ‘N’ Roll Hurricane the band picked the best tracks of both albums, added an exclusive track and pressed them on randomly colored vinyl. Out now on Texas indie label Otitis Media Records. I am definitely buying this.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New EP: Amoeba Earhart || Brain Eater

By / / Garage Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

Amoeba Earhart is fun. The name of the band is a fun corruption of the name of the aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. The band describes their garage pop as “happy, fuzzy, and scuzzy,” or as I would put it: fun. Just listen to Getting Older Sucks, and you will see what I mean. That song is a classic simple and effective protopunktrack. Fun, right? Or what about Too Involved? Fun. Speaking of fun, if you want to sleep tonight, don’t google Amoeba Earhart Brain Eater.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp (Name your price download)

New EP: Vera Bloom || Vera Bloom

By / / Alternative Rock, Garage Rock, Glam Rock, Indie Rock / Leave a Comment

“Tonight’s a good night for making bad decisions,” Vera Bloom sings on the standout track of her self-titled EP, before adding some well-timed “uh huh’s.” Both lyrically and musically, the track feels like a straight-up tribute to the glampunkrock of the Donnas. The rest of the EP sounds completely different. On her EP, Vera Bloom goes from powerballads (Breathe, Love Like Knives), to ’90’s alternative rock (Sharp Shooter), and indie rock (Blue, my 2nd favorite track on the EP). I guess this mix of styles won’t be for everyone, but I am adding Vera Bloom to my artists to watch.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: The Shang Hi Los || “Kick It Like A Wicked Bad Habit”

By / / Garage Rock, Power Pop / 1 Comment

Boston based rock n roll band The Shang Hi Los plays music that could be from one of the many great compilations with 60’s nuggets, only sounding better. It’s all there in their catchy 3-minute sing-along songs: a combination of two good voices, doo-wop harmonies, cheerful guitar riffs and a boosting drumbeat. The only cover – Chicago’s Saturday In The Park – is the weakest track on this EP, that says enough. “Kick It Like A Wicked Bad Habit” is out now digitally and on CD through Rum Bar Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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New single: Reynaldo Jenkins and the Teardrops || Oleka

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Not much more is known about Reynaldo Jenkins and the Teardrops than that they are from Wisconsin (USA) and their music is a mix of doo-wop, garage and punk. But a look at their discography is telling; you will see song titles as Bad Habits, Please for Fucksake, Ten Cent Brain, I Want to Blow Shit Up, I Like a Ketchup, Fuck I OD’d Again and Fuck the Snow (that last one is a Christmas song). You know what to expect, right? In that respect the new (digital) single Oleka is a surprise, because the first song starts with the question ‘Do you love me?’ with a friendly drumbeat in the background. But then you hear a raw throat shouting the answer ‘Can’t you see it in my eyes?’ and screeching guitars coming along, so that the sweet lyrics don’t matter that much anymore. This is all about emotion!

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New Album: Hjelle || Det Måste Inte Vara Så Här

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

Hjelle is the singer for Swedish pubpunkband extraordinaire Bäddat För Trubbel. Det Måste Inte Vara Så Här (It Must Not Be Like This) is his third solorecord. It was released last month by the Swedish Ken Rock Label, but only just arrived on Spotify which is how I discovered its existence. The record consists of 15 short and sweet lo-fi tunes that border between pubrock and rock’n’roll with the occasional and very welcome sax-solo. If you like Bäddat För Trubbel, I am pretty sure you’ll dig this as well.

Add to wantlist: Discogs || Hepcat.se

New compilation: Various Artists || Fakes

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

I’ve always had a weak spot for cover compilations, particularly when the originals are classics and the recreations sound faster, angrier of weirder. So thank you, Drunk Dial Records for asking some of today’s best punk and garage acts to cover their favorite song of fictional artists from movies and tv shows. The result is a highly entertaining compilation. What about Pavid Vermin covering The Beets from ’90’s cartoon Doug? Or Jiffy Marx & kcar doing a delightfully weird version of Sugar Sugar? Or Berwanger doing Welcome to the Dollhouse? What about Careful making this Mitch & Mickey song actually sound good? And bless Charlie Continental for changing Wet Wet Wet’s Love is all Around into Covid’s All Around (“there was a start, there will be an end”). Though I hope this will ultimately get a physical release, it’s currently digital only. There are worse ways to spend $5. And if you need any further encouragement, all proceeds will be divided between the bands and four charities.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

Overlooked single: The Sound Station || The Sound Station

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Thanx to the ever prolific bandcamp label Kafadan Kontak, I came across this killer single by LA garage rnr band The Sound Station. These two songs were part of a split single with The Creepy Crawlies released by Outro Records in 2020. Wanna know why this single is currently at the top of my wantlist? Just check out Give Your Lovin’ To Me.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New reissue: The Paragons || Abba / Better Man Than I

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In 1966 The Paragons recorded the ebullient, melodic, infectious, and danceable song Abba (no, it’s not about the Swedish pop group ABBA). At the time it wasn’t a national (or international) hit, but it’s now seen as one of the best garage rock classics. The track is still played by DJs with taste, and countless bands have covered it (The Satelliters, The Cynics, The Rosalyns, The Madd, etc.). For a copy of the original 45 you have to pay a ridiculously high amount, but the German independent music label Altercat comes to the rescue with the first official reissue of the 7″, an affordable one. The single comes with a 12-page info booklet with liner notes and previously unseen pictures.

Add to wantlist: Altercat || Bandcamp || Discogs

New EP: Drens || Live at Eurosonic 2021

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Despite the corona pandemic, showcase festival Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) has not been canceled this year. Understandably not as usual live with an audience in Groningen, the Netherlands, but online short performances by around 350 European artists can be streamed online these days. Yesterday Drens provided one of the most fun concerts, which can be viewed below. The surf punk four-piece from Dortmund played two songs from their EP Pet Peeves and their new single M vs. D. The show was also released today as a digital album (name your price download). Can’t wait to see some real live shows again, but for now this is a commendable alternative.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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