Garage Rock

New album: Death By Unga Bunga || Heavy Male Insecurity

By / / Garage Rock, Punk / 1 Comment

A few years ago I saw Death By Unga Bunga live, along with only a handful of other paying visitors plus some friends of the five band members. Despite the empty hall, the Norwegian garage rockers went all out – those present became lifelong fans on the spot. Good news, therefore, that the band has added 10 songs to their discography. The new album Heavy Male Insecurity rocks as hard as their previous work, but the lyrics show an unexpected side of the Bunga boys: underneath the tough and badass exterior – machismo, swagger and loud guitars – there is a group of five insecure boys. Primed because of that, I thought the lyrics of the third song were about ‘my body and me’, but that turns out to be My Buddy and Me. Either way, it may be clear that the 5-piece don’t want to grow up, yet they have an important message: there’s a place for every misfit in this stupid world even though it might not always seem that way. And for those who are interested in their bodies, there is a picture disc vinyl with “erotic” photos of the band members (only 100 copies available).

Out now through Jansen Records. Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

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New EP: Coastal Surf Club || 難忘的衝浪歌曲 no​.​1

By / / Garage Rock, Surf / 1 Comment

Who would have thought they also play surf rock in China, and pretty good too, as you can hear below. Please meet Coastal Surf Club, who capture the rolling of the waves in 7 instrumental songs of around 2 minutes each. I don’t speak Chinese very well, actually not at all, and since there is no singing that’s not a problem at all, but according to my translation app this music reflects the sound of ocean waves that belong to southern China and become the ghost of spring reverberation in Xiamen.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: The Sorels || Spring Break

By / / Garage Rock, Glam Rock, Punk / 2 Comments

With temperatures of 20 degrees below zero this week, Winnipeg is an unlikely location to birth summertime glammy poppunk. The Sorels are probably hardened by the cold or simply don’t care, because today marks the official release of their Spring Break single. The 7″‘is available in North America through Reta Records, and in Europe through the ever reliable Surfin’ Ki records.


Spring Break! // Can’t Wait! // Summer’s coming // Come On // Give Me A Taste

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New on vinyl: Fun Time Objects || C20/20 GO-GO!

By / / Garage Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

Fun Time Objects have a playful take on garagepoppunk. The songs on C20/20 GO-GO! are bouncy, catchy and full of hit potential. Fans of Pale Lips and Nikki and The Corvettes, and fans of bubblegum punk in general will appreciate this one. For a sample, check out the video for their Ramones tribute Hey Joey. The record was originally released in 2020 as a tape on Fuzzy Warbles Cassettes, but is now also available on vinyl thanks to the kind folks of the GOOD TIMES Rock N Roll Club label. The name of that label basically says everything you need to know about this release. Enjoy!

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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

By / / Garage Rock / Leave a Comment

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

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