Garage Rock

New album: Jonathan Henley || Dirty Time

A mixture of Cajun folk and garage rock trashabilly influences with a live feel

By / / Country & Folk, Garage Rock / Leave a Comment

Country folk is riveted to garage rock on Dirty Time, the third full-lengther by New Orleans-based singer/songwriter/guitarist Jonathan Henley (Mashed Potato Records), a credible connection with a rusty edge. As a five-piece band, the thirteen songs were recorded in a day and a half, all live, a collage of vintage instruments and engaging vocals. When asked, the artist explains: “Everyone had a blast and the whole process felt like a breeze. Really feel like the album captures that sense of fun and freedom we all felt in the studio.” That’s exactly how it comes across, almost as if you were there yourself, captivating. Although the folk heritage is dominant here, the acoustic garage punk influences—somewhat reminiscent of Violent Femmes—take the tracks to a higher level. A danceable delight, authentic and ardent, bullshit-free.



Dirty Time, recorded with Big Jon Atkinson, is out now digitally (self-released). Featuring Jonathan Henley (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Mickey Nelligan (guitar, fiddle), Bob Ayo (bass), Ben Strong (accordion) and John Lauretta (drums).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Horse Chops || Bureaucratic Tone

"Hey Mr. Headphones, whatcha listening to?"

By / / Garage Rock, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Jangle Pop / Leave a Comment

Canadian indie trio Horse Chops made quite an entrance last year with their self-titled debut EP, not least because of their amazing lyrics. Songwriter Adam Beardsworth (guitar, lead vocals), Neil Targett (bass, vocals) and Craig Caines (drums) are back with the Bureaucratic Tone EP, another four tracks that I can’t get out of my head after just one listen. Lead single Mr. Headphones in particular is a hit for the ages—also an eye-opener for people, like me, who are so curious about what other people are listening to, that they bother them—that is irresistible in both chorus and melody. The other tunes are worthy too, though. This is jangly and fuzzy indie rock with hints of garage psych and dream pop, and enough hooks and noise to appeal to fans and critics alike.


The Bureaucratic Tone EP is out digitally (self-released).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: Taxi Girls || Rainy b/w The Lion’s Share

Montreal quartet deliver the goods with sophomore release

By / / Garage Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

It’s been a minute since we last heard from Taxi Girls, but this all-female power quartet from Montreal (formerly a trio) hasn’t exactly been resting. They’ve been busy sharing stages with acts like NOBRO, NOFX (on their final tour), Lagwagon, The Hives, Pansy Division, and more. For those who missed out on their live shows—or for fans eager to hear what’s next after their strong debut—Taxi Girls have just dropped a fiery new 7″ single, courtesy of Wild Honey and Dirt Cult Records.

Like their debut EP, these two tracks brim with feminist attitude. The title track, Rainy, is a blistering rock anthem that calls out an abusive ex-friend who, frankly, sounds like the worst. With a pointed jab, the band reveals they’re keeping some dirt “for a rainy day.” On the flip side, The Lion’s Share leans into hook-laden garage rock ’n’ roll, showcasing the band’s knack for blending grit with melody.

I can’t help but feel that Taxi Girls are about to pick up a whole carload of new fans with their sophomore release.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Daffodil Pill || Daffodil Pill

A genre-fluid and mind-bending mood-lifter

By / / Garage Rock, Psych, Surf Music / Leave a Comment

Three years have flown by since we were introduced to Daffodil Pill, the eclectic rock band from Wrocław, Poland, who say they are all about breaking boundaries and riding the cosmic wave. They already proved that on 2021’s Yup EP, but even more so on this new self-titled full-length album. In seven songs—two EP tunes return in a slightly different version—we fly through all the colorful suburbs of the psychedelic rock spectrum, from surf to prog and back. The four musicians pull out all the stops in the more than ten minutes of opening track Alien Beach, a wild rollercoaster full of inimitable twists. What follows is a little less exuberant, but just as fascinating, always groovy.



Daffodil Pill’s self-titled album, produced, mixed and mastered by Marcin Bors, is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP, through Interstellar Smoke Records. Featuring songwriter Filip Dudek (vocals, keys, harmonica, vocoder, theremin, sitar), Dawid Stawiarz (guitar), Mateusz Wróblewski (bass) and Adam Chmura (drums, jaw harp).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Interstellar Smoke

New album: Savage Beat || The Singles: 2018​-​2022

Out-of-print singles compilation of Amsterdam's finest street boogie band

By / / Garage Rock, Glam Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

Dutch rock ‘n’ roll outfit Savage Beat is brewing up their next full-length for 2025, but Wap Shoo Wap Records and Longshot Music aren’t leaving fans hanging. They’ve assembled the band’s out-of-print singles into one explosive compilation, and it’s a wild ride through four years of ‘street boogie’ excellence.

The Singles: 2018-2022 plays like a greatest hits collection that never made the charts (but should have). Each track mixes high-octane rock ‘n’ roll with glam swagger and Oi! attitude, creating that signature Savage Beat adrenaline rush. The compilation wraps up with a revved-up take on The Nerves’ power pop gem Paper Doll and a fine rendition of The Boys’ Livin In The City—a perfect dessert to this feast of Dutch rock ‘n’ roll.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: The Active Psychos || Mellow Drama

Eclectic 60s-inspired debut is a fascinating trip full of genre-bending twists and turns

By / / Garage Rock, Psych / Leave a Comment

Bournemouth, UK-based six-piece The Active Psychos storm onto the wantlist with their first full-length album, which not only has a great title—Mellow Drama—and beautiful cover art, but is especially convincing in sound and song structures. It is a melting pot of 60s-inspired styles, which we should probably file under garage psych. The music here is richly textured with guitars and keys bringing their best game, complemented by a mean rhythm section and characterful vocals. The listening experience is like a ride on a vintage train through a burgeoning landscape.

Highlights include the rocking opener Up & Gone (heavenly grooves and an earworm chorus), the gospel-tinged ballad Lord Have Mercy (elegant and timeless) and the country-indebted ditty Makes Sense (a good example of how relatable the lyrics are: “Well I don’t understand what you said when you said what you said last night // So let me be as clear as day ’bout what you said or what said as might // There’s only one thing to say to you // Or least one thing’ll make it plain to you // That what you heard ain’t probably what I meant”). The vinyl version contains a cover of Tomorrow Never Knows (The Beatles), which is not available on streaming services.



Mellow Drama is out digitally and soon on vinyl 12″ (self-released). Featuring Peter Hall, Francesco Lenzi, Andy Pickering, Joe Montague, Graham Gordon and Clare Davies.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || The Active Psychos

New EP: Stu Morris || Cat In The Grass

Seven hook-filled tunes that are effortlessly cool

By / / Garage Rock / Leave a Comment

Stu Morris is a painter—from wood carvings to tattoos, all equally successful—from New Zealand, but he also makes some pretty rewarding music. He just released the hook-filled mini-album Cat In The Grass—with his own cover art of course—featuring seven surfy garage rock tracks that are energetic and infectious. The first words—”My baby don’t dance” (in My Queen)—and the guitar riff that follows immediately hit the mark, and you don’t get a chance to let your attention wane (you don’t want that either). The tunes have the same mysterious charm as Morris’ artwork—raw and colorful, effortlessly cool. And sometimes it only takes 38 seconds to deliver a hit, like in the Bug Club-esque closing track Bay Take Away.



Cat In The Grass is out digitally (self-released).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Continental Lovers || Continental Lovers

Rock'n'roll true believers finally deliver their debut

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

I’ve been riding the Continental Lovers bandwagon since their Dale Arden Vs The World EP dropped in 2022. Back then, an album was promised that same year, but hey – we all know the gap between planning is as reliable as Twitter’s algorithm.

Fast forward to the twilight of 2024, and their self-titled debut finally struts through the door. Here’s something I’ll defend as fact: if you live for that sweet spot where glam meets power pop, where garage rock dances with rock’n’roll, this record is your new best friend.

Sure, most of these tracks have made previous appearances on EPs or as teasers, but having all these gems compiled on a single platter is exactly the kind of gift I’d put on my Santa wishlist. Every song is armed with killer hooks and delivered with maximum swagger. Don’t miss out! CD shipping later this month from Cadiz Merch Store.

Add to wantlist: Cadiz

New album: The Circulators || Insufficient Fun

San Francisco punks fully deliver on the hype of their 2023 demo

By / / Garage Rock, Punk / 1 Comment

Last year, The Circulators’ self titled demo hit the punk rock underground like a bolt of lightning, sparking a fevered guessing game: lost gem from the ’70s or a contemporary band channeling the golden age of punk? When the answer turned out to be the latter, a label feeding frenzy erupted, with Total Punk emerging bloodied but victorious.

Insufficient Fun, which I guess is The Circulators’ official debut, fully delivers on the hype. The band has re-recorded those eight coveted demo tracks with the perfect balance of studio polish and raw fury, proving lightning can strike twice. It’s high-octane, insanely catchy punk that stays true to the original demo while tightening it up. Fans of the demo will also find six new songs to love, with I’m A Waste, Frigid Love, and Trouble Maker as prototypical Circulators material. Catalytic Converter and Brain Dead Hearts slide into classic ’70s pop-punk territory, while Yesterday’s Kids is a standout, showing off The Circulators’ growth; it trades pace for mid-tempo appeal without losing an ounce of excitement, earning a spot among my favorite tracks of the year.

One of the most anticipated punk releases of the year, Insufficient Fun arrives just in time to slam its way into the punk record of the year conversation. This Total Punk release isn’t just essential – it’s a reminder of why we fell in love with punk rock in the first place.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Les Breastfeeders || La Ville Engloutie

Twelve exciting adventures from The Sunken City

By / / Garage Rock / Leave a Comment

Twenty years after their debut LP and thirteen years after their last, Montréal, Québec-based rock ‘n’ roll band Les Breastfeeders is back with an awesome new full-length album, which takes place in La Ville Engloutie (translated: The Sunken City). The underlying idea is that each of the twelve original songs takes us into different rhythmic and stylistic universes, creating unique neighbourhoods, streets, alleyways, doors, rooms, and persons, sung in French and captured in an exciting mix of garage rock and psychedelic folk, with hints of pop, punk and yéyé. Like in standout track On Ne Prête Qu’aux Riches: “Je taille le rouge et le noir // Avec divers privates // Au café où pour se voir // On se reconnait les yeux fermés”—its video below is a guaranteed moment of happiness (I want to have what the tambourine player is having). There’s a lot going on on this record, but it’s all fascinating and danceable.



La Ville Engloutie, recorded and co-produced by Ryan Battistuzzi, is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP, through Bonsound Inc. Featuring Luc Brien (lead vocals, handclaps, guitar), David Deïas (guitar, handclaps, backing vocals), Jocelyn Gagné (bass, handclaps, backing vocals), Maxime Hébert (drums, bongos, guiro, claves, cabasa, carillon, handclaps, backing vocals) and Johnny Maldoror (tambourine, maracas, handclaps, backing vocals), with Thomas Augustin (organ), Étienne Barry (organ), Suzie McLeLove (backing vocals), Anna Frances Meyer (backing vocals), Karine Roxane Isabel (lead vocals, backing vocals) and Ryan Batistuzzi (mellotron, backing vocals) on select tracks.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Bonsound || Discogs

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