Glam Rock

New album: Richard Hamilton || Pop Factory

Summer nights bottled with a 4-track

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Richard Hamilton is a busy bee out of Cleveland. He writes songs, frontlines bands, spins records, and runs the excellent Quality Time Records—this seems like a good moment to plug that Krystian Quint and the Quitters album the label dropped earlier this year.

Given his prolific streak, it feels fitting that his latest solo LP is called Pop Factory. There’s a clock-in, do-the-work mentality to it: don’t overthink, just let the hooks flow. Hamilton’s sweet spot lies right in the Venn diagram of glam, rock-’n’-roll, and pop—and that’s exactly where Pop Factory plants its flag.

Imagine a slightly warped lo-fi tape filled with sun-soaked California vibes. Now imagine it recorded at night, in the heat of summer, under a redwood tree in a backyard studio overflowing with orange and kumquat trees, aloe plants, and divine fauna. That was Bubblegum City Studios—Pop Factory is the last record to come out of it before it was sold and demolished.

The studio may be gone, but the hazy, timeless outsider pop Hamilton captured there lives on.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Sick Things || Too Beaucoup

A rock’n’roll revival done right, no wigs or gimmicks necessary

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Sick Things sound like what happens when you lock four punk kids in a room with nothing but the discographies of Thin Lizzy and Def Leppard, a stack of Marshall amps, and a couple Flying V guitars. Their sophomore LP Too Beaucoup is loud, catchy, and crammed with the kind of big choruses you want to shout along to.

Like fellow Canadian rock’n’roll revivalists Dangereens, Sick Things aren’t aiming for innovation—they’re aiming to absolutely nail a sound, and they do. Waste My Time could’ve easily slipped onto Hysteria (with a little extra bite), while Leave It on the Line would slot in nicely between Jailbreak deep cuts.

I know there are still plenty of rock’n’rollers out there, across all ages, but I’ll admit I’m baffled by how many of them flock to tribute band festivals while original bands like Sick Things are out here delivering the same rush—only louder, fresher, and without the cosplay. To each their own, sure. But for nostalgic souls with an itch for something familiar and new, Sick Things are more than willing to throw them a bone or two. Just drop the needle on the opening notes of Memories—Pete, Keith, Roger, and John would nod in approval.

Now available for streaming, but the band is working on getting it out on vinyl eventually.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: WYLDLIFE || sorted.

Still loud, still cocky, still a damn good time

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It’s been five years, but NYC’s finest leather-clad troublemakers are back with sorted., and WYLDLIFE sound even scrappier, sharper, and more varied than you remember. It’s a ten-song rock’n’roll riot that blends glam swagger, punk bite, and bar-band urgency into one gloriously unhinged and snotty package. The press release describes it as the Stones brawling with The Hives while Johnny Thunders watches with a grin—and honestly, that’s spot on.

But don’t let that fool you into thinking they’re stuck in the past. Tracks like Little Headcase, Dizzy, and Shotgun flirt with ’90s alt-rock and Britpop, showing a band that’s confident enough to stretch out and rock however they damn well please. And when they toss in a smash like Fast Dreams or a glampunk scorcher like MIA M.I.A., I’m all ears.

sorted. is a dynamic, hook-filled LP—an ideal way to kickstart your week(end). Out now on Wicked Cool Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: (Daniel Romano’s) Outfit || Even If It’s Obscure / Sweet Dew Of The Kingdom

A 7-minute epic mystical protest rock opera at 45RPM

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Outfit (or Daniel Romano’s Outfit, if you prefer) follow their wildly enjoyable Too Hot To Sleep LP with a new 7″ on You’ve Changed Records, featuring two “mystical protest songs at forty-five rotations per minute.” It’s a seven-minute time portal to a golden era where rock gods ruled the airwaves and stirred the souls of millions.

Even If It’s Obscure is theatrical and grand, teetering on the edge of classic rock opera. It’s an escapist trip, full of hushed tension and cathartic payoff. Sweet Dew Of The Kingdom feels like a natural extension—an epilogue, maybe—but one that leaves you longing to replay the entire thing.

I’ll be seeing the band for the first time this summer on their European tour, and I can’t wait.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New album: Joni Ekman & Koira || XL4

Let's boogie with these throwback Fins!

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XL4 is Joni Ekman & Koira’s fourth album. Does the XL stands for something bigger than what came before? Well not exactly, it’s more of the same, which is fine by me. This Finnish quartet specializes in old school pub boogie’n’roll, a sound that is very much out of time with what is hip and happening and very much for people who couldn’t care less as long as it kicks ass. Or as the press release mentions: music that is delivered with “100% energy and zero IQ.” Play loud!

XL4 is out now on Svart Records.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Svart

New album: Elvis 2 || Thank You Very Much

A full-body rock-’n’-roll assault from an alternate Elvis

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On an alternate timeline, Elvis Presley is still alive, living in Melbourne, going by the name Elvis II — and he’s mutated into a sleazy rock-’n’-roll punk kid.

The name of his new record is Thank You Very Much, because some catchphrases just refuse to die. The songs are driven by monster guitar riffs slathered in grease — one track is even called Million Dollar Riff, fuhgodsake! – a song originally written by Skyhooks. There are so many fun and dirty riffs here that I quickly lost count. But honestly, trying to keep score misses the point. Thank You Very Much is built for a full-body, below-the-neck experience.

From the unhinged opener to the chaotic closing title track, Elvis II tears it up without ever looking back. Songs like I’m a Dog are as hyperactive as they are infectious, pure unfiltered energy. When I’m With My Brothers could easily be the new theme song for music-loving brothers worldwide — it’s that immediate and anthemic. This record leaves a glorious mess in its wake.

Out now on Legless and Under The Gun, which is all you really need to know: this one’s the real deal.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Under The Gun

New EP: Big Mess || Terry

A cover worth raving about—and two originals that seal the deal

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It’s not like we didn’t already rave about Big Mess’s Terry 7″. The Kirsty MacColl cover that kicks off the single is pure fire—it was our favorite cover song last month for good reason. But let’s not forget: there are two Big Mess originals on this thing, and they crank up the excitement even further.

Here’s a band that writes two- to three-minute ’60s-style pop songs that, once played, explode into 90-second punk rock bangers. Their mix of punk, power pop, and junkshop glam is explosive and downright addictive. If bubblegum was laced with dynamite, it would sound like this.

7″ available now through Specialist Subject Records.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Specialist Subject

New album: Leatherman || Turn You On

This Melbourne band will make your weekend much louder and cooler

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Ready for the weekend? Here’s a record to ease you out of work mode and into something far more fun—a record custom-built for dim lights, loud speakers, and steamy bars. Or, if you’re stuck at home doing chores, it’ll turn your vacuuming into a victory lap.

From their debut single 18 months ago, it was obvious Leatherman were a force. They’re part of a new wave of female-fronted rock’n’roll bands (RIYL Romero, Sheer Mag, R.A.B.B.I.T, A Giant Dog) that channel Thin Lizzy and Judas Priest while clearly growing up on punk. That mix of glam, grit, and guts works wonders here—twin guitars, bass riffs, and strategically placed oohs and yeahs all snapping into place with swagger.

Among the ten tracks are the two songs that originally got me hooked, now joined by more heavy hitters. Heartbeater Cheetah is as glam and catchy as its title suggests, while Slow Motion leans fully into Sheer Magesque classic rock worship. The closing track on the LP is titled Leatherman Rule OK, which breaks the whole “show, don’t tell” rule—but when it’s true, it’s true. The streaming version of the record ends on a steamy cover of Billy Ocean’s Love Really Hurts Without You, because why wouldn’t they? Leatherman, what a band!

Turn You On is out now via Legless Records and This Charming Man Records.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || This Charming Man Records

New album: Los Pepes || Out of the Void

Los Pepes crank up the punk energy on latest LP for Wanda Records

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Los Pepes’ new LP officially drops on April 25th, but I noticed it was already streaming in full this week. Which left me with a dilemma: wait a couple of weeks to write about it or follow the excitement I’m feeling right now? Easy choice—Out of the Void is too good to put on hold.

As on their previous work, the multinational London band expertly navigates the sweet spot between late ’70s pop punk, power pop, and garage rock-‘n’-roll. But if you simply file this under old-school punk rock, that makes total sense too—especially considering the relentless energy of the first four tracks. Then comes Sweet Appeasement, a garage power pop gem that provides a brief but welcome breather. From there, Out of the Void takes some unexpected turns, stretching the band’s sound while staying true to their sharp, high-energy songwriting. And of course, every track still comes with at least one mean hook.


Pre-order Out of the Void now at Wanda Records, Beluga Records, Spaghetty Town Records, and Ghost Highway Recordings.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Wanda Records

New EP: DANGÜS TARKÜS || CHICAGO TO THE VALLEY

Caps lock on and GO! another HIT FEST from Joe Sussman (NANCY, MUFF DIVERS, THE CELEBRITIES)

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My administration is still a mess after renovating and switching homes, but there’s a simple pleasure in discovering amazing stuff buried in my Bandcamp wantlist backlog. Here’s one where the release date on Bandcamp says October 1991, but I’m pretty sure it came out in the past two months or so. It’s CHICAGO TO THE VALLEY, the KILLER, EXTREMELY CATCHY new EP by DANGÜS TARKÜS.

The band is fronted by Joe Sussman (NANCY, MUFF DIVERS, THE CELEBRITIES), who does most of the work with occasional help from friends—this time on drums (AJ), trumpet (DIZZY GILLESPIE), and “barks” (WENDY SÜSSMAN). Sussman’s typewriter is STILL broken, as he STILL writes everything in ALL CAPS. His music lacks subtlety as well, and that’s exactly what makes the five tracks on CHICAGO TO THE VALLEY so irresistible.

The first track says it all: GONNA SMASH IT (IF I SEE YR FACE AGAIN)!—pure budget garage-pop-punk-‘n’-roll straight from the late ’70s playbook. It’s followed by the title track, a slack-ish garage pop hit, the fast and rollin’ DYING IN CLEVELAND, and THIS IS MY STÜPID SONG—which could have been written by Ben Weasel. The EP closes with EVERYTIME WE TALK, a song that seem directly taken from Guitar Romantic.



I live for stumbling upon stuff like this. Music is pretty fun, eh?

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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