Glam Rock

New EP: Big Mess || Terry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

Gimme 5! Kyle Seely (Sheer Mag) and Justin Jurgens (Dust Star, Ingrates) Share Some of the Influences Behind Their Seely Jurgens Band

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

Have Seely Jurgens Band appeared on your radar yet? If not, now’s the time to jump on board before they blow up. The duo—Kyle Seely and Justin Jurgens—previously played together in Sirs (active from 2009 to 2013, with Jurgens on vocals and guitar and Seely on drums). At Add To Wantlist, we’re massive fans of anything these two musicians touch. You might recognize Seely as the powerhouse lead guitarist of Sheer Mag, while Jurgens crafts throwback power pop with Dust Star and delivers glam-stomp’n’roll with Ingrates. So, to say we were thrilled about their new collaboration would be a major understatement.

Seely Jurgens Band only made their debut this year, but they’ve already released two two-song singles (which we covered here and here), and just this Monday, they dropped a live version of one of their early standouts We’ll Try (watch the video below). It is a ’70s-inspired glampoprock gem, featuring smooth-as-silk vocals and killer guitar work—an excellent showcase of how Seely and Jurgens carve out their own space apart from their other projects.

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Gimme 5! Kyle Seely (Sheer Mag) and Justin Jurgens (Dust Star, Ingrates) Share Some of the Influences Behind Their Seely Jurgens BandRead More »

New EP: Kissa || POP // ROCK

Glammy '70s swagger and hooks make for an extremely fun EP

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

“Hey, Pitäskö lähtee, Pitäskö lähtee!” I find myself singing along to the first track on Kissa’s new EP within seconds—without the slightest clue what it means. Time to check the translation. Ah, Do You Have to Go? Safe!

POP// ROCK packs six tracks that battle it out for the title of catchiest pop-rock anthem. Led by untamed rock ‘n’ roller Günter Kivioj, Kissa channels a glammy ’70s sound, cranking up the tempo and injecting these hook-filled tunes with solar-powered energy. The only exception is the classic rock-leaning Jokainen Maaliviiva, but even that feels right at home. Fans of late ’70s pop-punk revivalists like Cyanide Pills and Les Lullies will love the high-speed rush of Kasvot Maitopurkin Kyljessä, while Katoava Kesä is the standout for me—three and a half minutes of garage power pop’n’roll bliss.

POP // ROCK is out now on (mini) LP and CD via Svart Records.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Svart

New album: The States || Gimme Joy

Melbourne's latest rock’n’roll powerhouse delivers swagger, hooks, and attitude.

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

The States gimme joy might sound like a sarcastic four-word statement in today’s geopolitical landscape, but in the world of music, The States live up to it—no irony necessary. The Melbourne band has a lot going for them: they hail from a city with a rich rock tradition, they’re backed by the always-reliable Legless Records, and their lineup includes Joe Imfeld (The Prize, Mr Teenage) and Scarlett Maloney (Tuffy, Delivery). Then there’s the knockout label description: “The States fuse ’60s rock’n’roll and glam rock, laced with hints of doo-wop and country, to breathe an electrifying new sound into Melbourne music with bolts of T. Rex and Suzi Quatro.”

The 7-song mini-album lives up to that promise. The States play with swagger, packing their songs with old-school guitar riffs, thick bass lines, pounding beats, and kickass, powerhouse vocal performances from guitarist Scarlett Maloney and drummer Georgie Harkin. The album kicks off strong with the playful and infectious Johnny, while throwback rock hits like Queen of Mean and View from the Top carry a timeless pull. Meanwhile, Take Me Out and Carol bring an ’80s power pop edge, echoing The Shivvers and Joan Jett.

The States sound like a band built for the big stage, but their raw energy feels even more potent in a packed club on a Friday night. Either way, good times guaranteed. But don’t just take my word for it—hit play and let the music speak for itself.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: Seely Jurgens Band || Island b/w Do You Think We Will Be Alright

Sheer Mag’s Kyle Seely and Dust Star’s Justin Jurgens are on a roll with their new project

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

It’s only been a moment since we first talked about the Seely Jurgens Band—the Ingrates/Dust Star’s Justin Jurgens team-up with Sheer Mag’s Kyle Seely in a collaboration we didn’t see coming but desperately needed. If there was any doubt about the ambition behind this project, their follow-up single shatters it. While their debut dropped quietly with zero fanfare, the new release feels like the band is going pro for real. There’s even a video and a backstory with a touch of The Great Gatsby flair (check out the video below and the full backstory on Bandcamp).

Musically, the two new tracks are siblings to the first single. Seely and Jurgens play off each other like wolf and sheep, delivering an explosive yet sweet combination. There’s a sharp edge to their sound, powered by killer guitar riffs and groovy bass lines. Island has the classic rock feel of a timeless anthem, while Do You Think We Will Be Alright channels early ’70s power pop with ear-pleasing vocals and an authenticity reminiscent of The Lemon Twigs.

It’s rare that a band states explicitly that we can expect more and at a fast clip, but Seely and Jurgens are doing exactly that. And, true story, by the time you’re reading this, they’re in the studio recording the next batch of tunes. SIKED!


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Gyasi || Here Comes The Good Part

Theatrical hooks and fiery riffs fuel a glittering rock spectacle

By / / Glam Rock / Leave a Comment

T. Rex left big shoes to fill, but small-town West Virginia phenomenon Gyasi is working hard on it. After playing around for a while, sharpening skills, tunes and looks, he’s now ready for the real thing, if the title of his new full-lengther is anything to go by. Here Comes The Good Part lives up to its promise with twelve confident songs, ranging from stomping glam (most notable in Sweet Thing, Snake City and Baby Bue) to greasy classic rock (Street Life, Cheap High and Star) and slick sophisti-pop (American Dream, 23 and Grand Finale). The press release describes the record as “a bold exploration of theatrical rock n’ roll” and “a glittery and fun universe filled with infectious hooks and searing guitar riffs” and that’s not an exaggeration. It’s a fearless celebration of good old glam rock’s spirit, full of stadium-sized swagger on platform boots.


Here Comes The Good Part, co-produced by Bobby Holland, is out now on CD and vinyl LP through Alive Naturalsound Records. Unfortunately not available yet via Bandcamp or Soundcloud, but you can listen to the album in more detail via the streaming services.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Bomp! || Discogs

New single: Seely-Jurgens Band || We’ll Try b/w Get Me Off

A glammy soft and hard rockin' treat from two longtime friends

By / / Garage Rock, Glam Rock / 1 Comment

Get a load of this! An Ingrates/Dust Star (Justin Jurgens) and Sheer Mag (Kyle Seely) team-up? Color me excited already! Sheer Mag has been one of my favorite bands of the past decade, and Seely’s guitar work is a huge reason why. As for Jurgens, I’m all in on anything he puts out, whether it’s the power pop worship of Dust Star or the glammy lo-fi garage rock of Ingrates (think Slade as played by Exploding Hearts). Still, I wasn’t fully prepared for the Seely-Jurgens Band (SJB), who quietly dropped their first two-song single earlier this year.

This is full-on ’70s classic rock worship—no surprises there I guess, given the players involved. We’ll Try leans into a smoother glam rock sound than Seely and Jurgens’ other projects, packed with killer guitar work (a treat for Sheer Mag fans) and a softly sung, earworm chorus. Get Me Off hits harder, sounding like it was pulled straight from 50 years ago—a soulfully sung hard rocker that practically begs you to crank the volume all the way up.

Honestly, I need more where this came from.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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