Glance is the Brazilian duo of Gabriel and Bruno. I am somewhat perplexed by their debut 4-track debut EP, as Glance doesn’t seem to have made its mind up yet what kind of band they are. Two tracks, Something to Say and Walk Alone, echo the mellow, jangly indiepop style of Mac DeMarco, complete with his signature warped tones. In contrast, We Own The Night delivers lively and punky slacker rock with eggish tendencies. The final track takes yet another turn, drawing inspiration from ’80s UK underground pop.
Whether by design or happenstance, for now I am enjoying all sides of Glance.
Subjangle Records will definitely steal some hearts of fans of that thin line between ’80’s college rock and power pop with their latest release. A Good Past Deserves Repeating And Living Through The Impossible Years offers a comprehensive look at the catalogue of The Impossible Years, including some never-before-heard gems.
If you are unfamiliar with Philadelphia-based The Impossible Years, they evolved from The Jags – to avoid confusion, I am not talking about the UK power pop band from the same era. Led by Todd Shuster (more recently of Cherry Fez fame), this 2CD set is a treasure trove of nostalgia. CD1 (A Good Past Deserves Repeating) features all previously unreleased tracks, while CD2 (Living Through The Impossible Years) includes their Scenes We’d Like To See EP (1985), their self-titled cassette single (1983) and some choice studio sessions.
From the Tony Marsico-produced tracks to 4-track demos, this collection showcases the band’s range and the era’s infectious energy. It’s a blend of college rock, power pop, jangle and garage sensibilities that captures the spirit of the early ’80s guitar pop scene.
I am totally new to The Impossible Years, and loving the glimpse this retrospect of the band provides.
The Junior League is the songwriting moniker held by multi-instrumentalist Joe Adragna who recently released a new three-song single (Nattering Nabobs) and simultaneously announced a new album coming out October 4th called Our Broadcast Day.
Nattering Nabobs open with Skinny Tie, a love letter to classic power pop, both musically and lyrically. Adragna, a true power pop connoisseur, describes the genre with self-aware precision: “Handclaps and harmonies, formulaic to a certain degree.” He lays down the ‘proper’ genre influences in the song as well (“Did you listen to enough Big Star?” and “Bonus points if you reference Shoes).
When Adragna sings “There’s comfort in familiarity,” it’s almost too on the nose. Yet, it’s a great track on a very likeable single. If S.W. Lauden is still looking for content for the next installment of his (recommended!) power pop journal Remember the Lightning, he could simply include the lyrics to Skinny Tie.
On their new album Oyster Cuts, Melbourne’s Quivers diverge further from the jangle pop pack, incorporating smooth synth textures, syrupy slide guitar, and Stonesian riffs. This time, though, the music never overtakes the words — thoughtful and considered as they are. The music itself occasionally feels vaporous as a consequence of this newfound approach, but the added emphasis on lyrics ultimately lends the album its heft. The result is a series of subtle details transmuted into a cohesive and significant work by a band hitting their songwriting stride.
While not musically derivative, Quivers’ primary language is nostalgia.The lyrics are marked by a yearning for past misadventures and expired relationships — both real and imagined. Images of ghosts, smoke, and faded radio signals pervade the album, suggesting our narrator is trapped in a sort of romantic subterfuge. In these ten songs, the object of affection is always just out of reach: “Will you turn into an apparition?” guitarist Sam Nicholson asks adversarially on Apparition, expecting the worst; elsewhere, drummer Holly Thomas has a “suspicion” her dream partner is someone she “dreamt up” on the title track.
Some genre signifiers remain from earlier work (like the arpeggiated leads of If Only and the tuneful harmonies of Pink Smoke), but Oyster Cuts is unmistakably the work of a group with its own identity. Choruses are frequently chanted in unison by the band, sometimes with only a solitary guitar accompanying them, evoking a hymn rather than a radio anthem. And despite the backward looking subject matter, the group never sounds less than grounded, never fully escaping into reverie. To quote Quivers, “nostalgia will kill you” if you let it; the key is to keep a foot in the present.
Three years after their self-titled debut, York’s Cowgirl returns with Cut Offs, a 7-song mini-LP perfectly timed for summer. This sophomore effort delivers breezy vibes that will spark the soundtrack to your much deserved vacation. Whether you call it punchy jangle pop or modern power pop, you won’t be disappointed.
Cut Offs is a great companion to the recent Laughing debut, both showcasing guitar-driven power pop and alt-pop with above-average energy, melody, and songwriting. While comparisons to Lemonheads and Teenage Fanclub are apt, it’s best to check expectations at the door and let yourself be swept away. The beauty of Cut Offs lies in its consistency – if you enjoy one track, you’ll likely love them all.
Some records are simply fun, some records have outstanding songwriting. Cowgirl’s Cut Offs has both. It’s this combination that makes this essential listening.
Out now on vinyl and CD through Safe Suburban Home, with Meritorio handling European distribution.
The Ekphrastics, one of 2023’s standout indie pop discoveries, quickly follow up their excellent debut with another collection of must-hear tunes. This Camden, Maine quartet (Frank Boscoe, Mark Wolfe, Paul Coleman, and John Lancia) continues to impress with their sophomore effort Make Your Own Snowboard.
Song like Amy and Jens charm with gentle strumming guitars, upbeat tempos, and pretty melodies. But it’s the lyrics that truly captivate, compelling listeners to pore over the album booklet. Lines like “A pinball machine based on a hard-rock band. One the concessionaires agreed they could not stand. The first eight bars of their biggest radio hit. Repeats six hundred eight times every shift” (from The Intrepid Concessionaire) showcase the band’s sharp pen and storytelling prowess.
Most of the band’s songs read like short stories – occasionally inspired by true events, like in the case of The Arrival of the Graf Zeppelin and Searching for Lillian Gatlin. Whatever the topic, The Ekphrastics display their special talent for making the mundane sound special.
Make Your Own Snowboard is out now on limited edition CD at Harriet Records.
Boy Deco is the alter ego of Californian musician/composer/beatmaker Joey Briggs. Together with Quantum Keys aka John Gudenzi he has released the intriguing Real Sugar EP, featuring five original songs (two of which return as instrumental bonus tracks) that radiate good vibes. Expect sun-kissed indie pop with jangly guitars, warm synths and Prince-esque vocals, that will raise the temperature to great heights.
Real Sugar is out now digitally via Nice Guys Records.
Not all new music is really new, as many artists cover songs. Sometimes these are songs by their favorite artists, eg as a tribute to such a musical hero for a special reason, or they simply feel that a song deserves to be dusted and polished to reacquaint fans with great songs from the past. Other times, bands cover songs as a parody. Regardless of intent, some of those cover versions are so good or so much fun, we’d like to put a spotlight on them. Chosen from a wide range, here are – in random order – ten of our favorite covers from last month – links to the pages where you can add them to your wantlist included.
The big cover news in July was that Disney announced that Mickey & Friends will release A Whole New Sound, an album featuring Disney hits covered by alternative rock and pop-punk bands, with Elton John’s Can You Feel the Love Tonight (from The Lion King) by Simple Plan as a first taste. Being stubborn as we are, we offer you some other choice cuts here.
How Does It Feel To Feel || Cover: Jody and the Jerms || Original: The Creation Jody and the Jerms mix indie rock, garage pop and punk with a good dose of energy, charm, and hooks, so you’ll understand that we’re fans of the British band. Their new Different SkiesEP (self-released) contains five tracks that are quite different from each other but are all equally attractive, including a wonderful cover of The Creation’s 1967 single, a personal mod favorite.
I Can Only Give You Everything || Cover: The Fadeaways || Original: Them As part of their 2024 Australian debut tour, Japanese garage rock sensation The Fadeaways have released the appropriately titled Pretty Wild LP (out on Cheersquad Records & Tapes), featuring four originals and four covers, a raw and raucous mix of 60s-inspired garage, punk and psych. You can’t really go wrong with any of the songs from Toyozo (vocals, bass), Assman (guitar) and Ozzy (drums), fate decided this one.
Prove My Love || Cover: Monty Vega & The Sittin’ Shivas || Original: Violent Femmes Monty Vega & The Sittin’ Shivas are an old school punk rock outfit from Portland, Oregon. We previously wrote about their albums Affordable Excellence and Closed (No Fun), and we would also like to share their new Little Dilemma EP (self-released) with you. In addition to two nice originals, there are catchy covers of The Moody Blues’ Ride My See-Saw and this track from Violent Femmes’ 1983 debut studio LP.
Teenage Kicks || Cover: Lone Justice || Original: The Undertones London-based alt-country punk outfit Lone Justice – Maria McKee, Ryan Hedgecock and Marvin Etzoni – had their heyday in the 80s, but still sound vibrant and urgent as ever on a brand new 7” (out on Afar). Taken from their upcoming album, the A-side here is a passionate rendition of the indestructible Undertones classic. The flip has a live version of Nothing Can Stop My Loving You, written by George Jones and Roger Miller.
Time (BBC session version) || Cover: The Loft || Original: Richard Hell Nearly forty years ago, Peter Astor, Andy Strickland, Bill Prince and Dave Morgan wrote indie pop history on Creation Records as The Loft. Last October they went back into the BBC’s Maida Vale Studios to record a four-track Riley & Coe session, now released on 10″ vinyl (through Precious Recordings of London). They close with this wonderful jangling cover. Timeless.
Do It Twice || Cover: Joey Quiñones || Original: Bob Marley & The Wailers Los Angeles-based record label My Grito have released the very entertaining charity compilation Mas Alto! Volume 6, featuring 26 Latin-flavored tracks by cool bands/artists such as Harlis Sweetwater, 3LH, The Fazes and Go Betty Go. Largely in the corner of garage rock and skate punk, but actually broader than that, like this sunny Chicano soul cover of Thee Sinseers’ Joey Quiñones.
A Thing About You || The Dahlmanns || Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Norwegian power pop outfit The Dahlmanns are back with the very nice Lucky EP (out on Snap!! Records Spain), which, in addition to the vibrant title track, contains infectious covers of Tom Petty’s A Thing About You (from his 1981 Hard Promises LP with The Heartbreakers ) and Fleetwood Mac’s Blue Letter (from their 1975 self-titled album).
Sha La La La Lee || Cover: Howlin’ Ric & The Rocketeers || Small Faces British rock ‘n’ rollers Howlin’ Ric (Richard Colley) and his Rocketeers (Adam Richards, Ben Powling, Joshua Smout and Will Lakin) are back with another six exciting rhythm & blues tunes, brought together on their digital Covers 3 EP (self-released), which naturally follows Covers 1 and Covers 2 (2020). Especially their live take on this quirky 1966 Small Faces hit is fun.
Wave of Mutilation (Live at Edone, Bergamo, Italy) || Cover: Geoff Palmer || Original: Pixies The 2022 performance of Geoff Palmer (vocals, guitar) with Zack Sprague (drums, vocals) and Kurt Baker (bass, vocals) at Italian summer festival Punk Rock Raduno is now also available on vinyl LP. The live registration of the thirteen tracks has captured the power and fun of these three heroes quite well, with this surprising Pixies cover towards the end of the show.
Shakin’ All Over || Cover: The Raveonettes || Original: Johnny Kidd and the Pirates More than twenty years after their debut, Danish rock duo The Raveonettes provide a nice insight into the bands that inspired them to start making music. On The Raveonettes Sing… (Cleopatra Records) they cover ten of them, including The Velvet Underground (Venus In Furs), The Shirelles (Will You Love Me Tomorrow), The Cramps (Goo Goo Muck), and this one, in which their sound comes out best.
Bonus track:
Walking On Sunshine || Cover: Ice Nine Kills & Reel Big Fish || Original: Katrina and the Waves Sumerian Comics is in full swing with the American Psycho comic series, and if that’s not enough, Sumerian Records is adding a soundtrack. The latest addition is a remarkable cover by metalcore band Ice Nine Kills together with ska punk band Reel Big Fish, both doing their own thing, making this version as overcrowded as it is disturbing. Don’t it feel good? I guess it’s just as ambiguous as the previous book and movie.
Also worth mentioning: Adieu Monde Cruel (Pink Floyd’s Goodbye Cruel World) by Le Volume Était Au Maximum (LVEAM) The American Ruse (MC5) by Carson McHone Can’t Take My Eyes Off You (Frankie Valli) by Buckets Escape from the City (Ted Poley & Tony Harnell) by Devon Kay & the Solutions (Ghost) Riders In The Sky (Stan Jones) by Charley Crockett Never Meant (American Football) by Iron & Wine Rock & Roll (The Velvet Underground) by The Ratchets Telepathic Love (Wipers) by Lifeguard Venus In Furs (The Velvet Underground & Nico) by Seablite What Was I Made For? (Billie Eilish) by Ben Klahr Why Worry (Dire Straits) by Isobel Campbell Wurlitzer Jukebox (Young Marble Giants) by Swirls
Check out our Dusted playlist on Spotify for more cool cover songs.
Warning: Proceed with caution. If you’ve maxed out your vinyl budget this month, turn back now. Don’t even think about pressing play. Love Banana sounds like a silly name anyway, and yet another band from Australia’s Gold Coast? Do you really need more Aussie tunes in your life? Think of the shipping costs!
Your self-restraint is admirable; your significant other would be proud.
But wait… Tremendo Garaje describes this as “The Clean doing irresistible and charming poppy-perky garage jangles.” Intriguing, right? Maybe just a quick peek at the video? What’s the harm in that?
Love Banana’s self-titled single is out now on 7″ vinyl via Holiday Maker Records.
No Hard Feelings is the full-length debut album from Birthday Girl, a Sydney-based indie pop band featuring Madeleine Er, Rose Chan, Mitchell Ryan and Jarrod Ryan. It concerns nine songs with everyday stories, jangly guitars and angelic vocals – stripped down songs with a dreamy vibe and melancholic feel. Although one of the standout tracks is titled Smoke and Mirrors, this music is pure and straightforward, without a single thing that needs to be disguised. No frills, except a touch of class.
No Hard Feelings, recorded by David Akerman, is out now digitally and on CD (self-released).
