In June, eight punk bands (seven from the Netherlands, one from Belgium) gathered on the small Isle of Vlieland, invited by the Into The Great Wide Open festival, to each record a track. The result is Uitholling Bovenlangs, a thrilling snapshot of the dynamic punk scene in the Low Countries.
We’ve mentioned this before: the Dutch punk scene is in full resurgence, and this compilation proves it by offering a diverse mix of styles — ranging from dark and gritty to wild and witty. With contributions from bands like Covids and NO BRAINS paying homage to the classics, to acts like Apeshit pushing punk into exciting new directions, there’s plenty here to discover.
Swedish quintet Kerosene Kream make their debut on PNKSLM Records with Buying Time, a four-song EP available on eye-catching red and white vinyl. The EP sets the stage for a full-length the band is working on.
Buying Time is a diverse mix of alt rock and garage punk influences, that makes me think the band does not want to pin themselves into a specific category. The highlight for me is Mindkiller, a track that blends ’80s new wave synths, gang vocals, and primal energy into a catchy pop gem.
Kerosene Kream’s eclectic sound makes this EP an exciting teaser for what’s to come.
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.
I Trusted You || Cover: Gustaf || Original: Andy Kaufman
Now this is a good idea. The song in which performance artist Andy Kaufman repeats the three words from the title more and more manically (we are talking about the late 70s), gets an awesome post-punk treatment from Brooklyn art rock outfit Gustaf. Lydia Gammill (lead vocals), Tine Hill (bass), Vram Kherlopian (guitar, keyboards), Melissa Lucciola (drums) and Tarra Thiessen (vocals, percussion) played the tune live in their early days as a band, and finally felt the time was right to release it — produced, mixed, and engineered by Jim Eno (Spoon). This could easily become a big dance floor hit. Out digitally via Royal Mountain Records.
The Dedication Song || Cover: The Fleshtones || Original: Freddy Cannon
And we have more cool music from New York, quite different though. Legendary garage rockers The Fleshtones return with a fresh 45 on which Peter Zaremba (vocals, piano), Keith Streng (guitar, backing vocals), Ken Fox (bass, backing vocals) and Bill Milhizer (percussion, backing vocals) rebuild two forgotten tunes. A-side Festa di Frankenstein is an alternate version of The Swinging Phillies’ 1967 Halloween track Frankenstein’s Party, here sung in Italian and featuring a saxophone solo. The Dedication Song on the flipside is even more fun, as catchy as it gets, thanks in part to new lyrics to Freddy Cannon’s 1966 hit — it serves as a sequel to their successful 1984 single American Beat. Out on limited edition 7″ vinyl through Yep Roc Records.
I Can See You || Cover: Cherie Currie & The Dead Boys || Original: Taylor Swift
Rock acts such as The Courettes and The Dollyrots and pop singers like Tiffany and Samantha Cole are brought together on the 12-track compilation A Strange Tribute To Taylor Swift, a title that says it all. The punk rock rendition of I Can See You by Cherie Currie (The Runaways) with The Dead Boys gets priority on our stage. Out digitally and on CD through Cleopatra Records.
You Don’t Own Me || Cover: Bad Buddy || Original: Lesley Gore
Edmonton, Alberta-based rock band Bad Buddy are back with their sophomore album Bad Buddy II. Emily Bachynski (vocals, guitar), Andi Vissia (vocals, guitar), Shari Rae (bass, backing vocals) and Geoffrey Hamdon-O’Brien (drums) deliver ten powerful originals with distinctive vocals taking center stage, and while the one cover is more understated, it still holds up in terms of intensity. Out digitally via Meatflower Music.
Newtown || Cover: Dealing With Damage & Yootha Today || The Slits
On the split 7″ Dealing With Dinosaurs, two British punk bands each share two notable covers. Dinosaur Skull chose songs by Big Drill Car (In Green Fields) and Dogpiss (She Said), Dealing With Damage pays tribute to The Cure (M) and The Slits (Newtown). Extra credits for the collaboration with Yootha Today (Edna Flange, Mimsy Scratcher and Ethel Quim) on the energetic closing track. Out digitally and on limited dino green vinyl 7″ through Brassneck Records.
Searching For The Truth || Cover: The Harlem Gospel Travelers || Cover: Dwain Vinyard
On their new album Rhapsody, gospel singers Ifedayo Gatling, Dennis Bailey, and George Marage delve into Numero Group’s gospel funk catalog, a suggestion from their mentor Eli “Paperboy” Reed that pays off. The original versions, found on the compilation Good God! Apocryphal Hymns, are definitely worth checking out, but the new versions are also top-notch — this track in particular is heavenly. Out digitally, on CD and vinyl LP, through Colemine Records.
You Dont Believe Me || Popincourt || Original: The Pretty Things
On the House of Four EP, four psych pop and mod-adjacent artists celebrate English R&B band The Pretty Things. Andy Lewis (Walking Down The Street), Popincourt (You Don’t Believe Me), Papernut Cambridge (Defecting Grey) and Robert Rotifer (House of Ten) pass this challenge with ease. The ragged edge of Olivier Popincourt’s vocals stand out to me. Out digitally and on 10″ vinyl through Gare du Nord Records.
Brown Eyed Girl || Cover: Nuisance || Original: Van Morrison
Californian punk band Nuisance, who made some waves in the 90s, have collected sixteen singles, compilation tracks and songs found in a garbage can on new compilation Terminal Fuckups, including the ska-tinged, gritty and infectious take on Van Morrison’s classic Brown Eyed Girl. Out digitally via Lavasocks Records.
Fade Into You || Cover: The Rubens || Original: Mazzy Star
Then it’s a small step to Hope Sandoval, the lead singer of Mazzy Star, who won many hearts with her dreamy performances of the wonderful 1994 single Fade Into You. Australian alt-rock band The Rubens may not be able to top that in their contribution to triple j’s Like A Version – no one can, right? – but they certainly know how to captivate, not least because of that slide guitar. Their new (original) single Sunday Night is out now via Ivy League Records.
Last Leaf || Cover: Willie Nelson || Original: Tom Waits
It’s almost unimaginable, but country icon Willie Nelson is coming with his 76th solo studio album (and 153rd album overall). Under the title Last Leaf On The Tree he covers tracks such as Lost Cause (Beck), Come Ye (Nina Simone), Keep Me In Your Heart (Warren Zevon), Robbed Blind (Keith Richards) and Are You Ready For The Country? (Neil Young). The record will also feature two songs by Tom Waits, of which Bad As Me‘s Last Leaf has already been shared. I played the old and new version at the same time: the two unique voices fit surprisingly well together, but on their own they also are both beautiful. Out on November 1 through Legacy Recordings.
Be My Baby || Cover: UFO Club || Original: The Ronettes
The UFO Club was a garage psych project by Night Beats’ Danny Lee Blackwell and Black Angels’ Christian Bland, who released a self-titled album through Reverberation Appreciation Society in 2012. Its eleven tracks include reverberating covers of The Ronettes’ Be My Baby and The Seeds’ Up in Her Room. The LP is available again on vinyl via Bandcamp, so what better reason to share it here?
Check out our Dusted playlist on Spotify for more cool cover songs.
Over thirty years into their career, we’ve come to appreciate and experience the soulful sound of Californian punk rock quartet The BellRays as a reliable beacon—their proven formula: emotion + energy = excitement—but another release is always good news, especially since we’re dealing with one of the most amazing female vocalists around. On the new Heavy Steady Go! LP, Lisa “big voice, big hair” Kekaula and Robert Vennum live up to their reputation with their unique synergy: he builds a concrete wall of solid but raw guitar riffs, which she paints in bright colors with her soul-powered vocals. Together with an experienced rhythm section* they play at maximum volume in ten original songs, inspired by icons such as Tom Petty, Bon Scott, Fleetwood Mac, Howlin’ Wolf, Cheap Trick and Betty Davis. It’s all rock-hard, but those who listen closely will discover deeper layers.
Heavy Steady Go! is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP, through Sweet Gee Records. *Its recording was split by two cities, two years and two rhythm sections, featuring Mark Cisneros (bass) and Ron Miller (drums) in a Tucson, AZ session, and Nico Miles (bass) and Craig Waters (drums) in a Riverside, CA session. Band founders Robert and Lisa seamlessly produced both sessions into the final record. The digital version includes covers of The Temptations’ Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today) and Duane Dee’s True Love Travels on a Gravel Road (popularized by Elvis Presley) as bonus tracks.
Nashville label Sweet Time knows exactly how to tap into the pulse of old-school punk rock’n’roll. Their latest release brings back Love Collector, an Austin-based band that vanished after releasing two 7″ singles over a decade ago.
Hit play on the opener of Love Collector’s new 7″ EP, and your heart will start racing. First Night of Leather is a killer slice of late ’70s punk that feels like a lost classic from the era. It’s followed by two additional snotty, and bratty tracks that show Love Collector are experts at this sound. The EP wraps up with Last Night of Leather, completing a thrilling ride from start to finish.
Love Collector is the real deal and their must-have new 7″ is now available from Sweet Time.
The Twerks, a punk rock trio hailing from the outskirts of Milan, are back with A Private Display of Trouble, marking the first release on Venti3, the new label from Italian writer and punk journalist Stefano Gilardino.
Following up their previous releases — The Twerks (2014), Kinky Boredom (2016), and No Opinions (2019), The Twerks return with a refreshed lineup but the same high-energy sound. Blending old-school punk rock with a heavy dose of power pop, these nine tracks are packed with infectious melodies and raw rock’n’roll spirit.
This single-sided white vinyl is a tight, catchy collection from a band that knows how to balance attitude with hooks.
If the Nashville-based tape label Knuckles On Stun isn’t on your radar yet, their new compilation Delinquents & Shitbags makes a strong case for why it should be. The album is a goldmine of lo-fi underground noise, featuring both familiar names (Emma Goldman Sachs, Cromm Fallon, Class) and plenty of bands that will likely be new to most listeners. It’s an impressive feat of curation, showing the label’s keen eye and ear for raw, exciting music.
Most of the tracks are previously unreleased, which makes the overall quality even more remarkable, with some delightful surprises like Midgee’s cover of Jumpin’ Jack Flash and Class’ live version of their modern punk anthem Oh! The Nerve. The compilation keeps things fresh with a wide variety of subgenres, from mutant synthpunk to garage rock and pop, psych, surf, punk rock, and power pop. There is a lot to unpack, and if Delinquents & Shitbags were a radio show, you’d be complimenting the DJ!
Two European pop punk bands team up for a split single, co-released by Mom’s Basement and BadMan Records. Each band contributes two originals, along with a cover of one of the other’s tracks. Germany’s The Haermorrhoids impress with CIA, a cold war paranoia pop punk anthem that sticks in your head. On the flip side, Italy’s Proton Packs shine brightest with Beta Max, a melodic homage to the short-lived video format that feels like a catchy history lesson.
Patrol, a fresh punk rock’n’roll quartet from Barcelona, makes a strong debut with their four-song, high-octane self-titled EP. Operating in a soundscape similar to Les Lullies, these tracks are infectious and brimming with energy. But what sets them apart is a distinct classic hard rock influence — think early Sheer Mag-style riffs that bring extra punch to their garage rock foundation.
Crank up the volume — this EP gets better the louder you play it. By the time the cops show up, you’ll already be on your third listen.
Billiam, the ever-prolific force behind “autism core,” continues to evolve as a songwriter with each release. On his latest album Animation Cel, Billiam (Melbourne) retains the quirky synths and otherworldly vibe often associated with the egg punk genre – and some fun use of samples, listen to Matinee for example, while pushing into catchier, crunchier lo-fi punk territory. The album is filled with some of his best work yet.
If you’re into unpredictable punk with just the right amount of chaos, Animation Cel is the bumpy ride you won’t want to miss — wheels intact and all.
Animation Cel is out now on Erste Theke Tontraeger and Legless Records.
