New album: Pronk || Mayonaise

At live shows from Dutch boogie-rock outfit Pronk, there are two kinds of people: the audience with a fist in the air – dancing , laughing, screaming, stomping, sweating, and drinking too much – and behind them some casual attendees who look open-mouthed wtf is going on. If you listen to the 11 new songs on their sophomore full-length Mayonaise, you can probably imagine that. It doesn’t matter that you don’t speak the language – most fans in the Netherlands don’t really understand this dialect either – but you’ll undoubtedly have an idea what it’s all about. Singer/guitarist Arjan Pronk (The Prodigal Sons, 16Down, Bökkers), drummer Henk Jonkers (Hallo Venray, Fatal Flowers), guitarist Sam Pols (Magnetic Spacemen) and singer Dion Legebeke (The Damned Few) play dirty, hard, bold and catchy rock ‘ n’ roll – party guaranteed – that you can’t get out of your head. This music is just as fat, unmistakable and shameless as the product from the album title, and that’s a compliment.

Add to wantlist: Mayonaise is out now on vinyl LP through Excelsior Recordings.

New album: Ben Woods || Dispeller

Some releases you have to experience in a live setting to fully “get.” I’ve been at countless shows where I left with a better appreciation or understanding for a new record. This also applies to Ben Woods sophomore album Dispeller which is out today, although I haven’t seen him perform in real life yet.

When I received the advanced stream of the record, I did not know what to think. It simply was too far from what I normally listen to. But then Woods released a short film with three live performances that changed how I feel about the record – watch the 15-minute video below, I particularly like the middle song (Hovering At Home) starting around 6:52. It starts slowly and timid, but explodes at the 8:08 mark in the coolest way.

The short film is beautifully directed and showcases the complexities, the layers and labour of love that went into the songs on Dispeller. Having watched the video, I’m listening to the record with fresh ears. I still don’t know how to describe it though. The press release talks about the New Zealand artist leaning “comfortably into intuition and abstraction,” and “experimenting with the disparate and the disharmonious.” But I’m not sure if that helps. I think Ben Woods’ music is just meant to be experienced – in the morning with some coffee, or during late night walks.


Dispeller is out today via Shrimper Records (U.S.), Meritorio Records (Spain/EU), and Melted Ice Cream (N-Z).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Meritorio Records

New album: Marc Valentine || Future Obscure

Marc Valentine of Last Great Dreamers fame makes his solo debut with Future Obscure. The record has a modern power pop sound (not unlike Ash or Ryan Allen/Extra Arms), but also features cameos of power pop royalty in Wreckless Eric and Matt Dangerfield (The Boys). Valentine lets his pop sensibilities shine on Future Obscure. It’s a super catchy record, likely fueled by the high intake of girl group and doo wop when he was writing the record. “I kind of imagined making an album that might sound something akin to the Ronettes, Springsteen and The Only Ones travelling together in a spaceship,” Valentine explains.

Clearly, Valentine used the pandemic years to cut and mold these ten songs, and Last Train Tonight, Break My Heart Anyway, Swiss Launderette, and Mornington Avenue are massive hits. I’ll never get bored watching powerpop songsmiths at the top of their game.




Future Obscure
is out now via Arcane Wires Records.
Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Raymond Little || Raymond Little

Alternative folk with a punk rock feel and a good dose of humor, that’s what Raymond Little delivers on his new, self-titled album. The American singer-songwriter, who we know from The Thirties and Liquid Mike, has recorded twelve delightful gems in his self-built cabin with generator power. These are songs that make you spontaneously shout “yee-haw” one moment (Drink Too Much swings irresistibly), make you laugh a little later (“Well it’s cold and it’s dark out there // Reading Steinbeck in my underwear // He can follow his nose but not the dialog // I love these days with my dog” ​​- from Muddy’s Song), or proclaim an important message that you want to share immediately because it maybe can change certain men’s minds (You Can Do Both is one to sing along to). Both lyrically and musically – great musicians play along – this is a diverse and very entertaining record.

Raymond Little is out now digitally and on CD through Lost Dog Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: I Mitomani Beat || Ciononostante

Here are 12 new Italian beat songs with a 60s feel, here is the new full-length album Ciononostante by I Mitomani Beat from Rome. This is upbeat rock ‘n’ roll with influences from garage rock, psych and surf – you’ll hear delicious organ melodies, harmony vocals and handclaps, but also cinematic soundscapes – that let the sun shine from your speakers. Letizia Lèti from Lisa Beat e i Bugiardi guests on Resta qui, an Italian cover of Rescue Me, originally from Fontella Bass.

Ciononostante is out now digitally, and on August 7 also on CD, through Area Pirata.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

Gimme 5! R.E. Seraphin Shares Five Songs That Inspired His Recent Songwriting

With ‘Gimme 5!’ we take a peek into the collections of artists we admire. The premise is simple: artists WE like share five records THEY love.

Right now, Bay Area songwriter R.E. Seraphin has 333 monthly listeners on Spotify. And although I think monodigit numbers are fun and all, I am convinced this number should grow with at least three digits to truly reflect the quality and appeal of Seraphin’s music.

For me, two things stand out in the music of Seraphin. One, he clearly is a talented songwriter. Week In Pop recently dubbed Seraphin as The Bay Area’s Modern Saint Of Power Pop. His discography includes releases by Talkies, Razz, Mean Jolene, Lenz, Glitz, Apache and Impediments. His 2020 debut (Tiny Shapes) under his own name featured many standouts (e.g., listen to the powerpop hit Exploding Head), and his recent Swingshift EP (covered here) provides top notch songwriting, layered instrumentation and cool covers (Television Personalities and Wipers).  If you are new to Seraphin’s music, I recommend checking out Playing House, Big Break or watching the recently released video for Stuck In Reno below.

New single: Parlor Hour || Demon Shuffle / Cute Song

Zoe, Noah, Nancy and Eli make up Parlor Hour, a slacker twee outfit from Portland, Oregon. This 4-minute single is my introduction to the band, and I sure hope we’ll meet again. The two songs are scrappy and infectious, just the way we like it at ATW.

“I sat down to write a cute song // But i have reality // on my shoulder // looking over.”



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: John McCabe || No One Ever Says

To be honest, I initially thought I had discovered three forgotten R.E.M. classics. However, it turned out to be John McCabe originals. The Californian musician/artist has the gift of writing powerful 3 minute songs – alternative rock with jangly guitars and compelling vocals – that sound like 90s radio hits. On his new (4th) solo EP No One Ever Says, McCabe (vocals, guitars, mandolin), together with producer John Kimbrough (guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals) and Derek Syverud (drums), prove how good he is. Opening song Screeching Halt grabs you from the first touch, only to let go when the guitars in closing track Brake Parts have died down.

No One Ever Says is out now digitally via Shelf Talker Music. Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: Star 99 || Star 99

Last year, San Jose’s Star 99 dropped their excellent debut EP My Year In Lists. I almost forgot about that one, so I was happy to have Bandcamp notify me of new Star 99 material.

The new single has three songs: Born To Run (not a cover), Vegas, and Wyoming – The latter sounded so familiar, I was searching my brain for the original artist only to discover it’s a rerecorded version of a Star 99 original from last year’s EP. The new version strips away all instrumentation of the original except for the guitar and vocals. In doing so, it places a spotlight on the songwriting skills of Star 99.

The two additional tracks on the single (Born To Run and Vegas) further solidify my appreciation for the melodic indiepunk/altpop of Star 99. I have yet to hear a weak song from this band, and am curious to see where they go next.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

Scroll to Top