New EP: Skiftande Enheter – Öppna Landskap

Featuring members of Monokultur and Makthaverskan,  Skiftande Enheter is kind of a Gothenburg supergroup. On Öppna Landskap (Open Landscapes), which follows their 2019 mini-LP Snubblar Genom Drömmar, they further hone their experimental indie postpunkpop. All four songs here are worth your ears, but I am particularly drawn to Lyckan i Din Hand.

By the way, Skiftande Enheter translates to Shifting Units. Shouldn’t be an issue at all with this 7″ that is limited to 400 copies. Out now on Swedish label Happiest Place Records!



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Dead Years || Dead Years

Dirt Cult Records have a way of digging up punkrock bands that are just a tad different, a bit louder, a touch more awesome than average. The latest example is the new self-titled Dead Years record.

Dead Years are from Bielefeld (Germany). Based on their sound, I have to assume the band loves the orgcore subgenre of punk rock, but also more modern postpunk bands like Iceage and Fontaines D.C. Dead Years very much is a punkrock record though. It has that passion, energy and directness to it. At the same time, the instrumentation is quite diverse and layered. What takes the songs to another level though, is the vocal attack. Dead Years have three singers who have no issue in sharing the spotlight, and are unafraid to sing along. It makes this record all the more powerful.

Dead Years is out now on Dirt Cult Records.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Goodbye June || See Where The Night Goes

“Baby, I’m back // Swinging from the chandelier // Baby, I’m back // ‘Til they kick me out of here,” sings Landon Milbourn on Baby, I’m Back, one of the 11 catchy rock songs on See Where The Night Goes, the new (3rd) full-length studio album from Nashville rock ‘n’ roll revivalists Goodbye June. That’s good news. Along with his cousins Brandon Qualkenbush (rhythm guitar, backing vocals) and Tyler Baker (lead guitar) he knows how hard rock rooted in southern blues should be played. This is an excellent record with awesome screaming vocals, groovy guitar riffs, powerful drum rhythms, and an amazing soulful sound (producer: Paul Moak). This band can’t come back often enough.

See Where The Night Goes is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP through Earache Records. For fans of AC/DC, Rival Sons, Greta Van Fleet, Blackberry Smoke.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs || Earache

New album: Big Nothing || Dog Hours

Matt Quinn (guitar and vocals), Liz Parsons (bass and vocals), Pat Graham (guitar and vocals), and Chris Jordan (drums) make up Big Nothing. This week, the band released the follow up to their debut LP Chrisa pretty great record that found a home in my record collection.

The new record is called Dog Hours. On it, Big Nothing show their comfort on the intersection of indie punk, power pop, altcountry and classic rock. There are hints of Lemonheads, Replacements, Superchunk, R.E.M. and Tom Petty in these well constructed tunes. A great hook is never far away, and Big Nothing’s music has a warmth that makes the band easy to like.

The weekend is here. Grab a coffee and the paper. Put Dog hours on the speakers, and all will be fine.

Dog Hours is out now on Lame-o Records.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Lame-o Records

New album: Klazo || ‘Demik Dementia

And now for something complete PUNK…meet London (Ontario) duo Klazo! When Josh Rutledge calls a record the best punk to come out of 2022 yet, you bet I’m all ears.

Josh wasn’t lying. ‘Demik Dementia is an 11-song old school punk grenade that will blast your speakers and get your blood pumping. The record sounds like it was recorded live and in one manic take. It’s intense, it’s unhinged and, due to the sweet melodies buried somewhere underneath, it’s a blast.

To top it all off, Klazo closes the record with a killer cover of Jaguar Ride by Electric Eels. What’s not to like?!

‘Demik Dementia is out now on Big Neck Records and No Front Teeth.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Pretty Archie || Pretty Archie

Canadian alternative country/Americana band Pretty Archie has been around for ten years, but they continue to evolve. Here’s their sixth full-length studio album, self-titled this time, and thanks in part to producer/engineer, Mark Howard (The Tragically Hip, Tom Waits, Willie Nelson), they’ve risen above themselves. The 9 new songs, basically recorded live off the floor, with minimal overdubs, sound fresh and timeless at the same time. The vocals of songwriter/guitarist Brian Cathcart are awesome, the musical accompaniment convincing and captivating. The slow tracks have beautiful melodies, the faster tunes are catchier than thought possible. The Cape-Breton-based 4-piece have long been East Coast favorites, but this record has everything to conquer the hearts of the rest of the world.

Pretty Archie is out now on CD via Curve Music/Warner Music. Add to wantlist: Curve Music || Linktree

New album: The Total Rejection || Off The Top Of Our Heads.​.​.​And Other Forbidden Pleasures

The UK garage-psych rockers of The Total Rejection are back with their 4th studio album, Off The Top Of Our Heads .​.​.​And Other Forbidden Pleasures, and here they took a step forward. We hear 10 new and wild killer tracks that pick up where the Pebbles compilations left off, featuring driving rhythms, screeching guitar riffs and Arthur Andrew Jarrett’s signature vocals that you either love or hate. The band themselves say they wanted to keep it quite raw and edgy, and push things slightly, and they succeeded very well. The songs are better structured and even catchier than before. This is an addictive record that slowly but surely makes you hallucinate, and that’s a great achievement.

Off The Top Of Our Heads .​.​.​And Other Forbidden Pleasures is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP through Raving Pop Blast! Recordings.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New single: Pinkmail || 1954

Californian duo Pinkmail – singer-songwriters Lesley Price (her main project is Wolf Circus) and Crystal Marino – have released their sophomore single with two new original tracks. They are both perfect, classic twee pop songs, but A-side 1954 in particular could be a big radio hit. Rock ‘n’ roll didn’t yet exist in that year, so I think I completely understand the lyrics of this Valentine’s Day single – “I don’t wanna act // Like it’s 1954” – but I may just be missing a deeper meaning. But who cares, press play and enjoy.

1954 is out now digitally. Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Home Counties || In A Middle English Town

Punk-funk fans who danced to LCD Soundsystem’s Daft Punk Is Playing At My House and The Rapture’s House Of Jealous Lovers some 20 years ago should pay attention now. UK wonk-pop band Home Counties drank from the same source for the 4 tracks of their new EP In A Middle English Town – at least I assume they were inspired by the post-punk subgenre that popped up in the late 70’s. Listen to standout track Back to the 70s – the title says it all – and you hear all the elements that make this music so appealing. Recommended for late night parties, at loud volume.

In A Middle English Town is out now digitally and on 12″ vinyl through Alcopop! Records.

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

New album: Monte Del Oso || Son Los Demás Los Que Están Equivocados

Monte Del Oso is a Spanish indie rock band of three. The band has been releasing music since 2015, and just released their fourth record: Son Los Demás Los Que Están Equivocados (It’s the others who are wrong).

It’s a strong outing from the band. To my ears, Monte Del Oso operate somewhere between underground US pop/rock of the ’80s, altpop from the ’90s and emo tinged punkrock of the late ’90s early ’00s. The songs are melodic but in an understated manner, making them all the more powerful. Son Los Demás Los Que Están Equivocados is the kind of record where I discover a new favorite song with each play. It’s a rewarding record, a reminder that it pays off to give records more attention than a quick scan.

Son Los Demás Los Que Están Equivocados is out now on Underhill Records and Farmway Records.


Add to wantlist: Monte Del Oso

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