New single: Late Runner || I Wear Shades

By / / Indie Pop / 1 Comment

About 20 years ago, the Danish synthpop band Superheroes released three albums and five EPs, which have survived quite well (listen to Someone Else for example). Their guitarist, Asger Tarpgaard, was still a teenager at the time. Now he has grown into his new project Late Runner, with music he finally felt ready to write. Here’s their promising first single and official video. I Wear Shades is out now through Crunchy Frog Recordings.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: Palmyra Delran and the Doppel Gang || Lucky In Love

By / / Power Pop / 1 Comment

He probably doesn’t see himself this way, but I believe Little Steven is a role model to many. I am not referring to his skills as a musician or actor, I am referring to his neverending appreciation of, and enthusiasm for great music, both old and new. Truly, in spite of his massive knowledge of rock ‘n’ roll history, he’s been showing no signs of musical paralysis. There is no cynicism, only listening to the classics or talking about the good old days. He still gets passionate about new music, and shares that passion with his radio show and his record label Wicked Cool. The label’s most recent release, Lucky in Love by Palmyra Delran and the Doppel Gang, is another example of Little Steven’s great taste in music. You may know Palmyra Delran from her work in The Friggs, Pink Slip Daddy, and several solo projects. Most recently, she played on the near perfect Uh Oh..! EP the Coolies with the dearly missed Kim Shattuck. Palmyra’s latest release is another winner. On A-side track Lucky In Love, the band creates an instant sense of familiarity and likeability by assimilating that famous guitar line from Then He Kissed Me. The flipside is another timeless hook-filled powerpop song, sounding like one giant staple of (pre)choruses. Out now on Roulette red vinyl.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Los Summers || Cometieron Un Error

By / / Punk / Leave a Comment

Los Summers are from Spain and Cometieron Un Error (Made a Mistake) is their third record. You don’t need to speak Spanish to appreciate Los Summers. This is summertime pop punk as it is meant to sound. Twelve songs, two minutes each. Catchy choruses, plenty of pace, a couple of old school ramonescore tunes, some slower more bubblegum oriented ones. Okay, one song is called Un Momento Complicado, but more likely than not, Los Summers will makes you forget about complicated times. To end with a question: will we see more colorful artwork this year? Ahora en vinilo rojo translúcido en Clifford Records!


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Clifford Records || Discogs

New album: Billy Cobb || Zerwee, Pt. 2

By / / Indie Rock / Leave a Comment

It is not uncommon for artists to sound eerily similar to other artists. However, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who is so explicit on this matter than Billy Cobb. On Zerwee, Pt. 2, the resemblance to Weezer is fully intentional. Hence the album title Zerwee, hence the Pinkerton like album art, though I am not sure whether this, like the Pinkerton cover, is a Hiroshige painting as well.  Soundwise, Billy Cobb relies on the first half of Weezer’s career, with Pinkerton as the strongest reference. The record was released in 2020, but Needlejuice Records recently pressed it on three varieties of aesthetically pleasing colored vinyl.  Make sure to visit their site if you are a vinyl aficionado: they have so many good looking records.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New single: Kewpid || Tunnel Of Love b/w Star Crossed

By / / Punk / 1 Comment

If pop punk’s your thing, I don’t have to introduce you to Geoff Palmer. Here’s a guy who played in the Queers, The Guts, the Nobodys, The Connection, and several bands with his buddy Kurt Baker. His 2019 solo record Pulling Out All The Stops is a modern classic. Recently, Geoff unleashed yet another project onto our planet, together with members of Boston band Lawman: Kewpid. Tunnel of Love is Kewpid’s first release, a two song cassingle. It’s a quick sample, but based on these two songs I hope more music is in the works. Kewpid plays terrific mid tempo pop punk, with vocals that complement the band’s sound perfectly. BTW: make sure to follow Geoff’s Spotify playlist with the best new bubblegum, powerpop and punk of 2021.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Memorable But Honorable Tapes

New album: Hotels On Mars || Grief Museum

By / / Blues & Roots / Leave a Comment

Yesterday I was skating on a frozen river, a few degrees below zero and a watery sun on the horizon, meanwhile listening to Mat Weitman’s debut as Hotels on Mars on my headphones. I couldn’t have wished for a more appropriate soundtrack than this rootsy, cinematic songs. The background of the lo-fi audio project is not a cheerful one (as is often the case with art): raw from a breakup and the sudden death of a friend while isolated during lockdown, Weitman processed anxiety through a rapid-fire recording session that became Grief Museum. He complemented his painfully honest nadirs words with multi-genre instrumentation, all performed and recorded at home. The album may stem from waves of dark feelings, but it did lead to an atmospheric and comforting album. Out now in digital and physical forms on Styles Upon Styles Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: Los Yesterdays || Nobody’s Clown

By / / Funk & Soul / 1 Comment

And here’s another great soul 45 on Daptone’s Penrose Records. After two great singles in 2020, Los Yesterdays – Gabe Roth, Tom Brenneck, Gabriel Rowland, and Victor Benavides – are back at an even higher level with Nobody’s Clown. Be sure to check out below the fantastic video directed by actionfigureologist / filmmaker David “toyraider” Brocca, starring El Triste – the saddest puppet in Los Angeles – by Puppetmaster213. This is a great example of how film and sound reinforce each other. The single, with Give Me One More Chance on the B side, will be released on March 5. In the Fall a full album should follow.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Daptone

New album: Death By Unga Bunga || Heavy Male Insecurity

By / / Garage Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

A few years ago I saw Death By Unga Bunga live, along with only a handful of other paying visitors plus some friends of the five band members. Despite the empty hall, the Norwegian garage rockers went all out – those present became lifelong fans on the spot. Good news, therefore, that the band has added 10 songs to their discography. The new album Heavy Male Insecurity rocks as hard as their previous work, but the lyrics show an unexpected side of the Bunga boys: underneath the tough and badass exterior – machismo, swagger and loud guitars – there is a group of five insecure boys. Primed because of that, I thought the lyrics of the third song were about ‘my body and me’, but that turns out to be My Buddy and Me. Either way, it may be clear that the 5-piece don’t want to grow up, yet they have an important message: there’s a place for every misfit in this stupid world even though it might not always seem that way. And for those who are interested in their bodies, there is a picture disc vinyl with “erotic” photos of the band members (only 100 copies available).

Out now through Jansen Records. Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

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New album: Jim Keller || By No Means

By / / Blues & Roots / Leave a Comment

In the last century musician / songwriter Jim Keller played in power pop band Tommy Tutone (listen to 80’s hit 867-5309-Jenny), but with a voice aged by time, whiskey and promises he has been solo for some time now. After Sunshine In My Pocket (2005), Soul Candy (2011) and Heaven Can Wait (2014) he has now released his fourth solo album: By No Means (out now through Elisha James Music). It is quality music that is somewhat reminiscent of the later works of Leonard Cohen or Bob Dylan. He will not win a Nobel prize for literature with his lyrics though (“Maria come home, Maria come home // I don’t want to spend another night all alone”), but that doesn’t matter; the songs are strong, the vocals sound deep and pleasant, the musicians know what to do, and the production is top notch. This is my favorite Sunday morning record for now.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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New album: Borito || What we Have Now

By / / Indie Pop, Jangle Pop / Leave a Comment

Tel Aviv musicians Yael Copeland and Shahar Levi met at a music festival where Yael was performing and Shahar was the sound engineer. Together with Sivan Dahan and Yoni Deutsch they form Borito, to celebrate the sweetness in life that can be easily forgotten. Their independently produced debut album What we Have Now contains fun, danceable, dreamy and colorful arrangements influenced by contemporary indie / jangle pop bands (RIYL: Horsebeach, Terry vs. Tori, Hoops, Molly Burch). Listen below to standout track Song for Dawn, the first tune the 4-piece made together. The rest is also worth a listen.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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