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New EP: Fletcher || Frog EP

By Dennis / January 19, 2021 / Jangle Pop / Leave a Comment

Fletcher is an American indie rock band consisting of four best friends. Their joint Spotify playlist features Real Estate, Magic Potion, Mac DeMarco, Vacations, Her’s, Peach Pit, boy pablo and Good Morning – credible influences. But the young multi-instrumentalists themselves offer a valuable addition to the jangle / slacker pop genre with their Frog EP released today. From the first notes of the great track 2005 VW Passat you will be grabbed and they will not let you go until last song Hannah’s Ford ends.

<a href="https://fletcher-band.bandcamp.com/album/frog-ep">Frog EP by Fletcher</a>

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New Album: Hjelle || Det Måste Inte Vara Så Här

By Niek / January 19, 2021 / Garage Rock, Power Pop, Punk / 1 Comment

Hjelle is the singer for Swedish pubpunkband extraordinaire Bäddat För Trubbel. Det Måste Inte Vara Så Här (It Must Not Be Like This) is his third solorecord. It was released last month by the Swedish Ken Rock Label, but only just arrived on Spotify which is how I discovered its existence. The record consists of 15 short and sweet lo-fi tunes that border between pubrock and rock’n’roll with the occasional and very welcome sax-solo. If you like Bäddat För Trubbel, I am pretty sure you’ll dig this as well.

Add to wantlist: Discogs || Hepcat.se

New compilation: Various Artists || Fakes

By Niek / January 19, 2021 / Alternative Rock, Garage Rock, Indie Rock, Power Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

I’ve always had a weak spot for cover compilations, particularly when the originals are classics and the recreations sound faster, angrier of weirder. So thank you, Drunk Dial Records for asking some of today’s best punk and garage acts to cover their favorite song of fictional artists from movies and tv shows. The result is a highly entertaining compilation. What about Pavid Vermin covering The Beets from ’90’s cartoon Doug? Or Jiffy Marx & kcar doing a delightfully weird version of Sugar Sugar? Or Berwanger doing Welcome to the Dollhouse? What about Careful making this Mitch & Mickey song actually sound good? And bless Charlie Continental for changing Wet Wet Wet’s Love is all Around into Covid’s All Around (“there was a start, there will be an end”). Though I hope this will ultimately get a physical release, it’s currently digital only. There are worse ways to spend $5. And if you need any further encouragement, all proceeds will be divided between the bands and four charities.

<a href="https://drunkdialrecords.bandcamp.com/album/fakes">Fakes by Various Artists</a>
Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

Overlooked single: The Sound Station || The Sound Station

By Niek / January 18, 2021 / Garage Rock / Leave a Comment

Thanx to the ever prolific bandcamp label Kafadan Kontak, I came across this killer single by LA garage rnr band The Sound Station. These two songs were part of a split single with The Creepy Crawlies released by Outro Records in 2020. Wanna know why this single is currently at the top of my wantlist? Just check out Give Your Lovin’ To Me.

<a href="https://kafadankontak.bandcamp.com/album/the-sound-station">The Sound Station by kafadan kontak</a>
Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New album: The GTO’s || ¡No Están Muertos!

By Niek / January 18, 2021 / Punk / Leave a Comment

The GTO’s are from Spain and play fast bubblegum poppunk in the vein of Screeching Weasel and The Queers. This type of music is made for summer, but I don’t mind at all that the band released their new record ¡No Están Muertos! in the middle of winter. The songs are catchy, the music is tight and the record injects a welcome burst of energy into my brain. Great album cover as well, which, if I am not mistaken, is taken from a Jack Kirby horror comic.

<a href="https://roctopusrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-gto-s-no-est-n-muertos-2">THE GTO´S – ¡No Están Muertos! by THE GTO´S</a>
Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: The Vapour Trails || Underneath Tomorrow

By Dennis / January 17, 2021 / Jangle Pop / 1 Comment

The Scottish five-peace The Vapour Trails have released a mini album with seven new songs. As in their previous work, on Underneath Tomorrow you hear chiming guitars and beautiful harmonies again (the alternative jangle / pop / psych / rock band is influenced by The Byrds, Teenage Fanclub and 90’s Brit stuff). Give it a listen below. A CD and digital album are out now through Futureman Records.

<a href="https://futuremanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/underneath-tomorrow">Underneath Tomorrow by The Vapour Trails</a>

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New reissue: The Paragons || Abba / Better Man Than I

By Dennis / January 16, 2021 / Garage Rock / Leave a Comment

In 1966 The Paragons recorded the ebullient, melodic, infectious, and danceable song Abba (no, it’s not about the Swedish pop group ABBA). At the time it wasn’t a national (or international) hit, but it’s now seen as one of the best garage rock classics. The track is still played by DJs with taste, and countless bands have covered it (The Satelliters, The Cynics, The Rosalyns, The Madd, etc.). For a copy of the original 45 you have to pay a ridiculously high amount, but the German independent music label Altercat comes to the rescue with the first official reissue of the 7″, an affordable one. The single comes with a 12-page info booklet with liner notes and previously unseen pictures.

<a href="https://altercat.bandcamp.com/album/abba-better-man-than-i">Abba / Better Man Than I by The Paragons</a>

Add to wantlist: Altercat || Bandcamp || Discogs

New album: Subsonic Eye || Nature Of Things

By Niek / January 15, 2021 / Indie Pop, Indie Rock / 1 Comment

Straight from Singapore comes a new Subsonic Eye record. Nature Of Things is their third full-length, but I don’t recall listening to their previous work. The new one has my full attention though. It’s a diverse record. The kind that draws you in upon first listen, but leaves plenty to discover. The guitar work and vocals are particularly strong in the sound of the band, which balances between indie rock and indiepop – Snail Mail comes to mind in several songs. Standout tracks are Fruitcake, Further, Spiral and Unearth (video below).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Fastcut Records

New EP: Drens || Live at Eurosonic 2021

By Dennis / January 15, 2021 / Garage Rock / Leave a Comment

Despite the corona pandemic, showcase festival Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) has not been canceled this year. Understandably not as usual live with an audience in Groningen, the Netherlands, but online short performances by around 350 European artists can be streamed online these days. Yesterday Drens provided one of the most fun concerts, which can be viewed below. The surf punk four-piece from Dortmund played two songs from their EP Pet Peeves and their new single M vs. D. The show was also released today as a digital album (name your price download). Can’t wait to see some real live shows again, but for now this is a commendable alternative.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: The Chisel || Come See Me / Not The Only One

By Niek / January 15, 2021 / Punk / Leave a Comment

The Chisel is Charlie Manning’s other band. Charlie, of course, is Chubby of Chubby And The Gang, who arguably released the greatest record of 2020. That does not mean that if you like Chubby And The Gang, you will automatically dig The Chisel. Or his previous classic straight edge hardcore project, Violent Reaction, who you should definitely check out. The Chisel sounds more hardcore, more street punk, more classic British punk. It’s angry, it’s furious. it’s confident, it works. Play it loud! Oi!

<a href="https://lavidaesunmus.bandcamp.com/album/come-see-me-not-the-only-one-ep">Come See Me/ Not The Only One EP by The Chisel</a>
Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs