Gimme 5! Jake Sprecher (Terry Malts, Smokescreens & Jonathan Richman) Shares His Top 5 Quarantine Albums That Sound Absolutely Nothing Like His New Project The Wind-Ups

By / / Blues & Roots, Garage Rock, Indie Pop, Power Pop, Punk, Uncategorized / 1 Comment

Photo by Beth LaBerge

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

This week’s Gimme 5 features a multitalented artist who plays (or has played)  with Terry Malts, Smokescreens, Beehive and Jonathan Richman of the Modern Lovers. I am talking about Jake Sprecher, who made good use of his Covid induced boredom by purchasing a TASCAM 388 and recording a new solo bedroom-project as The Wind-Ups. The result is Try Not To Think, a 19 minute powerpop masterpiece  disguised as lo-fi garagepunk record. Of his previous bands, Try Not To Think is sonically nearest to the early Terry Malts stuff: just as infectious but louder and slightly slower paced. The songs have that deceptive songwriting quality that can easily be misinterpreted as simplism. In truth, it takes skill to write songs that are this straightforward and yet so memorable. To give you an idea, listen to the two prematurely released tracks off the record: Lockdown and Too Many Bibles. I’ll write a longer review near its June 18 release date – spoiler: there are a lot of killer tracks on this one. [post continues below]

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Gimme 5! Jake Sprecher (Terry Malts, Smokescreens & Jonathan Richman) Shares His Top 5 Quarantine Albums That Sound Absolutely Nothing Like His New Project The Wind-UpsRead More »

New album: Dede Priest with Johnny Clark’s Outlaws || When Birds Were Snakes

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When Birds Were Snakes – it’s no coincidence that the title of this new CD comes across as a bit philosophical. Dede Priest earned a degree in philosophy, but she followed her heart and let the music lead. She had studied classical violin as a child (often holding it and strumming it like a guitar) and after years of performing primarily as a vocalist, she would later make the transition to singing and performing with her violin and guitar. Very cool! On this album, a succesful collaboration with Johnny Clark (vocals / guitar), Ray Austria (bass), and Leon Toonen (drums), all those talents come together perfectly. These are 12 good blues rock songs, but Priest’s extraordinary voice gives it a soulful feel. Watch the video for the title track below and listen to the rest of the album on your favorite streaming platform.

Add to wantlist: Dede Priest

New EP: Minus Hero || Songs About Leaving

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

Minus Hero are from Italy (w/ members Nofu, Twister, Bravo, Nappies, Daire, Think About), but they sound like an obscure ’90s US bands in the vein of Superchunk, Archers Of Loaf and Knapsack. Their new 10″ EP is part of the Blue Feelings collection of Flamingo Records. It’s called Songs About Leaving and the four songs on it deal with “melancholy, disappointment and alienation.” The record is far from a dread though. Minus Hero sounds inspired and heartfelt on the EP. It’s perfect music for a grey day.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Half Deaf Clatch || Metamorphosis

By / / Blues & Roots, Country & Folk / Leave a Comment

His raw down-home blues and his original song writing make Half Deaf Clatch (aka Andrew McLatchie) a welcome entrant at the British Blues Awards, where he is described as a “slide stump blues machine.” More importantly, the UK artist is steadily expanding his discography with good folky country blues. On his new album Metamorphosis, McLatchie has put on a cowboy hat and accompanies his gritty voice with an electric guitar in nine new, cinematic songs. Out now digitally and on CD via Speak Up Recordings.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New singles: Formal Wear || Suffer Today & Germ House || Record The Mistakes

By / / Garage Rock, Psych / Leave a Comment

Last friday, Chunklet Industries released not one but two singles that I am exited about. Both will be hard to get as they are limited to 45 and 50 copies.

The first single is from yet another project originating from the pandemic: Formal Wear. The A-side is called Suffer Today, which is just perfect for imagining the next time you’ll be wearing formal wear. It is an awesome garagepop tune where the vocals sequence nicely with the central guitar lick. The flipside (Timekeeper) is another goody with a repetitive chorus that gets under your skin. Perhaps I’d be less surprised by the strength of this single, If I’d read before that Formal Wear consists of Eli Kasan and Ryan Oxley from The Gotobeds and Wicketkeeper respectively.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

The second Chunklet single is from one-man band Germ House. Based out of Rhode Island, Justin Hubbard has been releasing music since 2014 or so, and I definitely recommend diving into his back catalogue with Germ House. This new two song single is the latest illustration of the catchy garagepop with post punk leanings Germ House produces. Both songs are excellent, but I am particularly impressed with Record The Mistakes which surpasses the 4:30 minute mark (I apologize for my short-attention span), but remains interesting throughout.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Gebre || Riu Amunt

By / / Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Power Pop / Leave a Comment

Gebre is a foursome from Spain including Aleix Ferrús, Adrià González, Dani Cervera and Llorenç Coca. For these four hombres, music has a therapeutic power helping them to deal with the problems and difficulties of modern life. Gebre’s debut full-length (Riu Amunt) sounds far from difficult or troubled though. Gebre plays the kind of guitarpop Teenage Fanclub would play if they lived in a country with better weather. Call it sunshine pop if you will.  Some well timed jangle guitars and high pitched backing woohoos add to that summer feeling (e.g., listen to Me Van Salvar). Plenty of hits on this one! Grab the CD at Barcelona label The Indian Runners.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || The Indian Runners

New single: The Fire Swords || That’s Kinda Kita (and there’s also a 3 O’Clock Rock compilation album)

By / / Garage Rock / Leave a Comment

Three O’Clock Rock is an after-school and summer rock & roll music program for kids and adults in Oakland, California. Students form bands, play shows, make records, and even go on tour. Today they are releasing their 3 O’Clock Rock at Sam Phillips recording Services, Memphis, TN album, digitally and on 12″ vinyl. This LP features original songs by 3 O’Clock Rock artists as well as cover songs by artists who recorded in Memphis. Not all played equally tight and often a bit off key, but all much fun, raw and primitive, with full dedication, as it should be in this kind of music. Listen below.

However, 3 O’Clock Rock has produced more fun music not found on this compilation album. That’s Kinda Kita is the debut release by The Fire Swords from Oakland, CA – an ode to their dog: ‘Kita does tricks // She knows how to sits’. This song by Aiden (guitar / vocals), DJ (drums), and Billy (bass / vocals) is so catchy that it has been singing around in my head for weeks. These kids may be young, but they rock!

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Mad Daddy || Mad Daddy

By / / Garage Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

On their 1980 album Songs The Lord Taught Us, The Cramps sang about The Mad Daddy. You could wait for a band to be named after that, and look, here’s Mad Daddy. Since 2015 this four-piece of misfits – Dolyn Clucas-Morris (vocals / harmonica), Elvis Palooka (bass), Liam Callow (guitar), and Matt Twist (drums) – from the Isle of Man plays high octane rock ‘n’ roll punk blues, and now they have finally released their full-length self-titled debut album. These are ten powerful, energetic, rocking songs of around 3 minutes long, intended for listening very loud. Out now digitally, on CD and green vinyl LP (self released). RIYL Oblivians, The Stooges, Daddy Long Legs, The Jim Jones Revue. Give It To Me!

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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New album: Southern Culture On The Skids || At Home With Southern Culture On The Skids

By / / Blues & Roots, Country & Folk, Garage Rock / 1 Comment

About 25 years ago we were nerdy on time at the concert hall, so we saw Southern Culture On The Skids perform twice: the sound check and the real show. Camel Walk is still one of my favorite songs and new work always leads to a jump of joy. The band – Rick Miller on guitar & vocals, Mary Huff on bass & vocals, and Dave Hartman standing behind the drums – has been playing together for 30+ years, consistently recording and touring around the world. Good news: they have an awesome new album out called At Home with Southern Culture on the Skids (already released March 12, so I almost overlooked it, but luckily our hero Little Steven brought it to my attention by playing new track Run Baby Run this week, on episode 996 of his legendary Underground Garage radio show). The 11 tracks, including 2 covers – Sugar Town (written by Lee Hazlewood, first recorded by Nancy Sinatra), and Dear Mr. Fantasy (written by Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood & Chris Wood, recorded by Traffic) – were taped and mixed by Rick In his living room and at The Kudzu Ranch. And that is also the feeling that the new album evokes: a successful living room concert, a cozy and laidback rock ’n’ roll party with catchy songs that make you smile and sing along. We would have loved to be there, twice.

Out now digitally and on CD via Kudzu Records. Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs || SCOTS

New album: Danny Carney Chainsaw Symphony || Blizzard of ’82

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Power Pop, Punk / 1 Comment

I was unaware of Blizzard of ’82 until a recent Instagram endorsement by Stateline Records pointed in its direction. It’s the solo debut of Danny Carney, who used to play in Roll The Tanks, but now operates under the moniker Danny Carney Chainsaw Symphony. Hard not to be intrigued by that name, and the same applies to his music. Press play on opening track Maraschino University and you’ll discover that this is not your average record. That song stays under 3 minutes, but it is layered and catchy despite its lack of a clear chorus. It even has a intense sax solo. And that’s just the first song. The second song (VCR) does have a clear chorus that is massive  and absolutely pop oriented, but the song also have the feel of a punkrock tune. Track 3 Glomar Blues somehow moves into ’80s hardrock territory, not unlike the direction A.F.I. took  mid-career. I could go on, but the surprises keep coming and I am not sure if I have the words to explain the sound of Danny Carney Chainsaw Symphony – nor do I want to spoil the record. It’s definitely indie rock, but it very much is its own thing. It’s diverse and eclectic but not incoherent. It’s loaded with hooks. It’s an exiting record to dive into and explore in full. Basically, I have no idea what Danny Carney is up to, but it works and I want more.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Danny Carney Chainsaw Symphony

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