New album: Nick Frater || Earworms

By / / Power Pop, Psych / 1 Comment

Can you judge a record by its cover? It’s one of my go-to strategies while browsing the internet for new releases. Sure, it’s no waterproof system, but there is just so much music out there and often the artwork (and bandname) is a good indication of the style and quality of music.

In the case of the new Nick Frater record, the not so modestly and yet appropriately titled Earworms, I was already positively biased towards the record because I liked the artwork so much. An additional factor in my positivity bias was that Big Stir Records, who have a knack of finding gems in the hit or miss world of powerpop and guitar pop, would release the record. That album art (by Adam Mallett) is a subtle play on the Beatles’ Revolver and the album title Earworms. The cover features a collage of images from Frater’s life and music.

Sonically, Frater’s music also feels like a collage of styles and influences. Album opener It’s All Rumours is probably my favorite track. It’s classic ’70s radio friendly powerpop. As a whole, the album may be a bit too polished and easy going for me personally, but I appreciate what Frater is going for: “I wanted to make an album that sounds and feels like a lost treasure from the mid ’70s melodic rock scene,” says Frater. “I’ll leave it to your ears to decide, but I think we got pretty close!”

In response, I’d say Frater nailed it with songs like It’s All Rumours and What’s With Your Heavy Heart. If you have a taste for ’60s and ’70s guitar pop, give this one a spin.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: The Sanitizers || Kiss me, I’m vaccinated + 3

By / / Garage Rock / 1 Comment

Do yourself a favor and don’t skip this one because the title above doesn’t appeal to you. The pandemic is still not done with us, but we are done with the pandemic, so we try to avoid news, books and music on that subject. But, as always, there are exceptions, as this socially isolated supergroup* – members of MFC Chicken, King Salami & The Cumberland Three, The Nettelles, Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, Lyres, among others – have put good advice to good music. Under the moniker of The Sanitizers the musicians previously released the disinfected tunes Kiss Me, I’m Vaccinated, Sneeze In Your Sleeve, and Sa-Ni-Ti-Zin, and together with a fourth, new track EE-NO-CU-LA-SHON!, these are now available as EP. Classic garage and surf rock riffs are combined with semi-serious lyrics that will make you laugh, and thanks to a saxophone and toy piano it sounds like catchy pub rock. It may be a gimmick, but it’s also a sensible use of the lock-down time: I wouldn’t be surprised if these songs are a more effective way of communicating than the government’s rational public service announcements, but what I know for sure is that this is a lot more fun. 

*The Sanitizers are Spencer Evoy (vocals, saxophone), Dan Criscuolo (guitar), Eric “Baconstrip” Boitier (toy drums, percussions), Angus McPake (vibraphone, organ, piano), Phil Lenker (bass), and Peter Greenberg (guitar, extra sneezes). Their EP Kiss me, I’m vaccinated + 3 is out now digitally and on vinyl 7″ through Folc Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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New album: Betty Won’t || Lucky

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

It took me a while to decode what’s in the cover photo, but my attention was captured. The band name of this five-piece hailing from South Minneapolis also raises questions: who is Betty and what does she refuse to do? That’s guesswork, but what we do know: the band consists of Margo (guitar, vocals), Eliot (lead guitar), Sheela (keys), Fletcher (bass), and Jackson (drums), and they play tender twangy rock ‘n’ roll with influences from country, blues and soul. If Tami Neilson had played in a garage rock band back in the day, I guess it would have sounded something like this. Their own description is more telling though: Betty Won’t sings with a tear in her eye and a skip in her step. Their debut album Lucky, just released, consists of five new original songs and four re-recorded tracks that were previously on a demo with the Guarantees. Lo-fi, honest, raw and authentic, captivating in every way. One question remains: would the stuffed animal on the cover be the Demon Dog they’re singing about?

Lucky is out now digitally and soon also available on cassette. Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New video: Mikey And His Uke || Something To Believe In (Ramones)

By / / Punk / Leave a Comment

Let’s face it, it hasn’t been the easiest of times. A lot of us have been struggling with lockdowns, being quarantined, not being able to go to shows. And across the planet we see Covid-19 readying itself for a comeback tour.

That’s why I wanted to share this timely cover by Mikey Hawdon’s cover project that’s been a bright beacon of light during the pandemic. Last week, he released a cover of Something To Believe In from The Ramones’ Animal Boy. He’s joint by an all star cast including Nikola Sarcevic (Millencolin), CJ Ramone, Chris Cresswell (The Flatliners), Randy Bradbury (Pennywise), Karina Denike (Dance Hall Crashers), Dave Raun (Lagwagon/Me First And The Gimmie Gimmies), Rose & Matilda Farrell (Yee Loi), Mickey Leigh (Mickey Leigh’s Mutated Music/STOP/The Rattlers/Birdland With Lester Bangs), Scott James (Movin In Stereo) and Amy Gabba (Amy Gabba And The Almost Famous).

While the Ramones originally released the song 25 years ago, it feels like it was written for these times. Equal part desperation and hope, this one hits home. Thanx again Mikey, for starting and continuing this project.

New EP: The Landovers || Labor Dazed

By / / Country & Folk / Leave a Comment

Let’s take a break, and look at everything that’s going on from a distance for a moment, while listening to Labor Dazed, the debut EP by the Landovers from Urbana, Illinois. “Ya can’t complain, let me tell ya why // Cause there’s folks out there, got it worse than I // So when I ask how ya been // Let’s just start by saying, I can’t complain.” Wise words, set to beautiful music, by a bunch of accomplished musicians who used the time during the pandemic to record four soulful country songs. There is simply nothing to complain about this project from Nicholas Stine (distinctive vocals), Clayton Deering (pedal steel), Charlie Harris (bass guitar), Cody Jensen (honky tonk piano/organ), Emily McKown (backing vocals), and Dave Pride (drums).


Labor Dazed is out now digitally. Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New song: Massage || In Gray & Blue (Single Version)

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

Has there ever been a time where music was this superflous, where music was this readily available? In the current musical landscape, discovering new music often can feel like fleeting encounters. Bands can release really great records that are well received by fans and critics alike, but they still can get lost in the steady overflow of new music.

Given these developments, I am happy to see a band I really like being the exception to that rule. Massage released their sophomore album Still Life last June, but  positive reviews of their record still frequently pop up, and influential djs and playlist curators increasingly are adding their songs into rotation. It’s well deserved, and proof of the longevity of the record.

As a special treat, Massage plans to put out a second 2021 release on December 10th. The six song Lane Line EP features three new songs, two demos (vinyl only), and an alternate version of the excellent Still Life track In Gray & Blue. Watch the video below. Oh, and if you’ve missed it, check out the Gimme 5 feature we did with the band in which they discuss five of their inspirational records.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Jr. Gone Wild || Still Got The Jacket

By / / Alternative Rock, Country & Folk / Leave a Comment

Between 1983 and 1995, Canadian alternative country band Jr. Gone Wild was successful with five albums and countless epic live shows, combining folk and rock with a punk attitude. Over 25 years later, original members Mike McDonald (guitars, vocals), Steve Loree (lead guitar) and Dave “Dove” Brown (bass) have reunited, with McDonald’s nephew Quinton Herbert on drums (he’s replacing drummer Larry Shelast, who passed away in 2019). On their new double LP Still Got The Jacket, on which they pick up where they left off. The 16(!) new tracks are energetic, uplifting and danceable, a stunning mix of twangy rock, melodic country-punk and glorious power pop. Original tracks like Old and Ugly and Barricades are new classics, the cover of Chilliwack’s Fly At Night (featuring Chilliwack founder Bill Hendersen) is telling – “Four men in a rock ‘n’ roll band // Fly at night, in the morning we country” – and fits in well. You can hear the chemistry between skilled musicians, the hard-earned experience, and the joy of playing in everything. The band name may seem a bit strange in 2021 – time has not stood still (that also applies to the girl in the crowd) – but the four men not only still have their leather jackets, but also still play with the fire that characterized their performances back in the day. If this is what alt-country means, Jr. Gone Wild should continue like this.

Still Got The Jacket is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl 2LP through Stony Plain Records / (weewerk) Recordings.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New single: Lonely Girls || Reflections

By / / Country & Folk, Power Pop / Leave a Comment

Dutch drummer Kees Schaper has been playing as a live/session musician behind artists like Tim Easton, Jett Rebel and Tim Knol for over 15 years, but I mainly know him from garage rock band The Miseries: their self-titled album was number 11 in my year-end list of 2015, and live they were also very entertaining. I still hope that one day this will be continued, but for now Schaper has started a new project under the moniker of Lonely Girls, in which all lessons learned come together. Reflections, the A-side of their first single, is a classic melodic power pop song in which the complete expert bag of tricks is opened to reach perfection in two and a half minutes. The B-side is a nice folky cover of Nick Lowe’s Lately I’ve Let Things Slide, which does the original more than justice. With this, Lonely Girls will quickly find company.

Reflections is out now digitally and on limited 7″ vinyl through I Love My Label / Milkcow Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: The Reytons || Kids off the Estate

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

UK indie rock band The Reytons – vocalist Jonny Yerrell (vocals), lead guitarist Joe O’Brien, bassist Lee Holland, and drummer Jamie Simpson – spent five years working towards the release of their debut album Kids Off The Estate. The bumpy journey to this moment can be seen in the documentary Becoming The Reytons on YouTube. Look where they are now – goosebumps all over when you hear a full house roar the lyrics of title track KOTE: “You don’t have to hate // The kids off the estate // Mates after a fate // And they called them Reytons” – an anthem for everyone who knows what it’s like to hang out on the street. The LP has 13 other infectious guitar rockers – we already knew a number of them from their previous EPs – that will do well everywhere (on the car radio, from your speakers at home, in the concert halls, etc.). The sound is reminiscent of hits that you often heard 15 years ago (Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs, Courteeners, Dirty Pretty Things, etc.), hits like they are no longer made. The band members will never deny South Yorkshire’s working class, but let’s face it: with such great songs and such a convincing stage presence, they’ll be away from home a lot, to conquer the rest of the world. The Reytons are the ‘right ones’ to get that job done.

Kids off the Estate is out now on CD, cassette and vinyl LP through Scruff Of The Neck.

Add to wantlist: Discogs || The Reytons Shop || Scruff Of The Neck

New album: Katujen Äänet || Kaiken Jälkeen

By / / Power Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

I can’t recall having heard of Katujen Äänet before, but the band has been part of the punk scene of Finland for over ten years now. In that period they released their debut album Sulle, Joka Yksin Aina Oot and several 7″ singles. They just released their sophomore album Kaiken Jälkeen. I am glad I stumbled on it because it is one killer record.

Listening to Katujen Äänet is like a throwback to late ’70s punkrock and powerpop, with just a dash from ’80s new wave for good measure. The songs on Kaiken Jälkeen essentially are pop songs put through a punk blender, and the results are tasty and contagious. Listen to songs like Matkalla Taas, Mitä jäljelle Jää and Nuori, Viaton Ja Sekaisin Kaikesta for example. Hits! The crisp production and the fact that the songs are sung in Finnish only adds to the coolness and sense of authenticity of Katujen Äänet.

Another release that is not on Bandcamp or Soundcloud, so you have to with the video and Spotify links below. Stream Kaiken Jälkeen now, buy the CD, or wait a little longer for the vinyl (thanx again, Adele).



Add to wantlist: Discogs || Stupido Records

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