New album: Veronica Bianqui || Veronica Bianqui

By / / Funk & Soul, Indie Pop / 1 Comment

I totally forgot about Veronica Bianqui. So, when I heard the opening track of her just released self-titled debut, two things came to mind. One, I freaking love this song. And two, I know this song! I am referring to If Love’s a Gun, a song she released  5 (!) years ago. What took her so long? In this Buzzbands.la interview she talks about finding her voice, and dealing with personal loss and heartbreak, In spite of these struggles, this is a very confident sounding debut. Veronica’s songs are instantly likeable, but leave plenty to discover upon further listens. Veronica has an amazing voice, and these songs are pop enough and strong enough to katapult her into stardom.
Update: Almost Halloween Time Records has a limited edition of 50 copies with individually designed and hand drawn sleeves.


Add to Wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New song: Justin Angelo Morey || (Tell Me) What’s Your Name

By / / Garage Rock / Leave a Comment

Lead singer, songwriter en multi-instrumentalist Justin Angelo Morey taught himself how to play the guitar, bass, and drums by the age of 12. After a career in a few bands (The Black Hollies, Sunshine & the Rain) and establishing his own chocolate line (J. A. Morey Artisan Chocolates) he is now trying to make it as a solo artist. After digital single I Want Your Love / Waving Hello there last October this is a new fine track from his hand, (Tell Me) What’s Your Name, one that you immediately sing along. Out now through Silent Stereo Records. Why don’t they play such songs on the radio?

‘Anna took your order // You wanted chicken parm // And in that moment // I thought you could be the one’

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: Teenage Woman || Teenage Woman

By / / Punk / 2 Comments

I’ve been thinking about Lookout! Records quite a lot this year. It’s probably because I finally read Larry Livermore’s fascinating account of the rise and fall of the legendary Bay Area pop punk label. Of course, there was Pavid Vermin’s excellent tribute to the infamous Lookout! comps. There were several compilations and reissues of classic Lookout! bands as well, including Mr. T Experience, Groovie Ghoulies, and that hard to get first Donnas LP. And then there are the new acts who are clearly inspired by the classic Lookout! sound. Case in point: Teenage Woman. It’s a sideproject by Grath Madden (Steinways, House Boat), with Miranda Taylor (Full of Fancy) on vocals. They just released a sweet three song single that would fit perfectly on Lookout’s nineties roster. Check out the one-minute I Feel Fine, and see if you agree.

Lookout! Records is dead. Long live Lookout! Records.


Add to Wantlist: Bandcamp

New song: TJ Roberts || Boy Without a Band

By / / Indie Rock / Leave a Comment

This week Spotify revealed its listst with the most-streamed music around the world this year (you and I listened to other names, right?!), and users gained insight into their personal listening behavior in a so-called Spotify 2020 Wrapped overview. A lot of confusion with just about everyone I know, because why is “Chamber Psych” among the most listened to genres and what the hell is it? Looking at the bands that belong to this genre, we just keep using the category Indie Rock over here. A nice online application is that you can see which new releases have been released within such a genre, and that’s how I just discovered TJ Roberts. His sophomore album Love, Loss & Other Useless Things arrives next week via Rose Parade Recording Company, preceded by the Wilco-like track Boy Without a Band. I like it, but I wonder if Tom and his band-mates realize they’re making Chamber Psych. (Update: the answer to that question is no.)

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Bootchy Temple || In Consummated Bloom

By / / Jangle Pop / Leave a Comment

Bootchy Temple are Milia Colombani, Sam Roux, Luc Martin, Paul Trigoulet and Martin Meilhan-Bordes. Here is the new album from the French band, featuring 12 songs with dreamy Paisley Underground jangle. Music on which sea horses mate. The LP is out now on Howlin’ Banana Records and Safe In The Rain Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Safe In The Rain Records ‎|| Howlin’ Banana 

New song: Fantastic Mister Zguy || I Want You In My Bed (feat. Th Da Freak)

By / / Indie Pop / Leave a Comment

Because I sometimes listen to Th Da Freak, Spotify presented me a new track by Fantastic Mister Zguy (a new name for me) featuring the slacker hero in my Release Radar last Friday. After a few spins I still don’t know what to think about it, except that it’s a very catchy song (whoohoo!). The chorus I Want You In My Bed in combination with Margaux Jaudinaud’s not so serious graphics gave me a flashback to a provocative donor recruiting campaign from 10+ years ago, with a photo of an almost naked young woman and the text “Becoming a donor is probably your only chance to get inside her” (don’t ask why I remember that and forget important things). But if you come from France and call yourself Fantastic Mister Zguy or Th Da Freak, you may have qualities that give you more opportunities than that to live up to the song title. 😉

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp (no release information about this track available yet)

New album: Fievre || Fievre

By / / Punk / 4 Comments

Early 1987, The Ramones played their first ever show in Argentina. Now, almost 34 years later, we still reap its rewards. Fievre, from Buenos Aires, are clearly ‘Ramoneros,’ and their new selftitled record consists of twelve instant bubblegum punk classics. From album standout La vía es bella to No sos como yo, an awesome cover of the Muffs’ Not like me, Fievre clearly wants you to pogo your way through Covid-19.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp (name your price download)

New single: NewDad || I Don’t Recognise You

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

As far as I know, the Irish alternative-rock band NewDad – none of them can call themselves a dad, not even the girl from the gang – haven’t released a physical release yet, but their previous track Blue already got quite a bit of airplay in the UK. Now they present fifth (digital-only) “single” I Don’t Recognise You, in which dreamy vocals and powerful guitars alternate. The lyrics are quite heavy, but the accompanying video shows what the band stands for: ‘Fun, easy going and desperately trying to sound cooler than we are.’ An EP is said to follow in early 2021, one to look forward to.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New Single: Jiffy Marx || She’s My Witch/Warning Sign

By / / Power Pop / 2 Comments

Jiffy Marx knows his way around a tune. He plays in Autogramm, who released a bunch of great singles (this is my favorite). He just released his first solo 7″. It’s a classic double A-sided power pop single. Here is She’s my Witch, a song about his wife, who I am sure he loves very dearly. The video, another solo effort by Jiffy, is build around a classic optical illusion that smartly complements the lyrics. Well played, Jiffy. Well played!

Add to Wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New single: The Cavemen || Euthanise Me

By / / Punk / 1 Comment

Australia and New Zealand have become a hotbed for a lot of today’s best punk acts, with Amyl and the Sniffers, Dennis Cometti, the Chats and Stiff Richards. The Cavemen are cut from the same mold. Their 2019 record Night after Night comes highly recommended. On their latest single Euthanise Me, they blister through 4 classic punk tracks in less than 8 minutes. High intensity, plenty of melody.


Add to Wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs || Slovenly Records

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