New EP: Bitchkiss || All Blondes Go To Hell

By / / Garage Rock, Glam Rock / 1 Comment

The cover of the All Blondes Go To Hell EP features a mashup of the two members of Bitchkiss: Zach Megalis and his girlfriend Ellie. Zach writes the music and plays all the instruments, Ellie writes all the words and sings them with full conviction. Which is just as well with song titles like Hot Sex, Hollywood Perverts, and Death At The Beach. Oh and the title track of course, which Ellie, who is a blonde herself, introduces by exlaiming seductively: “I’m not Sweet, Just Nasty.” As soon as the music kicks in,  the sound of Bitchkiss reveals itself: Glamrock that is equal parts The Runaways and ’80s hair metal but without the guitar solo’s and the song length. Oh, and with a lot of palm muted guitar riffs (which I am a sucker for), a growling singer and maximum punk attitude. I find myself returing to the EP frequently, always turning up the volume.

The couple recorded the four-song EP in their apartment in Hollywood. “The EP is inspired by the many perversions & delusions of Southern California,” Zach explains. Zach, by the way, did the album art. Mashing up faces is a recurring theme, see his Instagram page for more of his work. I particularly like the comic book mashups.

Anything else, Bitchkiss? “We were born 2,000 years ago on Planet Mars. We love lobster tails, margaritas, beach parties, and sex shops. Our favorite color is green.”



Bitchkiss plans on releasing the EP on vinyl sometime soon. Music video’s are also in the works.
Add to wantlist : Bandcamp

New album: Barmudas || Every Day Is Saturday Night

By / / Glam Rock / Leave a Comment

Italian four-piece Barmudas take their band’s name from the unknown Barmuda district in Florence’s old town, the last bastion against the invasion of zombie-tourists, hipsters, indie posers, baristas, cover bands, fashion influencers and snob-intellectuals, a place where outsiders with poor taste in look, music and artistic stuff rule. In short, the perfect environment for a dirty glittered shiny cheap mixture of raucous rock ‘n’ roll, and that’s exactly what Smendock (voals), Luca Nacker (bass), King-Dom guitar), and Zak (drums) play. They just released their full-length debut album Every Day is Saturday Night, and the expectations raised by the cover art are satisfied by the music. This is crazee glam rock for those who like Pink Boots & Lipstick, ten energetic party tunes to stomp on (Rock the Barmudas!) and shout along (Shake A Shaker!). Stream the full album below. Highly recommended for fans of Giuda, Sam Coffey And The Iron Lungs, New Swears (or for the older readers: Slade, New York Dolls, Sweet). The speakers just blew up at Add To Wantlist HQ, be warned.

Every Day is Saturday Night is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Area Pirata Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Nightwatchers || Common Crusades

By / / Punk / Leave a Comment

Who would have thought that one of 2021s most exciting punkrock releases to come out of France? I know I didn’t. It’s not like Nightwatchers’ Common Crusades necessarily sounds all that French or European for that matter, although the subtle postpunk leanings of some of their songs aren’t really North-American either. Common Crusades is the perfect blend of strong songwriting, aggression, and melody that make the record a joy to dive into. Nightwatchers expertly mix it up in terms of dynamics, intensity and pace, and in doing so they retain you interest from start to finish.

Nightwatchers is a band that cares deeply about politics and societal issues, and the main theme on Common Crusades is the post-colonial history of France and the unfair treatment of the country’s Muslim population. I’d like to believe Nightwatchers’ political awareness explains why their songs sound so intense and heartfelt. But even though I recommend listening to the record with the lyric sheet on your lap, you will also fall for this record without that context. Common Crusaders is out now on all digital platforms. LP release on Lövely Records is late november, CD release TBA.


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Härvan || Åttadagarsvecka

By / / Punk / Leave a Comment

Vera Andersson (Bass), Emil Karlsson (Drums), and Mats Källblad (Guitar) make up Härvan. On their new album Åttadagarsvecka, the three musicians from Malmö (Sweden) play an interesting branch of punkrock that appears to be heavily influenced by the DC hardcore scene of the ’80s. Early Dag Nasty is the most obvious point of reference for me musically, but also due to the heartfelt melodic screaming of singer Källblad that is not unlike Dave Smalley. Härvan has retained some of the pubrock’n’roll influences that were more central to their previous release Pubpunk, most notably on the Chubby And The Gangesque Ölbiljett. But overall, the new album is way more of the classic melodic hardcore I love.

As an eight track, ten minute record, Åttadagarsvecka offers a burst of adrenaline and instant gratification, but with enough depth and passion to have lasting quality.

Add to wantlist: Marang Records

New album: Fuzz Gun || Silverstoned

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

Garage rock comes in all shapes and sizes, and one rehearsal room is not like another. Although Portland, Oregon six-piece Fuzz Gun say they play dirty, fuzzy rock ‘n’ roll, I suspect they’re a lot tidier than many other bands in the genre (note: I wrote this before watching the video below ;-)). The guitar riffs may be heavy, and the lead vocals gritty, but they manage to avoid an overcrowded wall of sound; the instruments give each other space and the handclaps, backup vocals, and clear production provide a nice contrast. Not unimportant, the starting point is good, because Todd Eaton (vocals, guitar, keys, percussion), Robert Trujillo (bass), Mark Wanaka (guitar), Brian Smith (drums, percussion), Lori Van Dreal (vocals), and Ditte Kuijpers ( vocals) know how to write catchy songs. They prove that eight times in a row on their new full-length album Silverstoned. Listen carefully, because the band members challenge you: four tracks were already recorded in the studio before the pandemic broke out, the other 4 tracks were recorded remotely by themselves. Can you distinguish which is which?

Stream the full LP below.

Silverstoned is out now digitally. Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Emma Russack & Lachlan Denton || Something Is Going To Change Tomorrow, Today. What Will You Do? What Will You say?

By / / Country & Folk, Indie Pop, Jangle Pop / Leave a Comment

Emma Russack and Lachlan Denton are prolific songwriters from Melbourne. Somehow, between recording with their respective bands (Snowy Band, The Ocean Part, Pop Filter and others), they find time to write records together. Something Is Going To Change Tomorrow, Today. What Will You Do? What Will You say? is their latest collaborative project, their fourth (!) in three years. How do they do it? Well, combine friendship, a desire for writing honest pop music, and efficiency – the record was recorded in about 12 hours on tape.

The result is 26 minutes of laid back indiepop tunes with beautiful melodies and harmonies (listen to Long Road for example). Some have an old timey country feel to them (Still Life), some are more folky (Oh Alice, Authenticity), whereas SIGTCTT and WWYDWWYS provide slacker rock mirror images to start and close the album. And then there is Grass Is Greener, which is 100 seconds of indie pop perfection.  SIGTCTTWWYDWWYS  is out now on Bobo Integral (EU) and Spunk Records (AUS).



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Spunk Records

New album: Mike Skill || Skill…Mike Skill

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

You know The Romantics’ 1979 hit What I Like About You, right? You’ve probably heard it many times (just like their other hits, but that aside), but Mike Skill, co-founding member of the American rock band, has made a new version of the classic party anthem for his debut solo album, self-titled in the James Bond way: Skill…Mike Skill. With The Romantics touring halted during the pandemic, he turned to songwriting in his home studio, reflecting on the music that he grew up with. The old rocker recorded 11 original songs – he did the vocals, guitars, and bass – along with Brad Elvis, and Kevin Rankin. In addition, Wayne Kramer, Chloe F. Orwell, and Patrick Harwood also stopped by for guest appearances. Chuck Alkazian was in the producer’s chair.

What do you do on your first solo LP after four decades of The Romantics? Exactly, doing what you are good at: playing loud! These new power-pop tracks are catchy as can be, with good old-fashioned guitar solos and drum breaks, to dance and sing along to. In both the lyrics and the vocals you can hear the experience and life on the road from all those years ago. This is a debut rooted in the past but to be cherished in the present, a debut to be very proud of. Stream the full album below.

“I’m an Iggy Sympathizer // A Scott Rationalizer // A Wayne K Rocker // A Fred Sonic Shocker // And Matheu on the lens // With a Sonic Rendezvous mobster // Got Ron and Scott haulin’ // A Locomotive Destroyin’ Monster / Yeah yeah yeah” – from We Got Your Rock’n Roll

Skill…Mike Skill is out now digitally, a vinyl LP will follow later this year. Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Velvet Starlings || Technicolour Shakedown

By / / Garage Rock, Psych / Leave a Comment

Fans of the Teenage Shutdown! compilations should pay attention now. With their 60s infused garage rock ‘n’ roll, you could have found Californian four-piece Velvet Starlings on one of those great LPs, but that’s not the case, this is brand new music. The band was formed a few years ago by young lead singer, guitarist and organ player Christian Gisborne, and rounded out by Foster Poling (drums), Hudson Polling (bass), and Ashton Minnich (second guitar). You really should see these guys live, but due to the fact that they couldn’t tour during the lockdown, they recorded their new LP Technicolour Shakedown (although they already released an album in 2019, they see this one as their official debut, and there’s also already news about their next one, Pacific Standard Time, which you can expect Summer 2022). These ten tracks carry everything that makes the genre – fuzzy garage rock, flooded with a wave of psych – so enjoyable: a raucous sound to jump on and crowdsurf to, gritty vocals, and enthusiastic lyrics (from the title track: “It don’t matter now if you’re Beatles or Stones // Not the style of ya hair or your colorful clothes // All the kids are alright in the crowd down below // Louder their shoutin’ // Turn it up and turn it on”) . This is your new favorite band, enjoy!

Technicolour Shakedown is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP via Sound x3 Records, Symphonic Distribution, Golden Robot Records, and Kitten Robot Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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New album: Semihelix || Recoil

By / / Indie Pop, Psych / Leave a Comment

Austin, Texas singer/guitarist Geannie Friedman played in hardcore band Kite Flying Society, and in two pop bands Saving Twilight, The Weak Ends, and the Wonderers, before starting Semihelix. Initially it was a solo project, but now Kevin Martin (bass), and Valdemar Barrera (drums) are part of the lineup. The trio plays fuzzy dream psych pop with melodic yet loud sounds. Their full-length debut album Recoil is about resilience, love, depression, uplifting others, and bouncing back. I can imagine that the band members are gazing at their shoes one moment, and staring into nothingness the next, but in between look at you defiantly. The ten songs on this record are light and dark at the same time, mixing emotions, and enchanting you slowly but surely.

Recoil is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl LP via Mariel Recording Company. Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Andrew Taylor and The Harmonizers || Andrew Taylor and The Harmonizers

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

What did you do during the lockdowns? Did you hybernate bingewatching series all day? Did you work out more? Read more books? Took a lot of walks? For some of us, the restrictions hindered our well-being and proactivity. For others, the lockdowns unlocked opportunities, time and energy to get creative. Count Andrew Taylor in the latter category. The Scot, who also fronts the indie pop powerhouses Dropkick and the Boys With The Perpetual Nervousness, started turning the randomly recorded audio clips, melodies and chord progressions on his phone into actual songs, which he recorded solo in his garage. Soon after, more songs were recorded with the help of his brother Alastair, Ian Grier (also of Dropkick) and long-time collaborator Iain Sloan. They called themselves The Harmonizers.

Within a couple of months, Taylor had about 40 songs which he originally planned, depending on their musical direction, as blueprints for a new solo record, or a Dropkick or Boys With The Perpetual Nervousness record. Early 2021, Taylor decided to pick the best songs from the previous year for a proper vinyl, CD and digital release – with The Harmonizers re-recording and improving the songs that had none of their prior input. I’m grateful he did. The 14 songs on the self-titled record are warm and pleasant, and you have to admire Taylor for being so prolific without making any concessions to the quality of the songs. The melodies are smooth yet jangly, the harmonies are gorgeous, and the balance between more uptempo tracks and more subdued ones is about perfect. It’s classic indie (power)pop for fans of Teenage Fanclub and Wilco.



Andrew Taylor and The Harmonizers is available for streaming on Bandcamp. The CD and LP will be available early December. Pre-orders are up now.
Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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