Book: Seth Bovey || Five Years Ahead of My Time: Garage Rock from the 1950s to the Present

By / / Garage Rock / 4 Comments

Looking back to the past to forge the future. That’s what Seth Bovey was aiming for with his history book about garage rock. The author is a professor of English at a university, but 40 years ago he also played in several garage bands. The scientist’s hand is clearer than the musician’s experience in the book; above all, it provides a thorough and detailed overview (no lack of references), roughly arranged chronologically and by location. Although many bands are mentioned in the six chapters, it is useful that the book ends with a list for recommended listening – many “garage punk unknowns”, but of course a classic like Psychotic Reaction by Count Five is not missing, see below – and recommended compilations and compilation series. Oh man, my wantlist has expanded a lot when I was reading this – you’ve been warned.

Want to hear more? I’ve collected songs mentioned in the book in this Spotify playlist.

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New album: The Parson Red Heads || Lifetime of Comedy

By / / Blues & Roots, Jangle Pop / Leave a Comment

It was worth the wait, The Parson Red Heads are back with a new LP. As they put it themselves: ‘An album full of dreams, self-reflection, and weary yearning (…) beautiful vocal melodies and harmonies, sparkling pedal steel-driven cosmic Americana and folk rock, coupled with (…) layered synths, organs and mellotrons, songs that build and drive to chaotically beautiful peaks.’ I couldn’t have said it better. Listen to stand-out track All I Wanted below.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New compilation: Various Artists || Strum  & Thrum: The American Jangle Underground 1983–1987

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

If there is one thing this compilation of obscure mid-eighties US bands shows, it’s that great jangle pop is not exclusive to the UK, AU and NZL. That’s not to say that the bands on display are mere copycats of the C86 or the Flying Nun sound. They incorporate American influences to create their own version of jangle. Slightly more production, a bit more powerpop, a lot of catchiness. All in all, this is a very strong start of Captured Tracks‘ new Excavations series – inspired by the infamous Pebbles, Killed by Death, and Numero Group compilations. It is not cheap, but you get four sides of melodic guitar catchiness as well as an 80+ page booklet with an oral history of this particular music scene. Musthave.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

Friday on my mind: TV’s Daniel || Better Than It’s Been

By / / Glam Rock / 1 Comment

I know, this 7″ from TV’s Daniel (Daniel Fried from Bad Sports, Mind Spiders, Radioactivity, among others) is over a year old, but the flip side has become one of my favorite Friday night anthems lately. I like the A side of the single – Maybe We’ll All Die, but what I really love is the B-side (always check the B-side!). Sing along: It’s Better Than It’s Been!

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp (Wild Honey Records) || Discogs

New single: Neutrals || Personal Computing

By / / Jangle Pop, Punk / 1 Comment

Slumberland Records is celebrating 30 years of quality twee, shoegaze, jangle, indiepop and poppunk releases with a singles series. I’ve had its latest installment, by Bay Area (SF) postpunkers Neutrals, on constant repeat. It has the immediate appeal of those classic late ’70’s punk singles that are now way overpriced on Discogs. The full single is available for streaming on Spotify, but it is the A-side that is the true gem here.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs

New album: The Bats || Foothills

By / / Jangle Pop / Leave a Comment

The heyday of Flying Nun Records somehow passed me by at the time, unfortunately, but that won’t happen to me again (#FOMO). The New Zealand record label is still on the right track, and look, tomorrow they are releasing The Bats‘ 10th full-length – one of those bands I also would rather have discovered in the 80’s than 30 years later, but better late than never, right? Either way, they’ve again managed to record 12 addictive songs that you can listen to all day long.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Flying Out

Kiwi jr. || Cooler Returns

By / / Indie Rock / 1 Comment

Kiwi jr are from Canada, but they sound like an Australian band fronted by Stephen Malkmus. Their debut Football Money was among my favorite records of 2019. Sub Pop will release their follow-up Cooler Returns on January 22. It’s a small sample size, but based on the first two leaked tracks, Kiwi jr. wants you to have a great start to 2021. Here’s the title track. Oh, the video is fun as well.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp | Discogs

New album: Thelonious Monster || Oh That Monster

By / / Alternative Rock / Leave a Comment

I did not see this one coming, but this fanboy is very happy with it. You probably know that Bob Forrest first had too many Sammy Hagar Weekends and later used those experiences to save others from Running with Monsters. And now, 34 years after his first and 16 years after his last album with Thelonious Monster, he is back with 10 new tracks. These sound more like the old 80’s work than the songs on their most successful LP – Beautiful Mess, but that’s not a bad thing in this case. The band will be touring again in 2021 and will also return to the Pinkpop festival – that show will not be as legendary as in 1993, but no doubt it will sound better!

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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