New EP: The Poppermost || Les Poppermost

By / / Garage Rock / Leave a Comment

Two years ago we were introduced to Scottish beat outfit The Poppermost, whose debut LP Hits To Spare revived The Beatles’ heyday. At the time it was still a solo effort by Joe Kane (Dr. Cosmo’s Tape Lab, The Owsley Sunshine), now they have grown into a full band* without the sound being substantially different. In one single day they recorded four new songs, using vintage Rickenbacker, Hofner, Gretsch, and Ludwig instruments – rhythm ‘n’ beat tunes that would all have been hits 59 years ago. However, the uplifting melodies and harmony vocals on this almost-eponymous EP also ensure that the sun will shine in 2023. Keep calm and carry on swinging.


Les Poppermost, written & produced by Joe Kane, is out now digitally and on vinyl 7″ through Rogue Records. *Featuring Joe Kane (lead vocals, piano), Richard Anderson (bass, vocals), Craig McGown (guitar, vocals) and Ross “Des” Wilson (drums, percussion).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Pretty Matty || Heavenly Sweetheart

By / / Indie Rock, Power Pop / 1 Comment

Pretty Matty is comprised of Matty Morand and Sam Bielanski who also make up two thirds of PONY. PONY dropped their much fun Velveteen album just a couple of weeks ago. Yesterday, the two multitalented people (who also create the 2 Much TV podcast) dropped another LP as Pretty Matty with PONY drummer Josh Cassidy and guitarist Christian Beale rounding out the four-piece on the recordings.

Whereas I’d describe PONY’s Velveteen as alt pop, Pretty Matty’s Heavenly Sweetheart is closer to powerpop. Not the classic ’70s kind, nor the skinny tie ’80s brand. Rather, Pretty Matty sit comfortably besides modern bands like Dazy and Young Guv. Pretty Matty do not overcomplicate their songs, and find strength in simplicity – as such, Tony Molina is another natural point of reference. Of course, when you write melodies this infectious, adding bells and whistles would only distract and undermine what a blast Heavenly Sweetheart is.

Cassette out now at Charlotte (North-Carolina) label Self Aware Records.




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Las Yakets || Regresa El Rocanrol

By / / Garage Rock / Leave a Comment

Costa Rica three-piece Las Yakets celebrate their five-year anniversary with the new six-track EP Regresa El Rocanrol (translated: the rock ‘n’ roll is back). Surf rock meets garage punk in three instrumentals and three Spanish sung songs, all energetic and exciting. For the band – the current line-up consists of Carlos Orozco (guitar, vocals), Agustín Solís (bass) and Gabriel Meneses (drums) – it’s all about playing rock ‘n’ roll as it was done in 1966. That sounds even better in their native language: “Lo demás no me interesa // Hoy quiero perder la cabeza // Yo voy a tocar Rocanrol” (from Rocanrol). We won’t have to tell you that this comes with a lot of fun: “Ya no, no hay nada que hacer // Ya no, no hay donde tocar // Está muy mal querer solo // Un poco de diversión” (from standout track San José). We can only agree.



Regresa El Rocanrol, recorded & produced by Gabriel Meneses, is out now digitally (self-released).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

Single Premiere: Taxi Girls || After Effect (New EP Coming Up Roses Out July 7th)

By / / Garage Rock, Glam Rock, Punk / 1 Comment

Are you on the Taxi Girls bandwagon yet? In a couple of weeks the Montreal trio of Jamie (Pale Lips, Reta Records), Vera, and Lynn will release their debut EP Coming Up Roses. To be precise, it will be out on Dirt Cult (cassette) and Wild Honey Records (vinyl) on July 7. The first single Sunshine was a scrappy punk rock’n’roll blast that upped the sikedness level. Today, we proudly premiere the second track by Taxi Girls. It’s called After Effect and it’s “an ode to uncertainty,” Jamie explains. “After Effect is about situational relationships and the whirling, twirling pit of anxiety that comes along with not knowing exactly what’s going to happen next.”

The band dubs it as “a blast of fresh sound thrown to you at 150mph.” It’s certified fresh for sure! Three elements of the song stand out: 1) the driving bass riff by Jamie that provides the heartbeat of the song and together with the drums will make your head bop from the get-go, 2) the verse that is sung with a healthy dose of punk bite, and 3) the chorus that has a super catchy sugary harmony that contrasts perfectly with the verse. Jamie adds: “We had a lot of fun writing this one – building it up from the bass and drum beat, adding layers or guitars and then finally coming up with the melody and words. It came together nicely and it’s super fun to play live!”

Sunshine was great, After Effect may be even better. Just drop that EP already, Taxi Girls!


Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Dirt Cult

New album: Thought Patrol || Thought Patrol

By / / Garage Rock, Psych / Leave a Comment

Thought Patrol (great band name, don’t you think?) is a psych rock trio from Sioux Falls, South Dakota (US), featuring Cain Rotert, Tianna Rotert and Jacob Vande Vegte. The nine songs they wrote, recorded and performed for their self-titled debut LP may be short, but are so powerful and energetic that you will be floored after 24 minutes. This is frantic indie rock with a psychedelic layer of chrome and dangerously sharp hooks – thumping beats, crunching guitars and irrepressible vocals, delivered as eager and loose as first output should sound. Mind-blowing.



Thought Patrol’s self-titled album, mixed & mastered by Will Beringer, is out now digitally via Louie the Dog Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Red River Ex’s || This Ain’t Love

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

This one’s been lying dormant in my listening pile for far too long, time to wake it! Meet Red River Ex’s, featuring Karen Thompson, Jan Quackenbus, Brian Hildebrand – with Marc LeNeveu pitching in on drums on one of the songs. The group recorded their new album This Ain’t Love all over the globe, from Berlin to Winnipeg. Daniel Pangman describes it aptly as: “The ghost of Nancy Sinatra walks into a record store and asks for the new Deborah Harry and Lee Hazlewood LP.” Red River Ex’s This Ain’t Love is THAT LP. In short. Red River Ex’s play countrified and rough-around-the-edges garage pop/rock that ticks a lot of the right boxes. My favorite song is For Shame.

This Ain’t Love is out now through Winnipeg’s Eat Em Up Records.




Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: Glitter Wizard || Kiss the Boot

By / / Glam Rock / Leave a Comment

Universal Music and Music On Vinyl recently released 2-LP Glam Rock Collected, a solid compilation of pop hits that everyone over 40 has heard too many times. It prompted me to dive into a hidden but sparkling corner of Bandcamp to see if there are any more contemporary bands – besides cool acts like Brower, Kissa and Hammered Satin – that keep the genre alive. That’s where I stumbled upon Glitter Wizard aka G Wiz, the San Francisco, California-based collective featuring Lorfin Terrafor (guitars, vocals), Wendy Stonehenge (lead vocals), Kandi Moon (bass, vocals), Doug Graves (synths, sequinser), Fancy Cymballs (drums, vocals), Screamin’ Lord Duff (vocals) and Geoff Yeaton (sax), who have been around the scene for a while, but returned last spring with mini-album Kiss the Boot. It features six hard stomping punk ‘n’ roll tracks that hark back to the junk shop aesthetic of the 1970s, including a cover of David Bowie’s Suffragette City and future classics like She’s a Star and Pogo Tonight. This gives hope for a more original volume 2 of Glam Rock Collected one day.



Kiss the Boot, recorded with with Paul Roessler, is out now digitally, on CD and vinyl 12″ through Kitten Robot Records.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Discogs || Kitten Robot

New album: Kitty & The Rooster || Ain’t Pussyfootin’ Around

By / / Garage Rock, Surf Music / Leave a Comment

A pussycat and a cock walk into a bar to make some noise. That sounds like the start of a bad joke, but actually it is the business model of Canadian rock ‘n’ roll duo Kitty & The Rooster. On their debut album One Gig Hard Drive (2018) they introduced themselves in opening song Kitty & The Rooster’s Official Bio (“We’re like The Black Keys, with better tits”), now Jodie Ponto on the stand-up cocktail drum kit and Noah Walker on electric guitar – they share vocal duties – are back with their second long player, Ain’t Pussyfootin’ Around. Expect eleven “true tales from the tour van” with explicit lyrics in which pretty cleverly worded humor is key, songs that elicit blushing and loud laughter during live shows (“Just when I was popping my rock n’ roll boner // A man tapped me on the shoulder, told me he was the owner // He said: You need a license for dancing in here // So could you tell all these people to get back in their chairs?”). However, all this is way more than a gimmick – musically the tracks are perfectly fine, an infectious and skilfully played mix of 60s-inspired surf rock and energetic rockabilly, with two voices that go together nicely. This record offers 35 minutes of danceable fun, and if you listen very closely you might even hear a deeper message.



Ain’t Pussyfootin’ Around, recorded & mixed by Corwin Fox, and mastered by Brock McFarlane, is out now digitally and on CD (self-released). Also featuring Jody Peck & Kathleen Nisbet aka The Cockettes on background vocals, and Tom Heuckendorff on organ & piano.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: Zack Keim || Better Days / Maggie

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

We liked Zack Keim‘s previous single Canyon / Alice, and are still looking forward to the sophomore LP from the Pittsburgh-based singer-songwriter, but his new 45 Better Days / Maggie will get us through the coming weeks. A-side Better Days should be a big summer hit – everything’s right here, from the summer melody and rich rhythms to the sing-along chorus with a nostalgic Beach Boys feel. B-side Maggie (watch the video here) is more subdued, but just as melancholy and seductive.

Better Days b/w Maggie is out this Friday, digitally and on vinyl 7″, through Action Weekend.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Charlie Brown Gets A Valentine || Severance

By / / Alternative Rock, Punk / Leave a Comment

What’s the deal with Charlie Brown Gets A Valentine? I thought they were on indefinite hiatus. Then suddenly this year, they released their final album Dismissed on vinyl for the first time to mark its 20th anniversary. And now there is a new record as well? And you know what, the eight songs on Severance sound pretty inspired. There is no dialing it in with CBgaV who have a way of finding the sweet spot between nostalgia and freshness. This one rocks and the touches of ’90s alternative and an emotional edge makes the punkrock CBgaV stand out of the pack.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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