The Uppers - Manic Melodies

The Uppers, a band I first wrote about three years ago, are back with a sophomore 7" that could not be any more up my alley. Out on Spaghetty Town Records, Boulevard Trash, and Wanda Records, the aptly-named Manic Melodies features four tracks of tuneful power pop meets '77-style punk with a swaggering rock edge. Producer Tuk Smith helps The Uppers attain a more powerful and polished sound, but otherwise little has changed from the band's debut single Get Down With... All four of these tunes are catchy and melody-forward yet still pack a serious punch. One listen to "Stimulation" will give you a jolt equivalent to three cups of coffee. "Madam Please" is sure to be stuck in your head all day and for at least half the next one. And there's no drop-off on Side B. It's certainly a bad pun to say that this band's songwriting has been "upped" for this release, but it's no lie. If the likes of Wyldlife, RMBLR, Biters, and early D Generation float your boat, you will definitely want to snag yourself a copy of Manic Melodies on Coke bottle clear vinyl!

-L.R.

https://wandarecords.bandcamp.com/album/manic-melodies
https://open.spotify.com/album/0292wW2RA42LQFW0MSP3Gi
https://spaghettytownrecords.bigcartel.com/product/the-uppers-manic-melodies-ep-clear-vinyl
https://theuppers1.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/GetDownWithTheUppers
https://www.facebook.com/SpaghettyTown
https://www.instagram.com/spaghettytownrecords/
https://boulevardtrashpunk.com/shop-1/ols/products/preorder-the-uppers---manic-melodies
https://www.facebook.com/boulevardtrashtulsa/
https://www.instagram.com/boulevardtrashtulsa
https://www.instagram.com/the_uppers__/

The Uppers - Get Down With...

Today I've got something super awesome for my fellow '77 punk fanatics! The Uppers are a band out of St. Louis, Missouri who've been around since 2017. They put a demo up on Bandcamp around two-and-a-half years ago but have not shared any music online since then beyond the occasional live clip on YouTube. But they have now released a debut 7" on Boulevard Trash in the U.S.A. and No Front Teeth Records in the U.K. The name of the record is Get Down With The Uppers, and it features four tracks of high energy punk rock and roll with a touch of power pop. If you're only familiar with the demo tracks, you may be surprised by how much poppier this 7" is. But that pop influence is still mixed with a really tough and snotty punk rock sound. "Oh Boy" is the perfect jolt of energy to kick off the record. It manages to remind me of The Briefs and early D Generation at the same time. In other spots, I'm catching a RMBLR meets Wyldlife vibe (it's no surprise that The Uppers had a track on a Spaghetty Town comp!). If you like your '70s punk sleaze with a side of pop hooks, "Bad Dog Pound" and "To Be King" ought to be right up your alley. All in all, this is a record that will make you wanna run around like a maniac while you pump your fist and shout along to the choruses. There's no indication that these tracks are going to be released in any digital format. So if you want some Uppers in your life, you're gonna need to go about it the old-fashioned way and buy a record! If you require a sample of the goods, check out these vids from the Boulevard Trash Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/184609425076148/videos/1955487701249464
https://www.facebook.com/184609425076148/videos/506116040344177

Look for another collaboration between Boulevard Trash and No Front Teeth coming very soon: a brand new full-length from Cold Callers!

-L.R.

https://boulevardtrashpunk.com/shop/ols/products/preorder-the-uppers-get-down-with-7
https://www.discogs.com/The-Uppers-Get-Down-With/release/15610590
https://www.facebook.com/GetDownWithTheUppers
https://theuppers1.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/boulevardtrashtulsa
https://www.nofrontteeth.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/No-Front-Teeth-Records-117591658310943/

The Wheelz - Top 10 Super Hits!

So do you like snotty '77-style punk? I sure do! And this new album from The Wheelz called Top 10 Super Hits! has me fondly recalling a time when this type of sound was all the rage. The Wheelz hail from Tulsa, Oklahoma and play catchy-as-hell sing-along drunk punk that takes me straight back to the '90s. Out on Wanda Records in Europe and Boulevard Trash in the States, Top 10 Super Hits! is the perfect album to crank loud when you're in a foul mood and just want everyone around you to fuck off. This album is just straight-up fun! Those gritty vocals, fist-pumping choruses, and humorous/brilliantly dumb lyrics make for a winning formula, and the somewhat jokey album title is not too far off from the truth. These guys may come off as obnoxious louts, but they sure know how to write a good song! "Throwaway" is nothing short of an instant drunk punk classic. Play it once, and you'll be singing it all night. Do they still call this sort of stuff "street punk"? I call it brilliant! 


-L.R.

https://wandarecords.bandcamp.com/album/top-10-super-hits
https://www.facebook.com/TheWheelz/
https://boulevardtrashpunk.com/
https://www.facebook.com/wandarecords/