New from Fuzzy Vox: No Landing Plan!

Today I have the pleasure of offering a sneak peak at what will surely be one of 2016's best LPs. No Landing Plan, due out February 26th, is the sophomore album from French garage rockers Fuzzy Vox. Tasked with following up 2014's dynamite debut On Heat, Hugo and the gang have pulled out all the stops and delivered a truly electrifying rock n' roll record! The band traveled all the way to sunny southern California to record with veteran studio men Ryan Castle and Andy Brohard. The trio also enlisted the legendary Howie Weinberg to master No Landing Plan. Clearly Fuzzy Vox spared no expense in pursuit of an amazing sounding album. Just as importantly, the band entered the studio with a fantastic batch of songs!

Like On Heat, No Landing Plan marries the raw energy of garage rock n' roll to the big hooks of power pop. On early tracks like "Explosion Of Love" and "Distracted", Fuzzy Vox returns to its "younger cousins of The Hives" blueprint - tearing out of the gates with loud guitars, frantic drumming, and a beat that's sure to get you up and dancing. If you're looking for a jolt of energy to jump-start your day, this is even better than caffeine! But just when you think you've got a handle on this record, it takes some unexpected and enjoyable turns. "Grow Evil" alternates between jumpy power pop in the verse to screaming grunge rock angst in the chorus. I haven't heard a pop song this bi-polar in a whole lot of years - and the best part is that it actually works! And when the album reaches its middle part, it truly hits its stride with several songs that show off Fuzzy Vox's considerable development as songwriters. The snappy and infectious "I Got A Girl" brings to mind Look Sharp era Joe Jackson, while "Don't Leave Me Behind" is the radio-ready power pop smash I always knew this band was capable of creating. "They Shot Charlie" is the best Fuzzy Vox song yet - a bold mix of serious social commentary and triumphant, irresistible hooks. And closing track "A Reason To Love" is completely different from the rest of the album - suggesting late '60s Stones/Kinks jangle with a modern makeover.

No Landing Plan is an album that firmly establishes Fuzzy Vox as one of the top garage rock n' roll bands going. While the production is of the highest quality, it has an edge to it that really suits the band's strengths. Having previously worked in the studio with the likes of Jet and The Hives, Castle and Brohard are the rare professional engineers that truly "get" rock n' roll. When you're recording a band with a red-hot rhythm section and a first-rate howler on lead vocals, your first task is to not get in the way of the rock! No Landing Plan moves Fuzzy Vox's music in a more melodic direction without sacrificing any of the band's signature energy. This is as fun and infectious as garage rock gets. And if you're looking for a band that puts the power in power pop, this trio is absolutely for you! Shine up your dancing shoes and set your volume knob for extra loud!



-L.R.

https://www.facebook.com/fuzzyvox/
http://fuzzyvox.com/
https://fuzzyvox.bandcamp.com/

Meet Skategang!

Lately France has been on a bit of a roll with excellent up-and-coming bands like Departure Kids and Tomy and the Cougars. Now the hot streak continues with Skategang. This Paris outfit features Mathis & Paul from The Dolipranes along with Maxime from Youth Avoiders. French labels Requiem Pour Un Twister and Gone With The Weed have teamed up to release Freya Police - which was originally issued last year on cassette tape. Now it's available as a 12" mini LP, and I'd say it totally merits an existence on a vinyl format! Skategang are like the French cousins to all those great powerpop/punk bands on Dirtnap Records (think Marked Men, Steve Adamyk Band, White Wires) - and they bring a ton of energy on these seven tracks along with some catchy, upbeat melodies. With every song right around two minutes long, this is a snappy, briskly-paced platter that really gets my toes tapping. The sound is youthful and fun - and punchier than usual for today's powerpop/punk. "Critical Girl" reminds me quite a bit of The Kidnappers - one of my favorite bands of recent years. And on the title track, these guys prove they know how to craft a chorus that will get you singing along. I hear a touch of Real Kids rock n' roll in "Peplum" - which can only be a good thing. All in all, I really get a kick out of this record. Skategang, more than anything else, understand that a band should have a really good time playing this kind of music. Listening to this record, I can't help envisioning a live show where people are pumping their fists and jumping around like maniacs. If you're into the Dirtnap scene or newer French powerpop bands like Protokids and Crusaders of Love, give this one a listen!



-L.R.

http://skategang.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Skategang/315079688594584
http://store.requiempouruntwister.com/product/skategang-freya-police
https://www.facebook.com/requiempouruntwister

Meet Departure Kids!

I referenced The Departure Kids last month while I was reviewing Tomy And The Cougars. It seems these two bands are at the heart of a burgeoning power pop scene in Marseille, France. Like Tomy & The Cougars, The Departure Kids have seemingly been weaned on Nerves and Paul Collins Beat records. Nothing wrong with that! These French teens imbue their particular sound with '60s beat and mod influences along with touches of punk and garage. On The Go, a split release from French labels Howlin' Banana and Requiem Pour Un Twister, is the band's debut album. And it's a good one! Particularly in its first half, this LP shows impressive songwriting chops for such a young band - with tracks like "Wanking Too Hard" and "Left On Earth" turning out instantly memorable choruses and melodies you can whistle all day. And like all the best power pop bands do, these guys manage to make music that's great fun yet still tinged with melancholy and heartbreak. All in all, I love the band's mix of '70s power pop, Beatle-esque melodies, punchy Who/Jam musicianship, and rough-edged garage delivery. And the album delivers a nice variety of high energy rockers ("Suit It Up"), gentle ballads ("Pas Besoin De Toi"), and classic mid-tempo power pop numbers ("Right Now {Tell Me About It}"). With one foot in mod/powerpop and another in garage rock, On The Go sounds like the kind of record that might have come out in the glory days of Screaming Apple Records. This is a delightful and highly promising debut from a band that will only get better. If you enjoy making power pop mixes for your friends, "Wanking Too Hard" merits a prime place in your next volume. Check these kids out!



-L.R.


https://howlinbananarecords.bandcamp.com/album/on-the-go
https://www.facebook.com/departure.kids
https://www.facebook.com/Howlinbanana
https://www.facebook.com/requiempouruntwister

Meet Tomy & The Cougars!

Tomy & The Cougars, along with like-minded bands such as Departure Kids, just might be turning Marseille, France into a hotbed of punk/powerpop! Who knew? There must be something in the bouillabaisse! Tomy and the Cougars seem to be crazy for their old Nerves and Beat records, and it's very hard to go wrong with a starting point like that! They've got a new 7" out on Surfin' Ki Records - and it completely won me over in about 15 seconds! These lads mix up a 50/50 blend of classic skinny tie power pop and Exploding Hearts influenced punk, lacing it with their own unique style. I love that Tomy's vocals are distinctly French accented, and his less-than-perfect command of the English language makes the lyrics twice as cool. "Girls think that I'm a woman eater/But it's not the way I look that make me good" has to be my favorite couplet of the year. And hearing a line like "Heartbreakers gonna be heartbreaked/Because I'm not afraid of fear", I can't help thinking that that's the perfect summation of my personal philosophy on life.

No Way Out includes three songs, and they're all dandies. "I Want Go" is probably the hit, propelled by a melody you'll be whistling all day and Lully's hooky guitar leads. It falls somewhere between the Nerves and classic pop/punk bands like The Modernettes. That "Cause you really got to do that" line in the pre-chorus has been stuck in my head all week! The wistful "Swallow My Tears" steps up the Paul Collins worship in a major way, while the bouncy "Run Away" hits me right in my sweet spot - where '77 punk and power pop meet head-on. All in all, super great! 

Kudos to F & L scoutmaster Greg Mongroll for this major find! This band used to be called Tomy & The Cougars With Heart, and the minor name change seems to herald a slight change in sound as well. The more pop direction seems to suit their talents, and of course it suits me just fine! Do they really have a rhythm section made up of guys named Fu and Fel? There's nothing about this band that isn't awesome!



-L.R.

http://tomyandthecougars.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TomyAndTheCougars

The Fanatiques

On many occasions, I've gone on record declaring that '77 era punk rock is my favorite music ever. I love that classic '77 sound, and I've often lamented that there are not as many current bands in that vein as there used to be. So it's always great to hear newer bands that play that kind of style and really do it well. France's Fanatiques are totally up my alley. They're particularly inspired by those early U.K. punk bands that were the forefathers of Oi! - like Slaughter and the Dogs, Menace, and Cock Sparrer. By no means are The Fanatiques attempting a straight copy of that sound. But they certainly aren't trying to hide what their influences are. Their excellent debut EP can be heard in its entirety on YouTube. When I first saw the song titles "Where Are They Now?", "Where Have All The Bootboys Gone?", and "I Don't Like You", I thought maybe all the tracks were covers! But they're all original songs. Vinny from The Clean-Cuts (7" on No Front Teeth Records) is the singer, and his snotty vocals give these songs a little bit of a different feel than you'd expect. Imagine, if you will, The Queers playing street punk. That might sound a little odd, but these Frenchies really pull it off! The melodic guitar leads are definitely of a '77 vintage, and of course there are ample opportunities to sing along and pump your fist. If you dig further into Vinny's YouTube channel, you'll also find some songs from The Clean-Cuts. They had more of a '77 powerpop/punk sound, and were also quite good. Seems I can always count on France to get it done!



-L.R.

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCucDR0UyJn-sLZJ5jPFvEug 
http://uneviepourrienvinyles.bandcamp.com/album/the-fanatiques-ep 

Fuzzy Vox rocks (again)!

Is a "well-produced" garage rock record a contradiction in terms? Clearly not, based on the fantastic debut LP from the French trio Fuzzy Vox! Mixed by Swedish super producer Pelle Gunnerfeldt (The Hives, Sahara Hotnights, Refused), On Heat infuses the band's high energy garage rock n' roll sound with increased power and clarity. And with the band delivering by far its best collection of songs to date, this is sure to be one of 2014's top long players!

When I last posted on Fuzzy Vox, I had plenty of good things to say about their Technicolor EP. But On Heat takes things to another level entirely! While tracks like "1789" and "Man of Solution" abound with sweaty live energy and a beat to get you shaking (think The Hives meet Mooney Suzuki), it's the more sophisticated material that really sets Fuzzy Vox apart from the formulaic garage bands of the world. "Crumb of My Heart" and "Dying Town" nail that perfect blend of mod/r & b electricity and finessed songwriting a la the The Jam and early Joe Jackson. The cleaner production only accentuates the fact that these guys can really freaking play! I love the way the guitar and bass play off of each other, and Nico remains a freak of nature on drums. "Crumb Of My Heart" has such serious, anguished lyrics. But when that chorus comes in, you can't help but want to jump up and down and sing along while your fist pumps wildly in the air. And I love the way this band continues to mix it up stylistically. "She's On Her Period (Again)" seems like it ought to be a joke number but is actually a beautiful Zombies style pop tune. "Ruby Heart Stealer" is a total rock n' roll kick in the teeth, but with a central hook that makes it a potential hit. And even with a lyric like "I wanna be your vibrator", the poppy "Vibrator" is a surprisingly sweet-natured love song. Only a Frenchman could talk to a girl like that and actually come off as sensitive and charming! Several days after my most recent listen to On Heat, the chorus to this song is still stuck in my head.

Releasing next month, On Heat is more of a logical next step for Fuzzy Vox than it is a complete reinvention. Gunnerfeldt has the rare ability to enhance the fidelity of a band's sound without cutting off its balls. And clearly he had a lot to work with here! Hugo is one of the best rock n' roll singers going these days, and that rhythm section is just plain hot. Compared to Technicolor, On Heat is more contemporary and radio friendly - and harder hitting to boot! Look for it in late February. And for now, "1789" will make a suitable replacement for your morning coffee. Magnifique!



-L.R. 

http://fuzzyvox.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/fuzzyvox
http://www.soundcloud.com/fuzzyvox

Meet Protokids!

How long has it been since I reviewed an Alien Snatch release? A while! Back in the heyday of my "career", Alien Snatch was the gold standard for all record labels. When a package from Alien Snatch showed up in my mailbox, it was like Christmas morning! And while Daniel doesn't put out the sheer volume of stuff that he used to, he's still got impeccable taste. Out of Paris, Protokids are the newest addition to the Alien Snatch roster. And they've got a "classic" Alien Snatch sound for sure. Without hesitation, I'd say their 7" Geometric Boy is one of the best things the label has ever released. If you loved all those old UK and Irish bands that blurred the lines between power pop, mod, and '77 punk, you're gonna go totally nuts for Protokids!

In a style that brings to mind everything from the Power Pearls comps to the classic sounds of Good Vibrations Records, Protokids power through four tracks of punky pop that could easily pass for genuine artifacts of 1979. This is probably the most Brit/Irish sounding French band I've ever heard, and clearly that's due to the group's obvious affection for greats such as Protex, The Jook, Incredible Kidda Band, and Rudi. The title track is fast-paced and super catchy, but to me the "hit" is the punchy and passionate "Please". Also great is "Teenage Bore", which splendidly marries pop melody to a punk edge. "Self Conscious Over You" is an Outcasts cover and a perfect reference point for what this band is all about. Within this genre of music, Protokids are definitely in the top tier. So if you're thoroughly convinced that today's powerpop/punk has nothing to offer, I'd urge you to give this band a chance. You could put this record in with your stack of obscure singles by the likes of the Moderns and Rousers, and most people wouldn't know the difference. They're bang-on with the style, and they really understand how to write a good pop song. And from a production/recording standpoint, this record blows the band's previous recordings out of the water. Power pop fans, this is one you will not want to miss. Your "Best of Summer 2013" mix is incomplete without "Please"!



-L.R.

http://theprotokids.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/aliensnatch/protokids-geometric-boy
http://swamplandrec.bandcamp.com/track/teenage-bore
http://www.reverbnation.com/protokids
http://www.aliensnatch.de/

Fuzzy Vox rocks!

Alright! Who's up for some high-energy garage rock n' roll?! Fuzzy Vox brings us precisely that all the way from Paris! The French trio plays a mix of garage rock and power pop that's fun and highly infectious, and their grasp of varying styles of rock n' roll keeps their music from getting overly repetitive. They are currently on tour in support of their latest EP, Technicolor.

While Fuzzy Vox does combine elements of power pop and '60s style garage rock, Technicolor leans more towards the latter. The title track is definitely "the hit". I love the way that simple guitar riff gets stuck in your head, and Nico attacks his drum kit like a reincarnated Keith Moon. The lyrics and vocals are great too. It's not that I object to rock n' roll songs about drinking and screwing. But I do think it's cool to hear this kind of music used to convey serious existential longing. Hugo sings every word like he really means it!

The rest of the record is of similar quality and very much in the same spirit. "Same Old Story" is just great balls-out rock n' roll, while "I'll Be Gone" sounds like a vintage Shel Talmy recording. The aptly titled "Hurricane" has a hot-rod rock n' roll feel without sounding like cliche. And the record closes with an absolutely killer cover of "Great Balls of Fire"! All in all, this is a terrific EP. There's not a weak track in the bunch, and I love the energy and passion of the playing. You can tell that these guys get what rock n' roll is all about. Their sound is classic, but by no means dated.

I highly recommend checking out the band's Soundcloud page - where you can dig into lots of free music including primo power pop songs like "Wasted Years" and "Kids My Age". If these guys can generate this much excitement on record, they must kill live! Those of you residing in Europe should not miss Fuzzy Vox on tour! Check the Facebook page for dates.



-L.R.

https://www.facebook.com/fuzzyvox
http://www.soundcloud.com/fuzzyvox

All hail the Crusaders Of Love!

There are few things in life better than "classic" power pop. It's a recipe that you don't have to mess with. Just write great songs with killer hooks, and no one's gonna care that your style is unoriginal (well, some people will care, but they don't like good music in the first place). Cut out of the same cloth as previous Euro power pop sensations The Yum Yums and The Cheeks, France's Crusaders Of Love take on the tried-and-true '79 style and sprinkle in a touch of Exploding Hearts worship (nothing wrong with that at all!). Out on FDH Records, Take It Easy...But Take It is the band's second LP. And it's a dandy! With a sound recalling both power pop's forefathers (like Paul Collins) and its modern day masters (like Gentleman Jesse), the Crusaders Of Love were bound to win me over. I'm a sucker for power pop by-the-book! But there are a couple of things I especially like about this band. One is that they don't neglect the "power" component of the power pop formula. Take It Easy doesn't skimp on loud, punchy guitars, and the muscular production evidences the band's garage/rock n' roll roots. Just as importantly, I really feel these songs. It's nice to hear someone sing about heartbreak and actually sound heartbroken. Although I'd generally describe this as a "fun" album, many of the standout tracks have melancholic overtones (love, after all, is not for the faint of heart). The band name is not deceiving - these Frenchies really know how to craft a good love song! For my money, "It All Ends That Way" and "Ready To Show Our Love" are the "hits". But the album is truly solid the whole way through. Covering all angles from the Exploding Hearts echoes of "Off The Street" to the wistful '60s-inspired jangle of "Next Summer" to the rock candy crunch of "Lonely City", Take It Easy hits the sweet spot and never grows stale. It's the kind of record that might fly under the radar a little, lost in the shuffle of punk/garage/power pop overload. But when the year is over and the dust settles, you just can't deny it a spot in your top ten. Don't sleep on this one, kids!

-L.R.

http://crusadersoflove.bandcamp.com/album/take-it-easy-but-take-it
http://www.fdhmusic.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crusaders-Of-Love/112990125379010