Friends of Cesar Romero - "Quick Wrath" b​/​w "Her Lipstick Dedication"

J Waylon is back! Actually he was back three weeks ago, and I've just been a slowpoke. Every release from his prolific and remarkably consistent solo project Friends of Cesar Romero is a must-hear, so of course that's true of new single "Quick Wrath." What I love about FoCR is that whatever sub-genre of rock 'n' roll J Waylon tackles, the quality of the songwriting is always beyond top-notch. This release is a thrilling 1-2 punch of ferocious garage rock and textbook power pop. Either of these songs could have been the A-side, but I do love the way J Waylon sequenced this single. You get a total banger to get you moving and grooving and then a perfect pop song you'll be hearing in your head all day. The lyrics, as always, are totally amazing and a highly underrated aspect of the FoCR experience. This release is Number 43 in the band's Doomed Babe Series, and it doesn't skimp on the doom. I freaking love this band! 

-L.R.

https://friendsofcesarromero.bandcamp.com/album/quick-wrath-b-w-her-lipstick-dedication
https://open.spotify.com/album/04OgXMfZx2UkPYEskbO3gs
https://www.instagram.com/focr

https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofCesarR

Friends of Cesar Romero - Last Summer A Year From Now

You know I'm always pumped for new music from Friends of Cesar Romero. J. Waylon is one of the finest songwriters in the present-day garage/pop/rock 'n' roll universe, and the way he manages to be a prolific artist yet never turn out a sub-par release is beyond impressive. FoCR's new EP Last Summer A Year From Now (How's that for an amazing title?) is installment number 42 in the Doomed Babe Series. And yet as deep as we are into this series, none of these installments have felt unnecessary or redundant. Any time I hear the latest installment, I'm already looking forward to the next one. Part of that is the timelessness of the subject matter. Who can't relate to themes of heartbreak and obsession and doomed romance? Another part of it is how well J. Waylon writes about this sort of stuff. He has lived these songs, and he's gifted at putting all that doom into eloquent words. This new EP finds him mixing up musical styles in a most satisfying way. "Kinetic Threat" is a crackling opener that brings to mind the early 2000s heyday of modern garage rock. "Purple Hearts Hardly Bruise" is ultra-energetic poppy punk and quite the toe-tapper. The title track is scruffy power pop par excellence. "The Long Drive To You" takes it back to the garage vein and begs to be blasted loudly. Closing it out, "Simple Little Love Song" is textbook power pop. There's something on this EP for everyone, and there's nothing on this EP that will disappoint longtime fans. And if you're not a longtime fan, this would be a perfectly good entry place into Friends of Cesar Romero fandom. Grab a free download while you can, and be sure to dig into that treasure trove of a back catalog if you like what you hear!

-L.R.

https://friendsofcesarromero.bandcamp.com/album/last-summer-a-year-from-now
https://open.spotify.com/album/1xvA96wLHscO1Ln1Uwa98C
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofCesarR/
https://www.instagram.com/focr/

Friends of Cesar Romero - "More Like Norman Fucking Mailer"

"More Like Norman Fucking Mailer" is the first 2024 release (of likely many) from Friends of Cesar Romero. J. Waylon is that rare songwriter who can manage to be both prolific and consistent. There is no such thing as a sub-par Friends of Cesar Romero release. If you're into punky power pop, you need to smash that "Follow" button on Bandcamp so you never miss a new release from FOCR. That said, "More Like Norman Fucking Mailer," in my book, is one of the best songs J. Waylon has ever written. The title alone (which I assume to be a sly Lana Del Rey reference) is a work of brilliance, and thankfully the song lives up to it. On this release, J. Waylon leans towards power pop as much as he ever has. "More Like Norman Fucking Mailer" seems like a happy love song on its surface, but keep in mind that this is #41 in the Doomed Babe Series. Dig a little deeper, and you'll find signs of doom. This is a perfect power pop song, and little else needs to be said. On the virtual B-side, "I Believe In Her Science" is another top-notch power pop tune that's destined to become stuck in your head. This single is a tremendous showing from J. Waylon. His songwriting has never been stronger, and the sound quality he has elicited from a basement recording is beyond impressive. It's almost criminal that you can download something this good for free, but you will find many opportunities to wisely spend your money if you peruse the FOCR Bandcamp page!

-L.R.

https://friendsofcesarromero.bandcamp.com/album/more-like-norman-fucking-mailer
https://open.spotify.com/album/5xuiqeG07CnkwEzMcPaien
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofCesarR/

Friends of Cesar Romero - Temporary Anne

Temporary Anne is already the 7th release this year from J. Waylon's prolific and ever-dependable Friends of Cesar Romero. It's almost shocking that J. Waylon can deliver such a remarkable quantity of music yet never, ever skimp on the quality. Part of what makes FOCR so appealing is that a new release is never predictable. You know you're getting loud guitars and top-tier hooks, but you can never be sure of exactly what to expect. J. Waylon moves effortlessly between banging garage rock, textbook power pop, catchy old school punk, and timeless guitar pop — sometimes all within a single release! Temporary Anne is #39 in his Doomed Babe Series, and I can only hope that there are many more installments to come. The title track is fantastic power pop and blessed with so many FOCR signatures: ringing guitars, a killer chorus, and lyrics that will break your heart. "Who's Wondering Now" kicks up the pace with some stellar poppy punk rock. "Running on the Spot" is mostly faithful to The Jam's classic original, but J. Waylon still manages to give a distinct FOCR feel. All in all, this is another fantastic release from a band that never disappoints. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: If you're a regular reader of this blog and not yet into Friends of Cesar Romero, that situation needs to be rectified ASAP!

-L.R.

https://friendsofcesarromero.bandcamp.com/album/temporary-anne
https://open.spotify.com/album/1vWyffW2S7nD0EcOAa8R4R
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofCesarR

Friends Of Cesar Romero & The Manxx - split

Hey kids! Are you ready for some rock n' roll that's money-back guaranteed to set your soul on fire? Snappy Little Numbers Quality Audio Recordings has brought us a killer collaboration between the mighty Friends of Cesar Romero and Colorado-based garage rockers The Manxx. FOCR is such a versatile project. You never know what you're gonna get from J. Waylon and friends. Sometimes it's perfect power pop. Other times it's punchy pop-punk or '60s-influenced melodic guitar pop. On this release, FOCR finds itself poised to blow the doors off the garage. On "You Lied (Now You're Gonna Cry)", J. Waylon is joined by Dug Two Bulls who rips it up on the organ. This is familiar lyrical territory for FOCR. But instead of coming off melancholy or woebegone, J. Waylon sounds defiant and totally fired up. This is a garage rocker that comes on like a firecracker. Imagine "Louie Louie" if you could understand the words. With its irresistible guitar and organ riffs and sing-along chorus, this is ten-out-of-ten caliber garage rock! Up next, FOCR teams up with Sara from The Manxx for an inspired rendition of The Drags' "Feel Real Good." The title is truth in advertising. You will rarely come across a more thrilling 55 seconds of rock n' roll. To finish, The Manxx fully matches FOCR's intensity with the exhilarating "You're Losing Me." I think the reason I don't review a lot of modern garage rock is because it doesn't often hit me the way this song does. "You're Losing Me" attains levels of attitude and unstoppable rhythmic energy that are rare in modern music. Just push play, and you've got yourself an instant party. What an amazing EP! If these three tracks don't immediately have you dancing around the house and screaming for utter joy, you might want to check yourself for a pulse.

-L.R.

https://snappylittlenumbers.bandcamp.com/album/friends-of-cesar-romero-the-manxx
https://friendsofcesarromero.bandcamp.com/album/split-w-the-manxx
https://themanxx.bandcamp.com/album/split-w-friends-of-cesar-romero
https://open.spotify.com/album/0kVlkTndnmWMowpjURIAla
https://www.facebook.com/snappylittlenumbers
https://www.instagram.com/snappylittlenumbers/
The Manxx on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofCesarR

Friends of Cesar Romero - "Cold East Coast Shoulder" b​/​w "Greenway Thunderbird"

I again find myself awed and appreciative as J. Waylon continues to release some of our finest present-day power pop/punk/garage music with his prolific project Friends of Cesar Romero. Cold East Coast Shoulder, already the fourth FoCR EP of the year, is #37 in the band's Doomed Babe Series. The title track finds J. Waylon doing what he does better than almost anyone: writing a breakup song that will intoxicate you with its hooks even as it tears out your heart. The song title alone is a stroke of brilliance, and the lyrics are some of J. Waylon's finest. Seriously, just read that second verse:

You needed someone to fill the void/
But somehow now baby you’re annoyed/
I wrote these words down in a poem/
Then I burned it all down like Ancient Rome

It seems that even as it nears its 40th installment, the Doomed Babe Series is still picking up steam! "Cold East Coast Shoulder" is a stone cold gem from a songwriter/band that should be on every power pop fan's radar. "Greenway Thunderbird" is another fresh blast of top-quality pop, and "Don't Look Back" is a very lovely cover of a Teenage Fanclub classic. All in all, this is another stellar EP out of many produced by Friends of Cesar Romero over the years. If you like what you hear, be sure to also check out the punchy '60s-style rocker "You Really Had Me" which was released in May (#36 in the Doomed Babe Series!).

-L.R.

https://friendsofcesarromero.bandcamp.com/album/cold-east-coast-shoulder-b-w-greenway-thunderbird
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofCesarR/
https://open.spotify.com/album/3E91qZD9apmLLIN6Uz8WFS

Friends of Cesar Romero - Gameboy America

What can I say about J. Waylon that I haven't said already? If you're into the power pop/punk thing and don't own at least  a few of his releases, you're missing out on one of the finest songwriting talents out there. With his one-man-band Friends of Cesar Romero, he's proven to be not only prolific but also remarkably consistent. Gameboy America, the latest FoCR release, is yet another gem. While last month's Spiral Eye Roll leaned more in the pop-punk direction, Gameboy America (installment #35 in the Doomed Babe Series) finds J. Waylon flexing his power pop chops. It's not just that he writes about heartbreak and romantic disappointment so convincingly. He has also has a way of articulating his feelings that is absolute genius. Check out these lyrics from "Gameboy America":

You hold my heart when I’m held in your hands
You sang me lines from your favorite bands
You sold me dreams in 8 bit lands
Like Gameboy America

I know, right? And the whole song is that same level. Just read through the lyrics on Bandcamp, and you'll swear J. Waylon has been inside your brain. He's the poet laureate of the brokenhearted! Am I the only one who heard this song and thought, "This is like REM with a better singer"? "Somebody's Someone" is another slice of power pop perfection that eloquently explores that excruciating moment when you sense that your special someone might have a special someone else. At this point, it's no longer a surprise when J. Waylon turns out songs this great. But that doesn't mean we should take it for granted. Friends of Cesar Romero is a treasure of the underground music scene and more than worthy of a follow on Bandcamp!

-L.R.

https://friendsofcesarromero.bandcamp.com/album/gameboy-america
https://open.spotify.com/album/7wfpnGwffSQRlQloY4lS1I
https://hyperfollow.com/focr

Friends of Cesar Romero - Spiral Eye Roll

The prolific and talented J. Waylon just might be the most underappreciated songwriter in the modern power pop/punk world. With his one-man-band Friends of Cesar Romero, he has managed to create a body of work that's astounding in terms of both quantity and quality. He produces so much amazing music (five releases last year alone!) that you could be forgiven for not managing to keep up. If you're ever looking for a good way to spend some money, hop on over to the FoCR Bandcamp and dig into a discography that's sitting at 40 titles and growing. The band's latest release, Spiral Eye Roll, is installment #34 in J. Waylon's Doomed Babe Series. Depending on the particular release or individual track, the Friends of Cesar Romero sound can range from pop-punk to power pop to garage rock to classic '60s style guitar pop. Spiral Eye Roll leans more pop-punk, and it's a truly perfect execution of the genre. It delivers three tracks in four minutes. The sound is tight, punchy, and catchy, with lyrics that find J. Waylon wearing his heart on his sleeve. This, my friends, is poppy punk rock at its very best. If you're a regular reader of this blog and not yet a Friends of Cesar Romero fan, that needs to be rectified as soon as possible!

-L.R.

https://friendsofcesarromero.bandcamp.com/album/spiral-eye-roll

https://open.spotify.com/album/1nFxuEAhpe3TA9qTLWcZCC

Friends of Cesar Romero - War Party Favors

As the strong full-length releases of 2021 continue to pile up, here's another one to add to the conversation. War Party Favors is the latest of many albums by Friends of Cesar Romero -- the long-running solo project from J. Waylon (ex The Reddmen). On this release, J. Waylon basically did it all. He sang, played all of the instruments, and produced the album. And from start to finish, War Party Favors is stacked with absolute gems. If you dig power pop that takes it cues from garage rock, the '60s classics, modern-day indie pop, and even a little pop-punk, you'll find much to love here. This is just a really great album that should go over well with almost anyone who regularly visits this blog. J. Waylon knows to turn out a killer hook, and his songwriting style is steeped in the timeless traditions of the two-to-three minute pop song. Snappy Little Numbers has released the album on CD and also offers a pay-what-you-want download. If you like what you hear, you could very well spend all day on the Friends of Cesar Romero Bandcamp digging into the back catalog. Check it out! 

-L.R.

https://snappylittlenumbers.bandcamp.com/album/war-party-favors
https://friendsofcesarromero.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofCesarR/
https://www.facebook.com/snappylittlenumbers