Daniel James Gang - Darkness Over This Town

Daniel James, who has been responsible for some of my favorite records of the past decade, is back with an absolutely smoking new Daniel James Gang EP/maxi single titled Darkness Over This Town. Alongside Logan Stang, Johnny Cyanide, Geoff Palmer, and Miski Dee, Daniel tears through four tracks of grimy old school Midwestern punk 'n' roll with mega-tasty pop hooks. Is there anyone out there who does this sort of gutsy punk rock with a bleeding power pop heart better than Daniel James? Daniel's songs aren't just catchy and super-tough —they're also passionate, soulful, and totally fierce. As great as all those Indonesian Junk records were, this new stuff might be at a whole other level. The EP would be worth the price of admission just for "Misery" — one of the best tracks of 2024. "Darkness Over This Town" and "Lies" are every bit as good. 

I can't look at a song title like "Darkness Over This Town" and not think about how fitting it is for present-day America. I suppose you could say the exact same thing about "Misery," right? Even if these songs are more personal than political, they certainly capture the zeitgeist of 2025. To me, the vibe of this record is what solo Stiv Bators might have sounded like if he had gone in a more straight-forward punk rock direction but still retained his love for The Raspberries. I dig how "Lies" sounds huge and melodic but also totally raw in the very best way. And of course Daniel's lead guitar work is pure fire. Wait? Did Daniel cover a New Model Army song? Fuckin' right, he did! Now there's a band that never gets enough love! Darkness Over This Town is available now on compact disc from Bandcamp, or you can stream it from all the usual platforms. This is my favorite release of 2025 so far. If you love it too, you have impeccable taste.

-L.R.

https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/album/darkness-over-this-town
https://open.spotify.com/album/3VNztHRzQHzEtiSF3EtwKQ
https://music.apple.com/us/album/darkness-over-this-town-ep/1785303927
https://linkin.bio/danieljamesgang/
https://www.instagram.com/xdanieljamesx/
https://www.facebook.com/indonesianjunk

The Daniel James Gang - "Misery"

It has been over three years since I reviewed Indonesian Junk, one of my favorite bands of recent times. While I'm sad to say that IndoJunk has called it a day, I'm happy to report that Daniel James has revived their solo project The Daniel James Gang. New single "Misery" features Daniel teaming up with Logan Stang and Miski Dee, and it's an absolute monster of a song. It was originally written for Indonesian Junk, so you have some idea of what to expect. This is power pop for people who love glam-punk — or is it the other way around? This tune blends face-melting energy with ultra-catchy guitar hooks and powerful vocals that fully capture the anguish of the lyrics. Daniel sings the hell out of this song and rips it up on guitar as always. The vibe is a little like the Dead Boys and Johnny Thunders getting together to play power pop, and I am here for it! More singles are to come from The Daniel James Gang, so stay tuned!

-L.R.

https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/album/misery
https://open.spotify.com/album/6f4J39lKd6nWr9ZfT36tzz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PTiTMZ-aqA
https://www.instagram.com/danieljamesgang/

The Black Halos - How The Darkness Doubled

For all intents and purposes, How The Darkness Doubled is the true follow-up to The Black Halos' classic 2001 release The Violent Years. Technically there have been a couple albums in between. But How The Darkness Doubled (out now on Stomp Records) finally reunites lead singer Billy Hopeless with original members Rich Jones and Jay Millette — using the album title that was originally planned for a third Black Halos album a couple decades ago. And while it's a music reviewer cliché to talk about "returns to form," there's just no denying that this album is a 100% triumphant return to form. The OG Halos, joined by new members John Kerns (The Age Of Electric) and Danni Action (ACIIDZ), have picked up where they left off 20+ years ago. How The Darkness Doubled is vintage Black Halos in every sense — an ass-kicking set of glam punk rock and roll rippers with hooks for days. 

The passing of time has only added more layers of grit to Billy Hopeless's signature vocal rasp. When that voice intersects with those melodic guitars and Jones' tuneful songs, it's an awesome thing to behold. The band sounds energized and inspired across these 12 tracks  — very few of which fail to get me thrusting my fist in the air and shouting along to the choruses. Few bands can pull off that "rock" side of '70s glam & punk like The Black Halos, and opening cut "A History of Violence" quickly affirms that these guys have still got it. That hook has been lodged in my skull for the past week! Whether you're craving big choruses ("Tenement Kids"), scorching rockers ("Uncommonwealth"), soaring anthems ("Better Days"), or pure punk rock adrenaline ("A Positive Note"), this album has got you covered. With lyrics grounded in life's harsh realities and bitter disappointments, these songs really benefit from the time that has passed since these guys last made a record together. "Better Days" offers solid life advice about never looking back. "All My Friends Are Like Drugs" is insightful and relatable. Originally released as a single two years ago, "Ain't No Good Time to Say Goodbye" is a powerful tribute to the late Chi Pig and one of the most profound songs about grief that you'll ever hear.  

Mixed by Dave Draper (The Wildhearts, The Professionals), How The Darkness Doubled sounds like a million bucks with its huge guitars and slick backing vocals. I'm not saying that I have lo-fi fatigue, but it's kind of nice to hear a punk rock band that's not afraid to rock. And with songs this good, who wouldn't want to sound massive? As the spiritual successor to The Violent Years, this album is everything you hoped for and then some. Longtime fans will not be disappointed. And even if you have never heard the band's first two albums, How The Darkness Doubled will make you want to. At a time when reboots and revivals almost always leave us wanting, The Black Halos are here to remind us that it doesn't have to be that way.

-L.R.

https://theblackhalos.bandcamp.com/album/how-the-darkness-doubled">
https://open.spotify.com/album/7cZROQgtUUPeqYaROhmL3u
https://www.instagram.com/theblackhalos/
https://www.facebook.com/TheBlackHalos
https://stomprecords.com/
https://www.instagram.com/stomprecords/
https://www.facebook.com/StompRecords/

The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs - All The Covers (And More)

I often talk of how 1995 was my 1977. The late '90s revival of '70s punk rock is a subject near and dear to my heart and one I may someday write a book about. Those bands were my gateway to all the first wave punk rock I now consider to be the greatest music ever made. One band from that movement that has held up particularly well is L.A.'s Streetwalkin' Cheetahs. Maximum Overdrive, a compilation of the band's debut album and early singles on Alive/Bomp! Records, is an essential purchase for fans of '70s style punk from the '90s. It combines a gritty and roaring Stooges/Dead Boys punk rock and roll style with some seriously underrated melodic songwriting. Still going strong after 27 years plus, the Streetwalkin' Cheetahs have never lost sight of their mission to fill the world with high energy rock and roll. And they've never ceased to wear their influences on their sleeves. On their two-disc set All The Covers (And More) (out today on Rum Bar Records), they show the love to all the bands that inspired their very existence. 

Featuring extensive liner notes by singer/guitarist Frank Meyer, All The Covers (And More) is a deluxe package comprising 38 covers of punk, proto-punk, and rock and roll classics. Essentially, these are the songs that made the Streetwalkin' Cheetahs. This album is a window into the soul of the band. It features both studio tracks and live cuts. I'm not always a fan of covers albums or live recordings, but I've got to say that I've been enjoying the hell out of this release. It makes me nostalgic for a time in my life when I was first discovering so many of the bands covered here. I can remember what it was like when I first got my hands on records by the Stooges, MC5, Dead Boys, Radio Birdman, Saints, and Dictators and had my mind totally blown (To this day, I can't hear any version of "Sonic Reducer" without screaming along until I'm hoarse). I'm envious of anyone who might be introduced to these bands through this release. The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs are providing a road map for a formal education in punk rock! And the cover selections go beyond the obvious choices. The band pays homage to its more "pop" influences with two Cheap Trick covers and a rousing take on The Boys' "Kamikaze." There are also nods to greats from the worlds of hard rock/metal (Motley Crue, Iron Maiden), glam punk (Hanoi Rocks, Smack, Dogs D'Amour), and classic L.A. punk (X, Fear). The performances, both live and in the studio, properly capture the powerhouse energy and wild aggression of the songs' original versions. Standout cuts for me are The Runaways' "Cherry Bomb" (featuring Cherie Currie on lead vocals), the aforementioned Dead Boys "Sonic Reducer" (featuring Jimmy Zero), X's "Los Angeles," Cheap Trick's "Hot Love" (featuring the B-Movie Rats), Motley Crue's "Live Wire," The MC5's "Kick Out the Jams," and (of course!) The Dictators' "Faster and Louder." 

I appreciate that the Streetwalkin' Cheetahs didn't just want to do a covers album. Instead they wanted to release all their covers in one shot  — which provides a complete picture of the varied influences that formed them. Some of the vital influencers (Wayne Kramer, Sylvain Sylvain, Deniz Tek) even make appearances on this collection. It seems weird to say that this album could be a perfect introduction to the Streetwalkin' Cheetahs. But honestly, it just might be! The band will surely be playing a lot of these songs as it tours the West Coast in support of All The Covers (And More) in November and December. Featuring over two-and-a-half hours of music, this two-disc set is an absolute treat for fans of both the Streetwalkin' Cheetahs and old school punk rock and roll in general.

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/all-the-covers-and-more
https://thestreetwalkincheetahs.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/streetwalkincheetahs/
https://www.facebook.com/TheStreetwalkinCheetahs/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Ricky Rat - Ghosts of Isolation

Ricky Rat is a legendary figure in glam-punk and Detroit rock and roll. The longtime Trash Brats and Lovemasters guitarist has played with everyone from the Dead Boys to Kevin K to Mike Skill. He has also had a great run as a solo artist over the past decade, which continues with his terrific new album Ghosts of Isolation (out now on I-94 Recordings). Ghosts of Isolation can be properly described as a vintage Ricky Rat recording. It exists in a world where glam rock, punk, power pop, and boozy rock and roll are not separate genres but rather complementary facets of a distinct musical aesthetic. Behold the master at work! 

Ghosts of Isolation is one of those albums that has something for everyone. The title track is a punk rock anthem with one foot in power pop - the sort of song that has been a Ricky Rat specialty for decades. Elsewhere Ricky goes all-in on power pop on the sentimental numbers "Lakepointe Nights" and "Dream That Can Never Be," hits the old school country sweet spot on "Bottom of My Heart," tears into some quintessential trashy rock and roll on "I Can't See Shit," and puts his signature stylings on the Jimmy Cliff classic "Sitting In Limbo." And as was often the case on Trash Brats releases, it's the deep cuts that really make Ghosts Of Isolation. Songs such as "Glow of Gabriel's," "When We Were the Boys," and "Singing with Angels" find their author pouring out his heart and shining as a storyteller and songwriter.  

Ricky Rat takes his solo artistry to another level on Ghosts of Isolation. He has never put his name on a finer collection of tunes, and this album has the feel of an autobiography. Over the course of ten tracks, he reflects on lost love, old friends, good times, and a life in rock and roll. Backed by Joe Leone and Laura Mendoza (as well as special guest stars Jimmie Bones, Jackson Smith, Brad Elvis, and Chloe Orwell), he has delivered an album imbued with the beating heart of the great city of Detroit. It's available now on black and silver vinyl from the I-94 Recordings web site!

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/collections/frontpage/products/ricky-rat-ghosts-of-isolation-lp-i-94-015
https://rickyrat.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/I-94-Recordings-113204123938004

New Brutarians - Hysteria

After much, much, much delay, the New Brutarians finally have their debut LP out into the world! Out now on the illustrious Alien Snatch Records, Hysteria is every bit the lo-fi glam-pop proto-punk rock and roll masterpiece I was hoping for from this Sunshine State duo comprised of Adam Turkel (vocals, guitar, bass, and keys) and Christina Wright (drums and vocals). It has been two and a half years since I first wrote about this band -- although it feels like much longer given what's been happening in the world over that time! Hysteria is full of scrappy pop songs crafted under the influence of glam rock, pop art, and early punk rock. If you love Johnny Thunders, Television, Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen, Nikki Sudden, the Only Ones, and '70s Stones, you've just found your new favorite band. Hysteria includes some of the New Brutarians' stellar singles from the last couple years such as "A Little Hit of You," "(Rock Me) I'm A Dadaist" (easily the greatest song title of all-time), the truly marvelous "New Muse," and the COVID anthem "Living In Isolation." The half of the album I had not heard before proves to be every bit as formidable. "16 Savior" is nothing short of pop perfection. The Velvets-inspired "The Prettiest Girls (Sing the Saddest Songs)" is the first New Brutarians song to feature Christina Wright on lead vocals -- and hopefully not the last! "I Know Where Richey Edwards Lives" and "Stop! In the Name of Art" (featuring Treasure Island) are classic shots of '77 glam-punk. "Butterfly" is something we rarely hear these days: a really great old school punk rock ballad.  

Recorded by Adam Turkel, Billy Summer, and Gino Gambino in the midst of the great pandemic, Hysteria arrives triumphantly in the summer of 2022. It was recorded in dark, desperate times, and its release was delayed for over a year by bottlenecks at pressing plants. The fact that you can now hold this vinyl record in your hands seems like great cause for celebration. Together, Adam and Christina make music that affirms anew the healing power of rock and roll. Their influences, while obvious, are absorbed and interpreted with a style and personality that are uniquely theirs. Hysteria's existence on vinyl enables it to be enjoyed the old-fashioned way: you can drop the needle on the vinyl, relax, and read the lyric sheet as you fully experience each song. If this album proves anything, it's that Adam T is not just a tremendous pop artist and righteous screamer but also one of his generation's true punk rock poets. Hysteria is limited to 500 copies. It's available in the States from the New Brutarians' Bandcamp and in Europe directly from Alien Snatch. Don't miss one of the year's best LPs!

-L.R.

https://aliensnatch.bandcamp.com/album/new-brutarians-hysteria
https://thenewbrutarians.bandcamp.com/album/hysteria
https://www.facebook.com/thenewbrutarians
https://www.instagram.com/thenewbrutarians/
http://www.aliensnatch.de/
https://www.facebook.com/ALIEN.SNATCH.RECORDS/

The New Brutarians - Hysteria (Streaming Release and LP Preorder)

Now it can be told! It has been a well-kept secret for a while that The New Brutarians will be releasing their debut LP on my favorite record label of all-time, the mighty Alien Snatch Records. The band has officially opened preorders for the vinyl release via Bandcamp. The LPs will be shipping next month. If you absolutely can't wait to hear this glam-punk blockbuster, it's now up on Spotify and all major streaming platforms. Otherwise, you can now order a copy of Hysteria on black or solid gold vinyl directly from the band. The vinyl release contains an exclusive track called "Stop! In The Name of Art." While I'm going to save my full review for the official release next month, I will say that Adam and Christina have outdone themselves on their full-length debut. Long delayed by the international vinyl pressing crisis, Hysteria is finally arriving and proves to be well worth the wait. For a nice little taste of what to expect, check out the official music video for "New Muse" below!

-L.R.

https://thenewbrutarians.bandcamp.com/album/hysteria

https://www.facebook.com/thenewbrutarians

https://www.instagram.com/thenewbrutarians/

https://open.spotify.com/album/05uDOSidKL6qYXJqzsLDxc?si=fde4d41fb892473c

The New Brutarians - "Barter Baby (I'll Trade You My Heart)"

2021 has been the year of delayed records. The pressing plants are so bogged down that albums recorded now just might see the light of day before a human lands on Mars. The New Brutarians, a band I'm quite fond of, must now wait until spring of next year for their debut album Hysteria to come out. Some bands will just say, "Screw it!" and release the music on other formats. But The New Brutarians seem poised to wait this one out for another half year or so. In the meantime, Adam and Christina have turned loose an outtake from the Hysteria sessions called "Barter Baby (I'll Trade You My Heart)" . This track kind of channels the Rolling Stones by way of the Velvet Underground -- or maybe it's the other way around? As always, I dig the lo-fi glam/proto-punk vibe. Lyrics are always a highlight of an Adam T. composition, and they're absolutely brilliant on this track. I got through one verse and was like, "Man, I wish I could write like that!". While "Barter Baby" didn't make it onto the album, it's no throwaway. The song is a staple of the band's live set and would probably have been released as a single at some point. Enjoy it now, and look forward to Hysteria next year!

-L.R.

https://thenewbrutarians.bandcamp.com/track/barter-baby-ill-trade-you-my-heart
https://www.facebook.com/thenewbrutarians
https://www.instagram.com/thenewbrutarians/

New singles from Ricky Rat and Brian McCarty!

What's the next best thing to a new single from the late, great Trash Brats? How about new singles from Ricky Rat and Brian McCarty released simultaneously on I-94 Recordings! This double release will disappoint absolutely no one. The concept was for each of these guys to record an original song along with a cover of an iconic Detroit artist. Backed by the Jen-U-Wine Faux Diamond Band, McCarty gives off Trash Brats vibes with "Hamtramck Jukebox" -- his tribute to Lili Karwowksi and her beloved bar Lili's 21. Ricky Rat guests on guitar, and the song's references to the likes of The Mutants, Bootsey X & the Lovemasters, and The Junk Monkeys will certainly bring back fond memories to anyone who frequented shows at the Trash Brats' favorite hangout. If you were hoping for upbeat glam rock and roll with a touch of pop, "Hamtramck Jukebox" is precisely that. On the flip, McCarty does a rootsy rock and roll version of Stevie Wonder's "A Place In The Sun" that is an absolute blast. The legendary Jimmie Bones makes an appearance on piano, and of course he steals the show!

For his single "She Feels Like a Good Thing", Ricky Rat teams up with Laura Mendoza on bass and Joe Leone on drums. The A-side dishes out some old school glam-punk with catchy hooks: exactly what you'd expect from the longtime Trash Brat and recent Dead Boy. It has been five years since Ricky Rat last released solo tracks, and "She Feels Like A Good Thing" is right in line with that material. On the flip, he tackles The Rockets' early '80s number "Born in Detroit" in a style that can only be described as anthemic. Once again, Jimmie Bones turns up on piano and rips it up! 

Whether you witnessed the 1980s and '90s Detroit punk rock and roll scene first hand or simply admired the Trash Brats from afar as I did, these two new singles from Ricky Rat and Brian McCarty & the Jen-U-Wine Faux Diamond Band are must-have items. Each single delivers a top-notch original song and a revved-up version of a Detroit classic. Jim at I-94 really went all out and pressed these records on a multitude of colors of vinyl. A few of the colors are sold out, but most are still available. Have at it!

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/
https://www.facebook.com/I-94-Recordings-113204123938004/

Indonesian Junk - Living In a Nightmare

On its fourth LP, Milwaukee's Indonesian Junk continues to blend the best parts of punk, glam, power pop, and arena rock into one singularly awesome sound that no reasonable human being could possibly resist. IndoJunk singer/guitarist Daniel James wrote Living In a Nightmare in May and June of last year. He and his bandmates Johnny Cyanide (bass), Mike Mattner (drums), and Adam Turetzky (guitar) recorded the album over a weekend in October with Shane Hochstetler at Howl Street Recordings in Milwaukee. 

The timing of this album's creation might lead you to believe that the title is a reference to 2020 and the Coronavirus. But the nightmare being referenced here is systematic racial inequality in America -- and the grim realization that half of the country either denies its existence or simply doesn't care. For this release, James has written a pair of powerhouse protest anthems in "Livin' in the USA" and "Policeman". Both songs rage furiously against this unacceptable state of a nation. Yet what makes them so riveting is that they are killer tunes first and foremost. "Livin' in the USA" is a scorching punk tune that for some reason reminds me a little of Demolition 23. And "Policeman" is the very definition of an anthem -- its catchy sing-along chorus doubling as a rallying cry against injustice. It takes a skilled songwriter to craft an album where tales of heartbreak can logically co-exist with songs addressing important social issues. Yet James has pulled off that very thing here. And it feels so authentic to him. He's a passionate guy, and Living In a Nightmare is essentially his heart on a plate. 

Living In a Nightmare, to me, is the best Indonesian Junk album because it gives you a little bit of everything that makes this band so cool. It's a record full of big hooks, catchy tunes, loud guitars, and ripping solos. "Type of a Girl" and "One More Try" is an opening 1-2 punch that would be the envy of most power pop bands. "I Don't Mind" sounds like the best song that Richard Hell and the Voidoids never wrote. "Tracy" could be a long-lost Joneses song. At nine minutes plus, "Bawlin' My Eyes Out" is the epic closer every great album ought to have. Whether you're a punk lifer, a glam rocker, a power pop geek, or just someone who waits patiently for Thin Lizzy or Cheap Trick to come on when the Boomer FM channel is playing, there's something on this album for you. It releases today on compact disc on Rum Bar Records. Vinyl will be available this summer on Spiderbite Records!

-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/living-in-a-nightmare
https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/album/living-in-a-nightmare
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords
https://www.facebook.com/indonesianjunk

Indonesian Junk - "One More Try" (Song Premiere)

Today I am honored to premiere a new song by one of my favorite bands! "One More Try" is a brand-new track from Indonesian Junk, a band I've had the pleasure of writing about for the last seven years. "One More Try", featuring a guest appearance on backing vocals by the illustrious Kurt Baker, will appear on IndoJunk's forthcoming album Living In a Nightmare. It's one of the most "pop" songs yet from these Milwaukee-based glam-punks, who are now a foursome with the addition of guitarist Adam Turetzky. In an era in which great pop songs on the radio are all but a distant memory, Daniel James still endeavors to write old-fashioned radio hits. "One More Try" meets at the intersection of classic power pop and the Ramones circa Road To Ruin. In one single song, it takes on two of the greatest themes in guitar pop: the despair of love gone bad and the high hopes of old flames revived. This, my friends, is what you call an earworm! And that guitar solo is sheer majesty. As the title suggests, Living In a Nightmare will be Indonesian Junk's magnum opus about 2020. Preorders are open today from the Indonesian Junk and Rum Bar Records Bandcamp pages. Digital album releases March 19th. Vinyl coming this summer! 

-L.R.

https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/album/living-in-a-nightmare
https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/living-in-a-nightmare
https://www.facebook.com/indonesianjunk/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Trash Brats - self titled (30th anniversary vinyl reissue)

Detroit's legendary Trash Brats have been a huge part of my musical universe going back to my early days in the record-reviewing racket. Here was a band that was too punk for the glam rockers, too glam for the punks, and probably too pop for either! If nowadays "glam-punk" is a thing, that's largely because the Trash Brats and a few like-minded bands made it a thing through years of exciting live performances and stellar releases that attracted devoted fans the old-fashioned way. It all started 30 years ago with the release of the Trash Brats' self titled debut album. This would be the first of four proper albums released by the Trash Brats. It was originally released on cassette but had never come out on vinyl until earlier this month. The 30th anniversary vinyl reissue of Trash Brats is the first release on Jim Rinn's I-94 Recordings in nearly 20 years! The bubblegum pink vinyl sold out in 24 hours, and the fancy wax mage art vinyl sold out in a few days (I wasn't joking about the fans being devoted!). The album is still available on 180-gram black vinyl and well worth owning whether you're a longtime Trash Brats fan or just discovering the band for the first time. It's also available from the streaming sites if you just want to hear the songs again. Featuring fan favorite cuts like "Don't Wanna Dance", "Bubblegum Girl", "3873 Marlborough Street", "Gas Boy", and "S-M-U-T", this remains the definitive Trash Brats release. Grab a copy while you can!

-L.R.

https://i-94recordings.com/collections/frontpage/products/trash-brats-s-t-lp-preorder-ships-in-december-2020
https://www.facebook.com/I-94-Recordings-113204123938004/
https://open.spotify.com/album/0GrjvFHdDE4LJ2WdxGisLM

Indonesian Junk - "Type of A Girl"

Now this is how you start off a month in style! Indonesian Junk is back with its first new material in over a year, a brand-new digital single on Rum Bar Records called "Type of A Girl". It's also the band's first release featuring Adam Turetzky on rhythm guitar. This is a vintage IndoJunk track: a classic three-minute pop song that will leave the power poppers and glam punkers equally satisfied. As always, Daniel James sounds like the spirits of Joey Ramone and Stiv Bators are co-residing within him. "Type of A Girl" has the feel of a song that could have been a radio hit circa 1980. It's got hooks galore, and that guitar solo is nothing short of glorious! If you're brokenhearted or just like songs for the brokenhearted, this will be music to your ears. New album coming soon!

-L.R. 

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/track/type-of-a-girl

https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/album/type-of-a-girl

https://www.facebook.com/indonesianjunk/

https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

Nerve Button - Volume 2

So if you're not yet hip to maritime sham glam, now is an opportune time to become so. By next year, it will be passé after it becomes the official soundtrack of the QMJHL bubble. Moncton, New Brunswick based goon squad Nerve Button is back with its first album in four years and first new recordings since January of 2018. The album title Volume 2 makes it clear that Nerve Button is still Nerve Button. And thank the heavens for that. Just in case another band tries to claim that they invented maritime sham glam, Nerve Button has cemented the phrase as its intellectual property by making it the title of Volume 2's opening track. In a brilliant move, the band chose to make its signature song an instrumental. So what is maritime sham glam? To my ears, it's '77-style punk rock created under the influence of North American proto-punk and U.K. junkshop glam (and probably a few other things as well!). 

In very recent years, I've found my tastes in punk rock gravitating towards bands that don't take themselves at all seriously. I'm really into bands that are totally stupid, but in a smart sort of way. With that in mind, it all makes sense that a new Nerve Button album was exactly what I needed. I love the band's mix of a classic '77 sound and lyrics that fall into the tongue-in-cheek/of questionable taste/"That's so wrong!" category. Volume 2 is a super fun record full of dumb, obnoxious songs that ought to be played loud enough to irritate neighbors, passersby, spouses, and family pets. You can hear that throwback Canadian (by way of the U.K.) first wave sound on some tracks and a more overt glam influence on others ("Pink Jellybean", "Queen of the Tarts"). In a year in which angry and/or political punk music has been omnipresent (and not without good reason), songs about stolen underwear, getting sloshed, liking it "up the chuck", and the sound life philosophies that will keep you off of Dateline NBC are a welcome reprieve from all of the heavy seriousness of the moment. But while Nerve Button might like to goof around, its music is anything but a joke. Recorded live off the floor, Volume 2 is an absolute ripper of a record. The tunes are killer, and that guitar tone ought to be the envy of any garage/punk group. You may know some of these guys from famous infamous bands they've played in, but Nerve Button ought to be huge in its own right. Volume 2 is hands down the best punk rock album I've heard all year. Get it from Wanda Records!

  

-L.R.

https://wandarecords.bandcamp.com/album/volume-2

https://nervebutton.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/nervebuttonband/

Indonesian Junk - A Life of Crimes (singles and rarities 2009​-​2018)

Well here's the compilation you were dying for! Indonesian Junk has been one of planet Earth's top punk rock rock and roll bands for several years now, releasing a trio of fantastic albums in Indonesian Junk (2015), Stars In The Night (2017), and Spiderbites (2019) on the always fabulous Rum Bar Records. The precursor to Indonesian Junk was the Daniel James Gang, who released two singles back in 2009-2010. In case you desired a one-stop shop for all of Indonesian Junk's non-album recordings as well as the super rare Daniel James Gang tracks, Rum Bar Records proudly presents the decade-spanning collection A Life of Crimes. This essentially functions as a fourth Indonesian Junk album. Like the other three, it's a killer mashup of street tough '70s punk, glam-inspired hard rock, and big hooky power pop with an additional touch of darkness and gloom. No other band gives you all of that at once!

The material on Life of Crimes spans the years 2009-2018. It features the entirety of the Daniel James Gang singles "Nothin' I Can Do and "In This City", Indonesian Junk's 2015 7" "Crimes", the KISS cover "C'mon and Love Me" from 2018's Darkness Calling EP, and four previously unreleased tracks. As is often the case with these kinds of collections, the cover songs are feature attractions. If your introduction to Indonesian Junk turns out to be a KISS cover, well that's kind of awesome! Daniel and company cut a great version of The Joneses' classic "Pill Box" back in 2017 which somehow was never released. Well now you finally get to hear it! There are also covers of "Situations" by Slaughter and the Dogs and "Outfit" by Starz. The fact that one band would cover KISS, The Joneses, Slaughter and the Dogs, and Starz tells you a lot about Daniel's musical vision! But don't sleep on the originals. "Crimes" is one of Indonesian Junk's signature songs. "Now That It's Over" blurs the lines between heartbreak and a complete mental breakdown. "Nothin' I Can Do" and "I'm So Bored" hold up as well as anything from the 2010 punk/power pop/rock and roll universe. If you're already a fan of this Milwaukee trio, A Life of Crimes is an essential purchase to complete your collection. And if you've yet to be inducted into the Junk Army, your next move should be to head on over to Bandcamp and explore the band's full criminal history!



-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/a-life-of-crimes-singles-and-rarities-2009-2018
https://indonesianjunk.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/indonesianjunk/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

The New Brutarians - "Living In Isolation"

Some of you may have had your fill of topical songs this summer. But I still can't get enough. To me, one of the major points of art is that you can create something of value inspired by our shared human experience. And right now, humans are sharing an unprecedented experience. The New Brutarians, America's favorite new glam rock pop art proto-punk duo, have just released the ultimate 2020 anthem in their new track "Living In Isolation". Produced by Gino Bambino at SunWray Studios, "Living In Isolation" just might be the best New Brutarians song to date. There's something just a little "off" about the fidelity of the recording that gives this song a surrealistic feel. And that's totally perfect for a song about the present state of the world. I love the complexity of what this song is. One one hand, it's dark and apocalyptic. On the other hand, it's really catchy and upbeat enough to get you tapping your toes. Adams's lyrics are remarkable. He's written about a pandemic-stricken world with honesty and bleak realism, but with a glimmer of hope still flickering. The lines "Every song I hear tonight/Sounds like shite/The words real trite/But I'll spin it again tomorrow when the sun is shining" absolutely blow me away.

In addition to "Living In Isolation", The New Brutarians also recently released "The Warrior Song" from their quarantine recording sessions with Gino Gambino. This track has a rawer, fiercer sound than most of the band's existing tracks. For the lack of a better term, I'll say it's the band's "punkiest" song yet. It reminds me a little of Adam's old band The Beatings. Again, the lyrics are totally fantastic and well worth your inspection. Both "Living In Isolation" and "The Warrior Song" can be streamed from The New Brutarians' Bandcamp and SoundCloud pages. And be sure to check out the music video the band just made for its killer 7" track "A Little Hit of You"!



-L.R.

https://thenewbrutarians.bandcamp.com/track/living-in-isolation
https://soundcloud.com/adam-turkel-836476637
https://www.facebook.com/thenewbrutarians/

The New Brutarians - "New Muse"

How about another cool tune from The New Brutarians? Yes, please! When we last checked in with Adam and Christina, they had just given us a preview of their debut 7". I don't know if the record has even been released yet, but now they're back with a track off of their second EP due out in September. "New Muse" again finds the duo hitting that sweet spot where pop art, glam rock, and proto-punk intersect. It's probably the band's most overtly "pop" song yet, but it's still art damaged enough to frighten off the squares. Last time I mentioned that The New Brutarians would be rounding out their first EP with a track called "(Rock Me) I'm A Dadaist" (Oh my god: best song title ever!). They've since posted that one on the digital platforms as well. Let me just say that when you begin a song with the lyrics "I'm living like a hologram/I dined on Alice Cooper's brain", you can't possibly go wrong!  If you're a fan of Lou Reed, Johnny Thunders, The Only Ones etc., head on over to Bandcamp or SoundCloud and get a whiff of what The New Brutarians have been cooking!



-L.R.

https://thenewbrutarians.bandcamp.com/track/new-muse
https://soundcloud.com/adam-turkel-836476637
https://www.facebook.com/thenewbrutarians/  
https://www.instagram.com/thenewbrutarians/

The Hi-End - Class Kicks

You could write a thousand words about The Hi-End, but "high octane rock & roll" pretty much tells you everything you need to know. This Boston five-piece releases its new album Class Kicks today on Rum Bar Records. Proceed to checkout!

Typical of a Boston rock and roll band, The Hi-End features a formidable cast of veteran players. Johnny Carlevale (Johnny Carlevale and His Band of All Stars, Johnny Carlevale & The Rollin' Pins) is on lead vocals. Curt Florczak from B-Movie Rats is on guitar. You may also recognize Anthony Giordano (bass), Bruno Giordano (guitar), and Scott Sugarman (drums) from The Boston Swindlers. Together these five contribute an array of influences covering the last 65 years of rock and roll (or maybe just the first 30!). The Hi-End brings to mind a time in music when you could be a bar band at heart but still fill arenas. I'm hearing a whole lot of AC/DC, Aerosmith, and '70s Stones in these 12 tracks, along with more than a pinch of pub rock and glam-punk. Class Kicks is the sort of thing you don't hear very often these days: a pure hard rocking record stacked with mighty riffs and killer songs. You've got that perfect blend of thundering rhythm guitar and red-hot lead work, a rhythm section that knows how to drive a beat, and a lead singer with legit rock star pipes and a swagger to match. Lead track "Looking For Some Kicks" roars like the Dead Boys going full-bore rock. "Perfect Company" channels the Stones via the New York Dolls and brings an energy that is positively electric. "The Way She Moves Me" highlights the band's hookier inclinations, while "Feed My Need" throws it back to the heyday of classic metal. "One Day At A Time" is pub rock by the book, and that's a book that never gets old. Did somebody mention high octane rock and roll? "It's A Long Way Down" and "Blood Red Lips" could just about raise Bon Scott and Malcolm Young from the dead.

It seems fitting that The Hi-End are now label mates with Watts. Malibu Lou just might single-handedly revive the glory days of rock, and he could probably do it with just Boston bands! When it comes to high energy rock and roll, The Hi-End is top shelf. This band has got it all: the style, the chops, and great tunes for days. Make sure your arm is loosened up for frequent raising of the volume knob and lots of spontaneous air guitar heroics. Class Kicks kicks ass!



-L.R.

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/class-kicks
https://thehi-end.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theHiendband
http://the-hi-end.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RumBarRecords

You Wanna Know What It's Like? - A Tribute to the Hollywood Brats & The Boys

I don't often review tribute albums. But in the case of the newly-released You Wanna Know What It's Like?, there was just no doubt that I was going to have something to say! This tribute to the Hollywood Brats and The Boys was assembled two decades ago. For various reasons, it never saw the light of day...until now! With most of the world now in lockdown, The Italian label Desert Inn Records decided it was time to give this compilation a proper release and "let people have a good time listening to some great music while in isolation". Now that's a mission I can wholeheartedly endorse. And while this is currently a free download, any proceeds from individuals who choose to pay will be donated to the Italian Red Cross.

Let's start with the obvious: outside of the Ramones, Buzzcocks, and Undertones, The Boys were probably the biggest single influence on the punk/pop/rock and roll scene I champion to this day. The Hollywood Brats were the greatest early '70s glam proto punk band that most people never heard. The link between the two bands, of course, is the tremendous keyboardist Casino Steel. You Wanna Know What It's Like? features covers of many of both bands' most beloved songs. Because the album was put together 20 years ago, the band lineup reads like a who's-who of Y2K era glam punk and punk rock and roll. Hearing all of these bands is like traveling back to the year 2000 on a time machine stocked with back issues of Hit List. Suddenly, I'm nostalgic for my shitty later-20s years that were only made bearable by the punk rock records I was acquiring on a daily basis. When I saw that the Beat Angels ("Terminal Love") and Trash Brats ("Sick On You") were on board, I was instantly sold on this thing. And you can never go wrong leading off with the mighty Jeff Dahl (who turns in a uniquely Dahl-ish rendition of the Hollywood Brats' "Chez Maximes")! Fans of later '90s glam punk rock and roll will surely recognize bands like Thee S.T.P., The Dialtones, Streetwalkin' Cheetahs, Aerobitch, and The Turpentines - who all put their signatures on Boys classics. My man Dimitri Monroe even makes an appearance - offering up a splendidly trashy take on the Brats' "Nightmare". First State Thrill Killers (featuring Vince and Randy from the brilliant Jake and the Stiffs) do a killer version of The Boys' "Schooldays". To the best of my knowledge, this is only the third time that FSTK have appeared on an official release (the other two occasions being tribute albums to GG Allin and GG & The Jabbers). I had somehow never heard of the Finnish band Hundred Million Martians, but their version of "Soda Pressing"  is an absolute highlight.

You Wanna Know What It's Like? really hits the spot for a tribute album. Its primary focus is to celebrate the music of a couple of legendary bands, yet few if any of these tracks sound like straight copies of the originals. Because this album went unheard for two decades, it ends up being far more than a tribute. It's also the ultimate time capsule for late '90s/early 2000s glam-punk, trashy pop, and rawk. This collection was assembled with tremendous affection for not just the Boys and Hollywood Brats but also for all the bands that appear here. This was a true passion project, and it's never too late to get such a thing out into the world. Go snag a download of this bad boy and donate if you can!



-L.R.

https://bratsandboystribute.bandcamp.com/album/you-wanna-know-what-its-like
https://www.cri.it/home

Johnny Jetson - Make Your Move

Johnny Jetson is a glam rock lifer whose musical career has spanned several decades and taken him from New York City to L.A. to Minneapolis. He was in Space Age Playboys back in the '90s, Tattooed Millionaires in the 2000s, and now plays in the Speed City Vipers. He's released a terrific new solo record called Make Your Move - which is available now in digital form from Minnie-Apple Records. What I love about this record is that it captures the essence of Johnny Jetson. It's an over-the-top and fully unapologetic glam rock and roll record - rooted in a great love for everyone from the New York Dolls to T. Rex to Alice Cooper to KISS to Cheap Trick to the bad boys of the Sunset Strip. As '90s/2000s mainstream rock moved away from the hooky tunes and dumb fun of the rock and roll of yore, Johnny Jetson remained a true believer in the old ways. And he's still at it today! The man's on a mission, and it's no accident that the phrases "rock" and "rock and roll" are invoked on several of these song titles. Johnny Jetson is still keeping the faith for real rock and roll like you used to hear on the radio in the '70s and '80s. "Love Me For My Car" rides a timeless Marc Bolan groove straight into that head space where only the catchiest tunes latch onto you. "Hang Around With You" has the bluster of sleaze rock and the heart of pure pop. I heard the opening riffs to "Miss Devious" and half-expected Joan Jett to start singing. "I Believe In Rock And Roll" is a full-on mission statement. If it comes off corny, I would say that's an entirely good thing. Sometimes rock and roll is the only thing we have to believe in, and it never lets us down.

Johnny Jetson is no way inclined to "adapt" for modern times. He's gonna play his kind of music until the day he dies, and he's gonna do it with style and unceasing enthusiasm. From the quintessential hard rock trash of "Knocked Out" to the bubblegum glam of the title track, Make Your Move is all about big guitars, big hooks, and lyrics that unflinchingly embrace the silly cliches and tongue-in-cheek sleaziness that once made rock so great. It seems to me that a song called "Mouth Made For Rock N Roll" is precisely what the world needs at the moment. But while the attitude is commendable, Jetson's talent for writing catchy, hard-rocking tunes of considerable quality should not be overlooked. This album makes me wanna grow out my hair, stay up past my bedtime, and play my records so loud that the neighbors want to fight me. What am I waiting for?!

  
-L.R.

https://minnieapplerecords.bandcamp.com/album/make-your-move-2 
https://www.facebook.com/minnieapplerecords 
https://www.facebook.com/speedcityvipers/