Unfinished Business: Guerrilla Teens - "I Cyclops"/"Pride of the Savanna"

As I was closing out the year and looking for review drafts that for some reason never got published, this Guerrilla Teens piece from October caught my eye. How in the world did I forget to finish this thing? Back with their first new release since 2023's fantastic long player Under the Dagger, Guerrilla Teens totally rip it up with a pair of tracks that fit the mood of the spooky season. But in a way, it's nice to listen to this single again with fresh ears. Even with the horror theme, this is by no means a strictly seasonal release. 12 months a year, these tunes will melt your face off. Guerrilla Teens remain one of the finest rock 'n' roll bands going, and "I Cyclops" is as good as anything they've done. Out on Heavy Medication Records, this is an absolute monster of a single (no pun intended). On the A-side, the band gets into the head of a perceived monster. What's it like to be feared and misjudged by a world that won't even try to understand you? Scott "Deluxe" Drake turns in a powerful vocal performance on this track — a fierce and ferocious shot of old school punk rock 'n' roll. On the B-side, "Pride of the Savanna" stays on the horror theme and manages to evoke wild '60s garage rock without coming off overtly retro. The guitar work and rhythm playing are inspired, and Drake delivers his vocals with a chilling conviction. I believe there are still vinyl copies left, so be sure to grab one if real rock 'n' roll is your cup of tea! 

-L.R.

https://heavymedicationrecords.bandcamp.com/album/i-cyclops-pride-of-the-savanna
https://guerrillateens.bandcamp.com/album/i-cyclops-b-w-pride-of-the-savanna
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057052313560
https://www.instagram.com/guerrillateens/

Unfinished Business: Mean Jeans - Blasted

Now this is taking the "unfinished business" concept to absurd lengths. Mean Jeans' latest album Blasted is now nearly a year old, and I can't possibly explain why I didn't go to the trouble to review it 11 months ago. Let's just say that sometimes things slip past me. I would like to thank Mark for the nudge. If 2024 was the year that reignited my love for pop-punk, then I need to include Blasted as part of that. For a band that has been in existence for nearly two decades without ever significantly altering its musical style, Mean Jeans have managed a highly impressive staying power. Blasted is the perfect name for an album that rips through 15 tracks in just over a half hour. It manages to be simple in its approach yet inspired in execution — with tight playing, super-catchy songs, and lyrics that are deceptively mature and self-reflective. I remember reviewing On Mars back in 2012, but honestly, Blasted is miles better. There are so many other bands out there doing music somewhat similar to this that are a total bore. Yet somehow Mean Jeans have the secret sauce. If you're into pop-punk or Ramonescore, Blasted is an absolute must-buy. But you knew that already, didn't you?

-L.R.

https://meanjeans.bandcamp.com/album/blasted
https://open.spotify.com/album/2W7Xa2zh9NQFeBxA4hQG7a
https://www.instagram.com/themeanjeans
https://www.facebook.com/themeanjeans

Rad Max - Party McFly

Rad Max is a band I really love and find to be somewhat misunderstood. Any Gen Xer like me will have a tremendous appreciation for the band's love of 1980s culture and aesthetic. But the mistake some people might make with this band is to dismiss it as some sort of one trick pony novelty act. All novelty acts lose their appeal sooner rather than later. Rad Max, on the other hand, just keeps getting better. Surely this band wants to write songs you can dance to, and those songs are more likely than not to make reference to '80s popular culture. But if you think Rad Max are just about nostalgia, you're not fully getting them. Their new album Party McFly isn't just a record you listen to once and chuckle at. It's a really excellent new wave pop-rock record which arrives at a time when most really excellent new wave pop-rock records are decades old. The band's songwriting is legit good, and there's just as much contemporary social commentary and reflection in these songs as there is '80s homage. 

Of course Party McFly is a fun album first and foremost. It will get you and your friends dancing at parties just as it will get you dancing while you're home alone. But there's a serious undercurrent to these songs that I really appreciate. "Extraterrestrial Radio" rails against corporate control of commercial radio — something that has made the world a far suckier place. "Dystopian World Tour" could not be any more on-point in its depiction of modern society. "We Used to Never Say Die" is inspired by The Goonies yet also reflects on how a once-hopeful generation has been beaten down by reality. "Shutter Shades" changes the style of sunglasses but reaffirms a central message of the movie They Live: that we need to see through the villains hiding in plain sight. "Outrunning the Nothing" somehow explores existential angst while referencing a character from Domino's Pizza ads in the '80s. The album opens by introducing a metaphor that just about anyone will be able to relate to: we're still battling demons from high school. There's a lot of substance hidden within this throwback party record, and that is the real genius of Rad Max. Music can be fun and serious at the same time — just as music can be nostalgic and forward-looking at the same time. Party McFly is essential listening for anyone who aspires to be rad.

-L.R.

https://radmaxrocks.bandcamp.com/album/party-mcfly
https://open.spotify.com/album/2Or6eaDgfx1JYeZzCtHq2O
https://www.instagram.com/radmaxrocks/
https://www.facebook.com/radmaxrocks/
http://radmax.rocks/

The Plane Crash - Nostalgia For The Gutter

The Plane Crash, hailing from Portland, Oregon, is the type of band I used to write about frequently back in the day. This is a no bullshit, down and dirty, blood & guts punk rock 'n' roll band that worships at the altar of Johnny Thunders, Chuck Berry, and The Stooges. This group wears its influences on its sleeve and sticks to the business of playing three-chord rock 'n' roll with force and feeling. Mark Death (The Hot Lz's, The Halfways) is on vocals and lead guitar. He's joined by Harry Gadd on bass guitar and backing vocals, Rich Peterson on lead guitar, and Erik Haines on drums and lead vocals. The band's LP Nostalgia For The Gutter makes me nostalgic for all those 1990s American punk rock 'n' roll bands that pumped new life into the OG punk rock of Detroit, New York, and Ohio. Lean and mean at just nine tracks in 23 minutes, this album is chock full of raw energy, ripping guitar solos, and fuck-off attitude. There was a time in my life when I would come across a record like this three or four times a month. Now I'm lucky if that's three or four times in a year! So it's great to hear The Plane Crash pull off this style so well. Any band with Mark Death in it is going to be awesome, and he has found himself some kindred spirits with serious chops. Nostalgia For The Gutter is full of killer tunes and well worth exploring if real deal punk rock 'n' roll gets your heart racing.

-L.R.

https://theplanecrash.bandcamp.com/album/nostalgia-for-the-gutter
https://open.spotify.com/album/1tU5orD0KKO0QQQpzHVtkH
https://www.facebook.com/theplanecrash

Girl Drink Drunks - After 9pm

It's hard to believe that it was already six years ago when I first wrote about Portland, Oregon's Girl Drink Drunks. In my book, Joel Jett (The Flip-Tops, The Minds, Jetpack) is an all-time great in the garage punk universe. When I discovered he had a new band going with members of The Hot LZs and Piss Test, I was super stoked. And when I heard Girl Drink Drunks, I totally flipped (no pun intended). I consider the band's 2017 debut long player one of the most underrated punk albums of the previous decade. It is my hope that new album After 9pm will be properly rated and hailed as one of 2023's most essential punk rock releases. This album (which marks the triumphant return of Jett's record label Sonic Jett after a decade plus pause) is an absolute monster. Obviously this band has a huge garage punk pedigree, but the record sounds too good to be classified as budget trash. The band rips through 13 tracks of aggressive but catchy punk rock with a rock n' roll influence and a hardcore intensity. Jett, as always, belts out his vocals with fury and force. The rhythm section is tight & powerful, and the lead guitar is pure fire. Simply put, this is a killer punk rock record. Lyrically, it's very in tune with the tenor of the crazy times we live in. While the band name comes from one of the greatest comedy sketches of all-time, you can be assured that these songs are no joke. With the majority of the tracks coming in under two minutes and the longest running just two minutes, twenty seconds, After 9pm is like a series of punishing blows that will leave you battered and still begging for more. The vinyl release is a 12" record spinning at 45 RPM. Grab a copy now along with a download of the first album if you don't have one already!

-L.R.

https://girldrinkdrunks.bandcamp.com/album/after-9pm
Sonic Jett Records on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/girldrinkdrunks

Rad Max - "So Convenient"

The latest single from Portland's Rad Max is another new wave smash. "So Convenient" is the foursome's first release in a year, following up last summer's anthem "Extraterrestrial Radio." On the surface, "So Convenient" is a celebration of the cultural phenomenon that is the American convenience store. Where else on Earth can you purchase beef jerky, enormous sugary beverages, lottery tickets, and freshly grilled hot dogs in one stop whilst witnessing the finest in local color at any hour of the day? But in verse two, the song takes exactly the futuristic/modern dystopian turn you'd expect from Rad Max. With its mix of humor and spot-on social commentary, this song totally hits a sweet spot for me. Bouncing back and fourth between post-punk and pure pop music, "So Convenient" has got an '80s feel for sure — and of course I'm talking about the 2080s. The little bit about the brain freeze really made me laugh because I recently suffered from such an affliction (and yes, it was brought on by overzealous slurpee consumption). One of my major life goals is to someday hear this song at a convenience store. For now, you can download the track for the very low price of free and save your spare change for that single roll of TP.

-L.R.

https://radmaxrocks.bandcamp.com/track/so-convenient
http://radmax.rocks/
https://www.instagram.com/radmaxrocks/
https://www.facebook.com/radmaxrocks/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk1yOXuv1sgg4a0ioun3AZg
https://open.spotify.com/album/4WjJK8AwxnHA8o4Sf60GYT

Guerrilla Teens - Under The Dagger

Here it is, my friends: the long-awaited debut album from Portland, Oregon's mighty Guerrilla Teens. Comprised of Scott "Deluxe" Drake on vocals, Jeff Fieldhouse on guitar, Saul Koll on guitar, Tim Connolly on drums, and Anna Andersen on bass, this is one of the most impressive band lineups you'll ever come across in the world of rock and roll. Just as Lovesores were never The Humpers, Guerrilla Teens are not Lovesores. This is a new band for a new time. But if you've followed the career of Scott "Deluxe" Drake over the decades, you should have a pretty good idea of what to expect from Guerrilla Teens. This band first surfaced during lockdown times and released several demos on Bandcamp which have long since disappeared. Last year saw the band's first official release, a superb 7" called "Halfway To Maybe." And now the long player Under The Dagger has been unveiled, with CDs available soon and a vinyl release from Sioux Records also in the works. 

The album's ten tracks were co-written by Drake and Fieldhouse — one of the most legendary songwriting duos in the history of punk music. While the sound of this record is definitely more polished and refined than anything ever released by The Humpers, it still lives in that sweet spot where '70s punk meets sweaty, raucous rock and roll. Drake still hollers with a conviction and venom that most punk screamers half his age could only hope to muster up. You hear that voice on record, and you know exactly who it is. And my god, Fieldhouse and Koll form a guitar tandem that just can't be beat in the punk rock universe. In comparison to previous Drake–fronted albums, Under the Dagger is probably the most mature but by no means tamer. Pure blistering speed has given way to a controlled, slow-burning fury that will consume anything in its path. I remember a few of these tracks as demos. And sure enough, they're way better as finished products. You can tell the band worked hard to perfect this material and produce a recording they could be proud of. There are certain songs (e.g. "Concrete Face" and "Black Weather") that will surely have longtime Drake fans screaming for joy. Other tracks hint at a more melodic sensibility without sacrificing any of the grit or ferocity. I won't quite say that "Tell Me What To Do" is "pop," but it's undoubtedly tuneful. "Tell It to the Wind" reminds me quite a bit of The Saints, and I'm sure not complaining. The title track, to me, can hang with just about any song that Drake and Fieldhouse have ever co-written. 

Having done the best they could with socially-distanced recording methods in pandemic times, clearly Guerrilla Teens were raring for the smoke to clear so they could hit the stage again and properly record some music that would capture their essence. Under The Dagger definitely captures their essence, and it's a master class effort of real deal punk rock and roll. If these ten songs don't get your heart racing, you may need to consult a medical professional. 

-L.R.

https://guerrillateens.bandcamp.com/album/under-the-dagger
https://www.facebook.com/Guerrilla-Teens-103324881410665/
https://www.instagram.com/guerrillateens/
https://siouxguitars.com/records/

Tommy Ray! - "Every Way I'm Moving"

Tommy Ray!, whose music I last reviewed in May of last year, has a recent single out on the digital platforms that is well worth the attention of anyone who enjoys power pop. I have been an admirer of Ray's talents since the earliest days of this blog — which shockingly now date back to 11 years ago. As great of a band as The Cry! was, I'm finding the Tommy Ray! solo stuff to be at a whole other level. Ray has always had a flair for a memorable melody and a perfect hook. But lyrically, he's really hitting his stride with songs that absolutely nail what it's like to be a young adult struggling to figure out life. It was Paul Westerberg who famously wrote about missing "the whole first rung" on the ladder of success. Tommy Ray! seems to be living that life, and I continue to be blown away by his brutal honesty and keen self-awareness. He's never afraid to cut himself open in a song. The new single "Every Way I'm Moving" is typical of a Tommy Ray! song in the respect that it's a bitter pill to swallow lyrically yet so musically intoxicating with its sweet melodies and gorgeous guitars. If you've ever felt like you were going nowhere while everything was falling apart around you, you'll be feeling lyrics like these:

I can't stand the pain/

If you turn and walk away/

I got one food in the grave/

And the other's in the way/

Of every thing I'm doing/

And every way I'm moving 

Wow, that's powerful stuff. Elsewhere Ray ponders that "it's easy to laugh at a day's gone past when hindsight's in your face" before asking the musical question "What would you do if it was you stuck here in my place?" And that's spot-on. No matter how times many people assure you that things will ultimately get better, that's little solace when the short term is so hard to bear. While far from a "feelgood" song, "Every Way I'm Moving" is perfect pop in just about every respect. Every time I get to the end of the song, I want to play it again. Sometimes we don't need music to make us feel good. Sometimes we need it to make us feel less alone in the world. While "Every Way I'm Moving" is a song very personal to Tommy Ray!, it's sure to strike a chord with a whole lot of people.

-L.R.

https://open.spotify.com/track/5aySiUvnJwHVbcfbLGYpa3
https://music.apple.com/lc/album/everyway-im-moving-single/1634018140
https://music.amazon.com/artists/B0B64JNDJF/tommy-ray
https://www.facebook.com/thecrypdx
https://www.instagram.com/tommyraypdx/

Guerrilla Teens - "Halfway To Maybe"

Guerrilla Teens first came to our attention back in the year that cannot be mentioned, releasing numerous socially-distanced recorded demos throughout the year. This was an exciting moment for the rock and roll world as this new band featured some prominent ex Humpers/Lovesores and a couple more Portland punk rock luminaries. Those digital releases were made available with the caveat that they would soon disappear. And disappear they did. Now Guerrilla Teens have delivered their proper debut release, a ripper of a single called "Halfway To Maybe." The demos were promising, but this is what we were all expecting from Guerrilla Teens. Out come those guitars in full fury. In comes Scott "Deluxe" Drake bellowing, "Can't make up my mind to save my life/Indecision's such a pointless crime/Remember how they said 'If not now, when?'/Well tell me what to do, and I'll lose again." Then that chorus hits, and you're shouting along, fist thrust forcefully in the air. Yeah, kids, this is rock and roll! You know the magic happens when Scott Drake and Jeff Fieldhouse make tunes together, and "Halfway To Maybe" is the perfect re-launching point for their songwriting partnership. On the B-side, "The Other End of the Leash" is a raging shot of American-style '77 punk rock and roll. It's a thumping, gritty number that builds to a chorus that smashes you in the teeth. Drake is in prime form here — fully channeling the wrath of a chained animal. And it's a thrill to hear the righteous guitar racket that Fieldhouse and Saul Koll can kick up as a tandem. Ably driving this rock and roll machine is the formidable rhythm section of "Anna Bananas" Anderson and "Teenage Tim" Connolly. What a lineup. What a band! 

"Halfway To Maybe" is coming out soon as a 7" record, but you can grab the digital version now from Bandcamp for $3. If all you punk rock and roll fanatics aren't already going ape over Guerrilla Teens, you will be soon!

-L.R.

https://guerrillateens.bandcamp.com/album/halfway-to-maybe
https://www.facebook.com/Guerrilla-Teens-103324881410665/
https://www.instagram.com/guerrillateens/

Rad Max - "Extraterrestrial Radio"

Rad Max is a band that always puts a smile on my face. No matter how depressing this world gets, it's impossible to not feel good when a Rad Max song is playing. The Portland-based new wave foursome is a ray of sunshine in today's music scene, and new single "Extraterrestrial Radio" is a perfect example of that. While there are numerous '80s pop culture references in the cover art and lyrics, this is probably Rad Max's most "contemporary" song yet. It's a heartfelt tribute to independent radio stations and the DJs who support all of those underground bands we love so dearly. It's also an astute commentary on the soulless nature of modern-day corporate radio. Check out these lyrics:

I don't heart your radio/
You've got your algo in my rhythm/
Give me music by aliens/
So I can rock out with 'em

Did they hit the nail on the head, or what? I love the metaphor of this whole big beautiful underground music scene of ours being a community of aliens. And in typical Rad Max style, "Extraterrestrial Radio" radiates a special kind of energy that will have you dancing and singing along in no time flat. The song is available now from all the streaming sites. And if you listen to a lot of independent and underground radio, you'll surely hear it in regular rotation. Indeed, give me music by aliens!

-L.R.

https://radmaxrocks.bandcamp.com/track/extraterrestrial-radio
http://radmax.rocks/
https://www.facebook.com/radmaxrocks/
https://www.instagram.com/radmaxrocks/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk1yOXuv1sgg4a0ioun3AZg
https://open.spotify.com/album/0vKTtZOFdIwu0wQTWLK41B

Dials - self titled

I've got a good one for you today! From Portland, Oregon, Dials are Laura, Alex, Mary, Rose, and Shauna. They've just dropped a two-song digital single on Bandcamp that absolutely blows me away. These tracks are off a 7" coming out soon on Black Water Records. The sound is punk rock with post-punk influences. Both songs, "Slow Walk" and "Chance Man", are A-side worthy numbers. I'm notoriously lukewarm about "post-punk" as a genre, but Dials are a band that get it right. These songs offer up an ideal mix of energy and creativity. I'm reminded a little of Midnite Snaxxx, one of my favorite present-day punk bands. If you like punk rock music that manages to sound original and contemporary, this is a band you need to check out! I'm sure we will be hearing much more from Dials in 2022. For now, enjoy this brilliant debut!

-L.R.

https://dialsbandpdx.bandcamp.com/album/dials

Tommy Ray! - Handful of Hits

Handful of Hits is the second solo album from Tommy Ray!, front man for power pop greats The Cry! It's hard for me to believe that it's been nearly a decade since I first wrote about The Cry! Man, time flies! After going several years without hearing any new music from Tommy Ray!, we have been blessed to receive two albums from him in two years. Handful of Hits continues in a manner similar to last year's fantastic solo debut First Hits Free. The lyrics are personal, brutally honest, and in some cases quite dark. Yet with this being a Tommy Ray! album, you know you're getting upbeat melodies and irresistible hooks. 

Compared to First Hits Free, Handful of Hits is an even stronger selection of songs. Ray continues to turn out tunes reflective of his experiences as a young adult trying to find his way in the world. "One Step Forward" is about trying to grow up but not being able to fully pull it off. "Loser's Anthem" and "School Daze" explore similar themes of being young and aimless. "No No No" and "Feel the Pain" are classic Tommy Ray! "bummer love songs". Hearing these songs for the first time gave me chills because they reminded me so much of my own 20s when life was so full of letdowns and uncertainties. The realism and honesty of Ray's songwriting just blow me away. Elsewhere, Ray shows his sweeter side on "If You Need Anything" and engages in classic storytelling on "I Didn't Do It". Musically, he continues to draw from inspirations ranging from '50s/'60s rock and roll to '70s glam and punk to modern-day power pop. Songs like "Runnin'", "If You Need Anything", and "Beer Wine and Whiskey" would not sound out of place on a Cry! album. "In Love Again", "One Step Forward", and "Feel the Pain" are bona fide pop hits in that signature Tommy Ray! style. And then there's "On My Wall" -- which is modern, moody, and totally unlike any song Ray has released before. 

Handful of Hits, like First Hits Free, is very simply produced. And that's a good thing. Without any bells and whistles in the production department, the quality of the songwriting really comes to the forefront. Tommy Ray! again shows himself to be one of the finest young songwriters in the world of power pop and rock and roll in general. There are few things in life more satisfying than a perfectly executed three-minute pop song. Handful of Hits is chock full of that very thing -- living up to its title for sure. Vinyl coming next month on GadM and Beluga Records!

-L.R.

https://thecry.bandcamp.com/album/tommy-ray-handful-of-hits
https://gadm.bandcamp.com/album/tommy-ray-handful-of-hits
https://belugarecords.bandcamp.com/album/tommy-ray-hand-ful-of-hits
https://www.facebook.com/thecrypdx

Rad Max - Straight to Video

Portland, Oregon's Rad Max recently contacted me about their new single "Driller Killer" -  a song inspired by the film Slumber Party Massacre II. I immediately dug it and quickly ascertained that it comes from a full album of songs devoted to '80s pop culture obsession. Of course I should have known that already since the band emailed me about the album six whole months ago! Woops! That was very bogus of me. While Rad Max may be 80s-fetishists, that's 100% okay by me because I'm one too! The band's debut album Straight to Video transports you to a world full of VHS tapes, shopping malls, video arcades, and cool movies with cheesy training montages. Musically, Rad Max plays a punky brand of new wave pop rock that you can dance to. Even if they weren't '80s-inspired, these would be cool songs. They've got real hooks and a great goofy energy to them. On lead vocals, Rad Rachel is likable and spunky in a way that transcends the band's schtick. The most fun part, of course, are the humorous lyrics and wonderfully ridiculous song ideas. The aforementioned "Driller Killer" recounts all the bad decisions that teens continually made in '80s slasher movies. "Flix From '86" salutes nearly every cool movie released in 1986. "Is That Freedom Rock?" hilariously lampoons the most notorious TV commercial ever made for a compilation album. "The Computer Controls the Tower" is a nod to the countless evil computers of pop culture's past. There are multiple Tom Hanks movies referenced on this album, and luckily one of them is the cinematic masterpiece The 'Burbs. 

Does much of my fondness for Straight to Video have something to do with nostalgia? Of course. But even if you never experienced '80s culture first hand, you'd have a hard time denying that this record is tremendous fun. Rad Max have done a fine job of honing in on aspects of the '80s that were completely awesome, absolutely ridiculous, and in many cases both. The whole reason that '80s fetishism endures is that the '80s really were that cool. And it's not likely that Rad Max will run out of movies, TV shows, and fashion trends from the '80s to write songs about. When it's safe to congregate in bars and clubs again, Straight to Video ought to be a fixture of every '80s night ever! 

-L.R.

https://radmaxrocks.bandcamp.com/album/straight-to-video
http://radmax.rocks/
https://www.facebook.com/radmaxrocks/
https://www.instagram.com/radmaxrocks/

Guerrilla Teens - All The Hits

So we barely had time to cry in our collective beers over the breakup of the mighty Lovesores before Scott "Deluxe" Drake and Saul Koll resurfaced in the exciting new rock and roll force Guerrilla Teens. It was as if the music gods would not allow us to endure a pandemic without a ray of hope. Also on board were ex Humpers guitarist (and O.G. Lovesore) Jeff Fieldhouse, Epoxies/Sex Crime/Suicide Notes drummer Tim Connolly, and bassist Anna Anderson (Suicide Notes). Now that is a bona fide Portland, Oregon punk rock super group! Guerrilla Teens hit the ground running by recording ten killer demo tracks, which were released as five separate digital singles that came and went in the blink of an eye. If you snoozed, you lost. But now you get another crack at all these tunes....if you hurry! 

Launched as a fundraiser for The Oregon Wildfire Relief Fund, All The Hits compiles all of Guerrilla Teens' COVID demos into one blockbuster digital album. This collection is not likely to be available permanently, so I advise jumping on it now! Just as it would have been an oversimplification to call Lovesores a reboot of The Humpers, it's not fully accurate to consider Guerrilla Teens a continuation of Lovesores. But it's no stretch to say that all three of the aforementioned bands are cut from the same cloth. No doubt about it, Scott "Deluxe" Drake is one of the greatest lead singers that rock and roll music has ever produced. After 35 years+ in the game, he sounds as fierce, focused, and fiery as ever. And now he's backed by an epic guitar tandem and a red-hot rhythm section. As you would expect, Guerrilla Teens don't veer too far from that sleazy '70s punk by way of the Stones and Chuck Berry lane ("Tell Me What To Do" and "Black Weather" could easily be mistaken for lost Humpers tracks). But with this particular band, I'm also sensing an affinity for old school garage rock and Stiv Bators inspired dark pop. There are plenty of songs here that will rock the snot out of you but also a few that suggest that Drake and friends have some tricks up their sleeve. And keep in mind that these are all demos recorded in isolation. If it's ever safe for Guerrilla Teens to mingle with the outside world, you all won't know what hit you. 

Be sure to grab All The Hits while you still can. Your purchase will be donated to The Oregon Wildfire Relief Fund. And while you're at it, check out the new single "Barbie's Reality House" that just dropped yesterday. Rock and roll will save us all!

-L.R.

https://guerrillateens.bandcamp.com/album/all-the-hits
https://www.facebook.com/Guerrilla-Teens-103324881410665/

Guerrilla Teens - Dillinger Red

Alright, kids: ya better get cracking on this one! Six days from now, the first two demo tracks ever released by Portland, Oregon punk rock and roll supergroup Guerrilla Teens will be disappearing from the Internet. They will literally self-destruct in the blink of an eye. And lemme tell you, these tracks are HOT! It won't take you long to identify that this mysterious band is fronted by the mighty Scott "Deluxe" Drake (ex Humpers, Lovesores). He's joined by a couple of old partners in crime along with some star players from Portland's formidable punk rock scene. If the breakup of Lovesores had you shedding a tear (trust me, I feel you!), the arrival of Guerrilla Teens will quickly fill that hole in your heart. Oh man, "Dillinger Red" is pure fire! From the ripping twin guitars to the slamming drums and bass to Drake's powerhouse vocal, this song has got everything you could ever desire from punk rock and roll music. It's paired here with "Super Aces (Bonus Poker)", a primal slow burn that's super sleazy in the best possible way. I could say more, but there's no time to monkey around! Cough up a dollar and get these songs downloaded today. Two brand-new demos will be taking their place on Bandcamp next Friday, and I'm sure they won't be around long either. You have been warned!

-L.R.

https://guerrillateens.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/Guerrilla-Teens-103324881410665

Lovesores - Bats From Planet Skull

Well I've got some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that the Lovesores broke up. The good news is that they've left us a parting gift in the form of one final recording that you can download for free. Bats From Planet Skull debuted on Bandcamp last week - only the second Lovesores full-length album and now sadly the last. But I'm not much for boo-hooing any band's demise. Not every rock and roll band is meant to last forever, and I'd rather have a group that's great for a few years than one that endures for decades in a state of decline or (even worse) mediocrity. I'm not saying that the Lovesores would have declined, but I will say they've bowed out at the very top of their game.

The final Lovesores tally over the past eight years was three singles, a couple of big ten-inches, and two long players - and all of it absolutely great! While there was always enough of a similarity between the Lovesores and Humpers to entice fans of the latter, it never seemed like Scott "Deluxe" Drake's new band was overshadowed by his old one. Drake refused to rest on his laurels, and he managed to assemble what was almost certainly the most formidable punk rock and roll band of the past decade. The lineup was consistent since 2014, with Alex Fast (bass), Boz Bennes (drums), Adam Kattau (guitar), and Saul Koll (guitar) matching every bit of Drake's vocal firepower. You'd have to look far and wide (and probably into the distant past) to find a stronger rhythm section and a more electrifying guitar tandem. More importantly, as a unit these guys forged a brand of rock and roll that was ferocious, exciting, and brought forth from a place deep in the soul. Bats From Planet Skull was recorded live in the basement last year, and it doesn't stray far (or at all) from the band's previous method of operation. This is the Lovesores doing what the Lovesores did best: raucous rock and roll marrying the defiant spirit and irresistible rhythms of the genre's roots to the guts and aggression of original era punk rock.

Kicking off with the blistering fury of "Some For Tomorrow (Some For Tonight)", this record is top-loaded with scorching guitars, an unstoppable beat, and typically red-hot howling on the part of living legend Drake. Even in this time of mandatory isolation, I can only picture these songs being performed in a packed dive bar as bodies fly and liquor flows. The band tears into tracks like "Hot Pants!" and "Psychic Dick" with a force and feeling that can only be summoned if you were born to rock and roll. "Belle in the Belfry" relaxes the pace a tad, then proceeds to hook you with a chorus that you cannot physically resist singing along with. "Bishop Of Worms", which pairs a punching garage rock riff with a classically sneering Drake vocal, is one of the most compelling Lovesores tracks of recent memory. "Creature (At The Top Of The Hill)", featuring music written by Bernadette from Gee Strings, is a stone cold punk ripper that concludes this album and the Lovesores' career in truly roaring fashion. I'm left wanting more, which is exactly the way it ought to be.

Why release an album after your band is broken up? Because you know in your heart that it's the best thing you've ever done! Bats From Planet Skull, just as much as anything the Lovesores released, captures the essence of this tremendous punk rock and roll band. Drake belts out these songs with as much conviction and intensity as ever, and backing him is a band that sounds fully determined to rock you into next week. Far from slowing down, the Lovesores were at full steam to the very end. Let us hope that this album turns out to be a million seller, requiring the assembly of multiple impostor Lovesores bands to meet the worldwide demand for touring, television appearances, and photo ops with world leaders.



-L.R.

https://lovesores.bandcamp.com/album/bats-from-planet-skull
https://www.facebook.com/TheLovesores 

Tommy Ray! - First Hits Free

"Long-awaited" is a phrase that often turns up in my reviews. But I don't think it's ever been more suitable than it is today. The Cry! released two of the greatest albums of the last decade in 2011 and 2014, and we've been waiting for a follow-up ever since. The long awaited First Hits Free by Tommy Ray! is not quite a Cry! record. But it is a solo album from The Cry!'s lead singer and primary songwriter. Many of these songs were written for The Cry! but ultimately not chosen for the band's third album (which will likely be completed this year...fingers crossed!). This album is a little "less produced" compared to The Cry!, but Ray's songwriting has never been stronger. He wrote most of this material himself, with assistance in spots from John Nelsen and Brian Crace.

Musically, First Hits Free has more of the power pop feel of the first Cry! album vs. the glam-punk vibes of Dangerous Game. Even when he's writing about very serious subject matter (which he frequently does on this album), Ray has a knack for wrapping it all up in these irresistible pop hooks. First Hits Free is very much in The Cry!'s patented style of '70s power pop and punk by way of the timeless melodies of '60s rock and roll. But it definitely feels like a solo project, and I love how it's reflective of how far Ray has come as an artist. He's been working hard on this album for a few years now, and you can hear his growing life experience coming into these songs. This record really takes me back to my own later 20s: a time of much disappointment, uncertainty, frustration, and heartbreak. If you just skim the surface of these songs, you might take this for a textbook power pop album. This thing is full of memorable melodies, hooky choruses, and the catchiest guitar leads you could ever hope to hear. But lyrically, Ray pushes far deeper than he ever has before. Songs like "Life Goes On", "Hey Susanne", and "Trouble" find him coming into his own as a storyteller. And while he's still writing love songs, they're for the most part about the bitter letdown of failed relationships ("Ain't No Use", "Tuesdays Girl", "Good Luv - Gone South"). I love how "Take A Chance" seems so upbeat and innocent...until you really start paying attention to what Ray is singing! That's also true of "Voices" - a punky number that tackles the very serious issue of schizophrenia. "No Better", the album's penultimate track, finds Ray's songwriting ascending to new levels of complexity and sophistication. I'd call it the magnum opus of his songwriting career so far.

While rawer than both Cry! long players, this full-length debut from Tommy Ray! ought to delight anyone who loved those albums. Ray's style of singing and songwriting is instantly familiar, and if anything he has refined and grown his talents over the last six years. First Hits Free is just a fantastic pop record, and I find it a very authentic rendering of what it's like to be a young man still trying to navigate adulthood. This is a guy who's busting his ass to make it as a musician, and he's given us an album full of his reality. We don't have to call it the "next best thing" to a new Cry! record since we're actually getting a new Cry! record in the near future. But even if we weren't, this would be a tremendously satisfying next chapter in the musical life of Tommy Ray! Digital album is releasing later this month on Apple Music, Spotify, etc. Physical release coming on the German label GadM and SP Records out of Japan! 



-L.R.

https://gadm.bandcamp.com/album/tommy-ray-first-hits-free 
https://thecryband.com/tommy-ray 

Black Feathers - Demo

No one will ever confuse me with a death rock enthusiast, but I definitely have a soft spot for macabre post-punk when it's done in a very particular way. Black Feathers can be seen traipsing through various graveyards, remote wooded areas, and witches' lairs throughout Portland, Oregon if you look closely enough. Singer Thin Lizzy Borden and bassist GG Allin Poe strike an uncanny resemblance to Lexxi Vexx and Scott Von Rocket from Lexxi Vexx & The Modern Gentlemen. Joined by Kevin Cross Eddie Van Helsing and David Lee Goth, these mysterious figures seek to restore Goth rock's good name on a four-song demo that hearkens back to the heyday of Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, and The Cure. Undeterred by confronting his evil twin, Scott Von Rocket produced this EP with great attention to every last frightening detail. "The Deck" is some first-rate dark wave featuring spooky keyboards and lead vocals from Ms. Borden that will give you both the good and bad kind of chills. Dear god, what a voice! Reading the lyrics, I'm unsure whether I should be amused or afraid to ever leave the house again. The band theme "Black Feathers" sounds like the death rock song you always wanted X to record. "Big Shiny Bomb" is a cover of a song by Lexxi Vexx & The Modern Gentlemen (imagine that!) remade from punk into Goth...and you'll be convinced it was written to sound like this! "Thursday" is a ghastly slow burn and definitely the creepiest of these four songs.

The closest I ever get to following horror is watching the news, but The Black Feathers check off all my necessary boxes for haunting and pitch-black post-punk. If you long for the days when Goth rock had a punk rock attitude, perhaps you will dare to seek out this demo.



-L.R.

https://blackfeathers.bandcamp.com/releases 
https://www.facebook.com/blackfeatherspdx/ 

Tiger Touch - "Hawthorne Boogie"

How about some righteously crank-worthy ROCK AND ROLL! Based in Portland, Oregon, Tiger Touch is a band comprised of former members of West Coast outfits The Gimmicks, Black Furies, Bonneville Power, and People Electric. And let me tell you: these dudes aren't screwing around! "Hawthorne Boogie" is the band's second 7", and it's a double dose of high energy action rock that kicks you straight in the teeth. These two tracks definitely bring to mind '90s Scandinavia via Detroit 1970, but what I enjoy about Tiger Touch is that there's even more going on than that. This band's sound is a potent cocktail of punk, glam, garage, heavy rock, and just good, old-fashioned '50s rock n' roll. These guys know their rock n' roll history and have absorbed their lessons well. And man, can they ever play: you've got three guitars raging like fire and a rhythm section that's as tight as it is relentless. The title track is MC5 worship done right - with thundering riffs, thumping drum work, and no shortage of epic soloing. On the flip, "Berlin City" hits with comparable power and even punches the pace up a tad. Turn up the volume and let the energy flow through you!

Even if you don't ordinarily go in for the "rawk" thing, Tiger Touch just might sway you to the dark side. And if you do, "Hawthorne Boogie" will have you in air guitar heaven. When it comes to punk rock n' roll, this is how you do it!

  
-L.R.

https://www.facebook.com/tigertouchpdx/ 
https://tigertouch.bandcamp.com/ 

Unfinished Business: Bad Shadows - Voices In The Dark

Concluding my series of reviews that are long overdue from 2018, we have the debut album from a band that I've actually written about before...kind of! Back in 2015, I reviewed the debut EP from a foursome out of Portland, Oregon called The Furies. The Furies, who had evolved out of The No Tomorrow Boys, have since morphed into Bad Shadows. And none of this is related to the Furies I reviewed yesterday. Confused yet? Voices In The Dark includes the songs from the first EP plus several new tracks. I love this band's sound and style, which is a perfect mashup of garage rock, power pop, surf, and late '50s/early '60s rock n' roll. Impressively, Bad Shadows are able to take all of this inspiration from mid 20th century music and still come out sounding like a fully contemporary band.

Hearing the newer songs along side the older ones, I can get some sense of the musical identity Bad Shadows have developed over the last couple of years. The title track and "Ghost" stack up nicely against just about any neo garage rock band you can name, except they lean more rock n' roll than psych. "I Believe" is in a similar vein but with more power pop influence coming through. "Tonight", with its jangly pop meets old school rock n' roll feel, epitomizes what Bad Shadows do so well. That surfy power pop vibe that was so palpable on the previous EP resurfaces on the wonderful "Beach", yet overall the tone of this album is a little different. The older songs fit in just fine ("Kim", an absolute pop gem, is more than worthy of another listen). But with a complete album to their name, Bad Shadows have fully solidified what they're all about. And what are they all about? Garage rock n' roll with the emphasis on rock n' roll, built on a foundation of timeless melody-driven songwriting. You could go broke trying to buy all of the 2018 albums I've recommended. But Voices In The Dark sure sounds to me like something a lot of you would totally dig. What a damn good year! 



-L.R.

https://badshadows.bandcamp.com/album/voices-in-the-dark