The Lockdowns - Can't Catch a Break

It's probably redundant to say we have another good pop-punk release coming to us from Mom's Basement Records. This label doesn't release anything that isn't good! "The Lockdowns" is such an obvious name for a present-day band that I'm surprised there aren't dozens of other bands out there called that. Perhaps these Lockdowns from Houston won the wrestling tournament or lottery drawing or pie-eating contest or whatever it was that decided which band got to be called The Lockdowns. Can't Catch a Break is their debut full-length, and I only wish I could go back in time and play it for my 25-year-old self. He/I would have been so stoked to discover that music like this would still exist in the distant and terrifying future of 2024. The cover art depicting a black Chuck Taylor sneaker stepping off a wad of bubblegum pretty tells you everything you need to know about this band. 

When it comes to pop-punk, there are two main categories of bands I most enjoy. I like groups such as, say, The Young Hasselhoffs who start from a fundamental pop-punk base and then proceed to grow and expand the definition of the genre. And I also like bands that completely eschew originality in favor of strict adherence to the sacred textbook of pop-punk as written by the Ramones and amended by Screeching Weasel. Obviously The Lockdowns are in the latter category. They aren't trying to move the ball forward or learn a fourth chord or turn any hater of pop-punk to the dark side. They make pop-punk music for people who proudly love pop-punk, and they do it well. Can't Catch a Break finds these guys laying the hammer down '90s-style — with some modern-day beard-core vibes in the mix as well. The album delivers a nice mix of heart-on-sleeve love songs, snottier tracks, and straight-up fun tunes. And of course I was thrilled that these guys covered the best Ramones song. If Lookout! (or better yet, Mutant Pop) Records is well-represented in your music collection, Can't Catch a Break will have you dancing in your leather jacket. 

-L.R.

https://thelockdownstx.bandcamp.com/album/cant-catch-a-break
https://open.spotify.com/album/0cJ9mYn5bJOwKybRjTGFvy
https://momsbasementrecords.bigcartel.com/product/the-lockdowns-can-t-catch-a-break-lp-cd
https://www.instagram.com/thelockdownstx/
https://www.facebook.com/MomsBasementRecords
https://www.instagram.com/momsbasementrecords/
https://www.facebook.com/thelockdownstx/

Love Collector - First Night/Last Night of Leather

Boom! Austin-based band Love Collector hits me just where I like it on its new EP First Night/Last Night of Leather. Out on the ever-dependable Sweet Time Records, this blistering four-songer brings four tracks of snotty, shout-along '77-style punk rock 'n' roll straight out of the garage. If my math is correct, this is Love Collector's first release in 12 years, but thankfully the band has no use for maturity or artistic progression. These songs freaking rip! If you love pure punk rock with energy, guts, and hooks all day long, this EP is a must-buy. Another smash hit from Sweet Time!

-L.R.

https://sweettime.bandcamp.com/album/first-night-last-night-of-leather
https://www.facebook.com/LoveCollectorATX/
https://www.sweettimerecords.com/products/818638-love-collector-first-night-last-night-of-leather-7
https://www.facebook.com/sweettimebooking/
https://www.instagram.com/sweettimebooking/

Nite Sobs - Fade Out

One of my most pleasant surprises from The Year That Cannot Be Mentioned was Do The Sob!, the debut album from The Nite Sobs out of Austin, Texas. Hearing it, I had an instant "Where has this band been all my life?" moment. The album was chock full of perfect pop songs with roots in early rock 'n' roll, and in my book it remains a true hidden gem of contemporary power pop. "Where has this band been the last three years?" has been my question of late, and the answer is that Nite Sobs have been hard at work on a just-as-good follow up to Do The Sob! Out now on Family Spree Recordings, Fade Out finds Nite Sobs dutifully refusing to fix what wasn't broken. Again the band delivers track after track of harmony-laden, melody-driven rock 'n' roll that reminds us that there would have been no Beatles without Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers. If we had to wait three years for a second helping of Nite Sobs, Fade Out has at least made it worth the wait. Everything about this record hits the spot: the lead vocals, the harmonies, the guitars, the production, and of course the songs. Jittery Jeff is smooth as silk and likeable as heck on vocals, and his flair for writing catchy, melodious love songs is fully on display. This is fun, feelgood music — even when the songs themselves aren't necessarily happy. But of course a lot of them are happy, and all in all Fade Out exudes tremendous joy. If, like me, you could listen to songs about girls until the end of time, Nite Sobs are the band for you.

-L.R.

https://familyspreerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/fsr156-nite-sobs-fade-out-lp
https://www.facebook.com/nitesobs/
https://www.instagram.com/nitesobs/
https://www.facebook.com/familyspreerecordings/

Sex Mex - We're a Happy Family

Quite a few of my influential friends have been touting Sex Mex's new EP We're a Happy Family. And I can totally understand why. When I saw its "Too punk to be pop. Too pop to be punk. Too late to be new wave" Instagram bio, I knew this San Antonio–based band would be for me. The four tracks comprising We're a Happy Family are indeed a perfect mashup of punk, pop, and synth-driven new wave. Catchier tunes than this simply do not exist. Listen to "We'll Be Gone" once, and it will be stuck in your head until the end of time. If you had told me this was a long-lost Dirtnap Records release from 20 years ago, I would not have doubted you. A brief inspection of Sex Mex's Bandcamp will reveal that this group has been turning out releases at a rate that's almost too prolific to believe. If you like poppy punk rock with synths, We're a Happy Family is a must-buy. And I'm using "buy" loosely since this is a free download. You might want to be careful Googling the band name.

-L.R.

https://sexmexsux.bandcamp.com/album/were-a-happy-family
https://www.instagram.com/sexmexsux/
https://open.spotify.com/album/3o1ZJIlQzePA7eU0tiaI8D

Danny Despicable - All the things I wish that I could say

Seldom in life does it work out that when you're left wanting more, you actually receive more. But in the case of Danny Despicable's new EP, I have been fortunate to have more than doubled my exposure to this exceptionally talented songwriter. Danny Despicable is Daniel Seliski, guitarist in Breaklights. On Breaklights' new album Wind Down, Dan wrote and sang three tracks. I was especially blown away by the songs "Aging Well" and "Fairview, 1991" -- two of the album's standout numbers. Immediately I found myself looking forward to more "Dan" songs on future Breaklights releases. Much to my delight, it was brought to my attention that no waiting was necessary since Dan has released a solo EP as well. All the things I wish that I could say marks Dan's triumphant return after a 15-year hiatus from writing and singing his own songs. As he struggled adjusting to pandemic life in 2020, he found solace in writing new material. A few of those tracks ended up on Wind Down, but another five became All the things I wish that I could say. The title pretty much says it all: these are Dan's deepest thoughts and emotions conveyed through song. Listening to his songs on Wind Down, I was blown away by Dan's honest reflections on dealing with life's disappointments and unexpected turns. I was hoping for some similar songs on the solo EP, and I was not letdown. So if any of you enjoyed Dan's contributions to Wind Down as I did, I highly recommend checking out All the things I wish that I could say as well. A couple of tracks are straight-forward pop-punk, but my favorite songs here are in what you'd call a "singer/songwriter" style. I like the intimate feel of songs like "Everything I've Got" and "Better Or Worse." The arrangements are simple, and Dan focuses on pouring out his heart. On "Everything I've Got," he agonizes over what could never be. "Better Or Worse" could almost be a companion piece to "Aging Well." One of Dan's strong suits as a writer is in confronting how life rarely unfolds as planned. This can be true for an individual or for two people growing and changing together. 

While officially a Danny Despicable solo effort, All the things I wish that I could say also features the contributions of Steve Lopez, Mark Reed, Bryan Bush, and Tron Carter. Dan has written more songs for this project and intends to make it a full-time band by the end of 2022. The "rockers" on this EP (especially "Norway Bound") are great fun, but for me it's the three ballads that justify the price of admission. I'm not usually a big ballad guy, but these ones are tremendously well-done and really moving. You can stream this EP from Apple Music or order a copy on compact disc from Otitis Media Records!

-L.R.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/all-the-things-i-wish-that-i-could-say-ep/1619633296
https://otitismediarecords.com/products/omr-053-danny-despicable-all-the-things-i-wish-that-i-could-say-cd-ep?_pos=1&_psq=danny&_ss=e&_v=1.0

https://breaklights.bandcamp.com/album/wind-down

https://www.instagram.com/danny_despicable_music/

Dropped Out - Get Lost

My stripped-down review of Dropped Out's new album Get Lost would read like this: pop-punk done right. That will entice some of you and send others running for the hills. But I think you all catch my drift. Austin-based trio Dropped Out makes no claims of reinventing the wheel. These guys are all about '90s pop-punk, and they execute the style exceptionally well. Out now on Otitis Media Records, Get Lost is full of tight, well-crafted songs with likeable vocals and lyrics. Influence-wise, I'm picking up on everything from Screeching Weasel to Green Day to Teen Idols to Parasites. So this band is definitely in my sweet spot for pop-punk. Some songs touch on classic pop-punk themes of heartbreak and relationship woes. Others exhibit a self-deprecating sense of humor. I like that these 10 tracks deliver a nice mix of really poppy mid-tempo tunes (definitely my cup of tea) and fast-paced '90s style melodic punk numbers (not always my cup of tea, but surprisingly pleasing to my ears in the case of this band). If you're cynical about pop-punk as a genre, Dropped Out is not going to turn you to the dark side. That said, Get Lost is everything a good pop-punk record ought to be. It's fun, catchy, and relatable to love and life. If I could somehow go back in time and play "Nicola" for 1996 me, he/I would have absolutely flipped!

-L.R.

https://atxdroppedout.bandcamp.com/album/get-lost
https://otitismediarecords.bandcamp.com/music
https://otitismediarecords.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DroppedOutBand/

Breaklights - Wind Down

It's hard for me to believe that Austin-based foursome Breaklights is just now releasing its debut album. I started writing about this band in 2016, and its releases have been consistently excellent over the years. But sure enough, Wind Down (out now on Wiretap Records) is Breaklights' first full-length release following three terrific EPs. While a Breaklights debut album may have been a long time coming, Wind Down sure does not disappoint. Splendidly produced by Deedle Lacour, this ten-song long player finds Breaklights doing what they do best: putting a modern spin on 1990s "big label" pop-punk. The selling point for this band has always been how silky-smooth Charlie is on lead vocals. Well guess what: Breaklights now feature two smooth voices as guitarist Dan has stepped up to write and sing three tracks on Wind Down! Sometimes adding a second singer to the mix can mess with a band's mojo. But in the case of Breaklights, this move into dual front-man mode has absolutely strengthened the band. Dan contributes three of the album's best tracks, and his vocal style blends perfectly with Charlie's (We'll let them fight amongst themselves as to which one is the Bob Mould of the band and which one is Grant Hart). This is definitely the best Breaklights release yet in terms of song quality. I would struggle to identify a single sub-par track out of the ten on the album. If you're looking for vintage Breaklights massive-sounding melodic punk, songs like "Dream On," "Crushed," "Sixty Five," and the album's lead single "When You Talk" are guaranteed to satisfy. If you're looking for something a little different as well, Wind Down has got you covered. "Illinois" and the extraordinary "Aging Well" are rare pop-punk acoustic ballads that aren't throwaways. And album closer "Fairview, 1991" is a true epic that will absolutely tear your heart out.  

When it comes to modern-day punk rock, Breaklights are the definition of class. This band's gimmick is that it has no gimmick. These guys write fantastic songs full of genuine emotion and quality hooks. They take inspiration from past pop-punk greats without trying to straight-up copy them. Wind Down manages to push all the right buttons for my '90s pop-punk nostalgia while still keeping this form of music vital and current in 2022. Transparent lime green vinyl copies are still available if you act fast!

-L.R.

https://breaklights.bandcamp.com/album/wind-down
http://wiretaprecords.limitedrun.com/products/725695-breaklights-wind-down-12-lp
https://www.facebook.com/breaklights/
https://www.instagram.com/breaklights/
https://www.breaklightsatx.com/
https://www.facebook.com/wiretaprecords
https://www.instagram.com/wiretaprecords/

Breaklights - Fool Me Once

Earlier this month, I promised I would have plenty more to write about Breaklights this spring and summer. I wasn't kidding. In advance of Wind Down, its forthcoming debut LP, the Austin-based band has released another single called "Fool Me Once." This is the first Breaklights song to feature guitarist Dan on lead vocals, but it won't be the last! The album will feature three tracks written and sung by Dan. And based on "Fool Me Once," I must say that having a second singer and songwriter in the band will only make Breaklights stronger. Dan's voice proves to be a perfect fit for Breaklights' heartfelt, melody-driven style. "Fool Me Once" is a pop-punk tune of the finest quality. Would you expect any less from Breaklights? Hearing this track makes me really excited for the album. Breaklights have always been a really good band, but these two recent singles have been next-level stuff. No one's going to be telling Charlie to hang it up, but I think a lot of us are wondering why Dan hasn't been contributing songs to this band all along! Wind Down will be out in June on Wiretap Records!

-L.R.

https://breaklights.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.facebook.com/breaklights/
https://www.instagram.com/breaklights/
https://www.facebook.com/wiretaprecords

Breaklights - "When You Talk"

When it comes to pop-punk or melodic punk or whatever you want to call it, it just doesn't get any smoother than Breaklights. The Austin-based band is back with another shot of tuneful punk rock that is destined to get stuck in your head within moments of first contact. "When You Talk" is the first single from the band's new album Wind Down (which will be releasing this summer on Wiretap Records). What I continue to appreciate about Breaklights is the way their songs evoke a '90s pop-punk feel without sounding derivative of any bands in particular. With its tight, polished sound; earworm melodies; heartfelt lyrics, and warm vocals (I would listen to Charlie sing the phone book), "When You Talk" is vintage Breaklights. And the music video for the song is an absolute hoot! I will have much more to write about Breaklights this spring and summer. Stay tuned!

-L.R.

https://breaklights.bandcamp.com/track/when-you-talk
https://www.breaklightsatx.com/
https://www.facebook.com/breaklights/
https://www.instagram.com/breaklights/
https://www.facebook.com/wiretaprecords

The Wallys - Give It Back

Now here's a real throwback Thursday for you: I'm going to review a release that is only available on compact disc and cannot be streamed, downloaded, or even purchased online! When was the last time I closed a review with a label's mailing address? The triumphant return of Mutant Pop Records is in full swing, and Timbo has revived his short-run compact disc series in a major way. For my first Mutant Pop review in two decades, I'm tackling The Wallys' Give It Back. This 12-track release was recorded in 2001 and is just now seeing the light of day. Luckily these songs hold up extremely well. I don't recall ever being a huge Wallys fan, but Give It Back totally makes me a believer! With its blend of '90s pop-punk stylings and more traditional rock and roll and pop influences, it's very much in line with the kind of pop-punk I enjoy today. It checks off so many boxes for me: super-catchy tunes, rawer production, endearingly dorky vocals, amusing lyrics and song topics. I also appreciate that I can listen to it in its entirety on my 14-minute drive to the fitness club. "Give Me Back My Radio" kicks off with a riff that channels Moral Crux by way of The Clash. I heard that song and was instantly hooked! I'm always a sucker for songs about listening to rock and roll on the radio! "Bad Breath" brings to mind The Automatics in their "Golden Greats" mode. "Jody is a Cannibal" manages to live up to its intriguing title. "My Girlfriend is a Rock" is a really cool cover of the Nervebreakers classic. And I can't help but love a band that can go from the near-hardcore of "No Sleep" right into a song about soda pop. This is just a super fun album from a band I clearly underrated back in the day. 

The success of the Mutant Pop relaunch hinges almost entirely on one essential question: Do people still buy CDs? When I asked Malibu Lou how he sells so many CDs with his label Rum Bar Records, he told me that the label's over-50 demographic still listens to music on that format. The average Mutant Pop fan is probably closer to late 30s/early 40s, but I hope that the same principle applies. And I have to admit that there's still something incredibly cool about getting an actual mail order catalog from a record label! If you've read this far through a Wallys review, I would imagine you're already receiving the catalogs. But if not, you can email your street address along with the message "I love CDs!" to MutantPop@aol.com to get on the mailing list. A lot has changed in the world since Mutant Pop's heyday, but Timbo's aesthetic has not. In more ways than one, Give It Back is a vintage Mutant Pop release. It can be yours for $5 plus $3 postage!

(Mutant Pop Records, 5010 NW Shasta Ave., Corvallis, OR 97330)  

-L.R.

Killer Hearts - Skintight Electric

Out on Spaghetty Town and Dragstrip Riot Records and also sponsored by the Rock N Roll Manifesto, Skintight Electric is an absolute ripper of a debut album from Bayou City, Texas based punk rock and rollers Killer Hearts. It has been a couple of years since Killer Hearts exploded onto the scene with their fantastic self-titled debut 7". And while Skintight Electric reprises a couple of tracks from that release, it finds the band going all-out to sound bigger and better than ever. At its core, this is a quintessential high energy glam-punk rock and roll record. But Killer Hearts aren't above layering on a sick amount of bells and whistles (keyboards, handclaps, backing vocals, extra percussion). And it works! Producer Don "Demon Boy" Cilurso (Texas Terri and the Stiff Ones) doesn't hold back on imbuing this album with a pronounced '70s arena rock swagger. Landing on the rock side of the New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders, and Dead Boys, Skintight Electric is an over the top affair in the best way possible. It's loud, wild, and a whole lot of fun. The marriage of sleazy '70s punk and ripping rock and roll is hardly new territory, but Killer Hearts pull off this sound as splendidly as any band has in recent years. Of course these guys have the attitude and the look down pat. More importantly, they've got serious chops and (no pun intended) killer tunes. The Rock N Roll Manifesto version of this release is extremely limited, so move fast if you're interested! 

-L.R.

https://killerhearts.bandcamp.com/album/skintight-electric-lp
https://www.facebook.com/officialkillerhearts
https://dragstripriotrecords.bandcamp.com/merch/killer-hearts-skintight-electric-lp
https://rnrmanifesto.bandcamp.com/album/skintight-electric
https://rnrmanifesto.bandcamp.com/album/skintight-electric
https://www.facebook.com/SpaghettyTown/

The Koopas - In Reverse: A Complete Retrospective 1999​-​2002

The Koopas are cherished in pop-punk circles as the best band that was almost on Mutant Pop Records (twice). Now -- nearly two decades after their untimely demise -- they have the distinction of being simultaneously released by the two greatest present-day American pop-punk record labels. A joint venture between Mom's Basement Records and Something To Do Records, The Koopas' In Reverse compiles every track this southeastern Texas trio released in its short run of existence -- plus 11 more that it didn't! 

Coming in at a total of 27 tracks (all meticulously remastered at Mindrocket Recording Studio by John Roman), this collection serves as a wonderful time capsule of a late '90s/early 2000s pop-punk scene that I still hold closely to my heart. In 2001 when The Koopas came on my radar, my interest in pop-punk had shifted from the "bigger" bands of the scene to the newer ones that were self-releasing music or working with smaller labels. The Koopas, by necessity, ended up self-releasing their 7" When Opposites Attack on their own small label, Top Five Records. That release was my introduction to the band (to this day, I feel like a poser Koopas fan for not being on board from the Sex, Lies, and Videogames days). I took to the band immediately. They sounded like the lovechild of Screeching Weasel and the Mr. T. Experience. I dug that they weren't afraid to write sappy love songs. I dug that they were into High Fidelity. I dug that they were fans of the serial comma. But mostly, I dug that they were clearly on the pop side of pop-punk -- so much so that the singer/guitarist called himself Poppy Robbie (How different would The Koopas have been if they'd been fronted by Punky Robbie?). In print, I heralded the band as a sign of renewed life in American pop-punk and declared that they combined the musical chops of Rocket To Russia-era Ramones with the soul of the Modern Lovers. Sadly, the band would not last even another year. A follow-up to When Opposites Attack called New Wave of an Old Sound was recorded in early 2002 but ultimately went unreleased after Mutant Pop Records went on hiatus. The Koopas took their place in the "Remember them? They were so good!" annals of pop-punk history. Charlie and Tron continued in their other band Joe Jitsu and later Breaklights. Robbie became a solo recording artist and a pop artist. And in my mind, I always associated The Koopas with how much fun it was to be into pop-punk during those early Millennium years. 

Over the years, I've often wondered: Were The Koopas really a good band, or was I just crazy? The Mom's Basement/Something To Do seal of approval seems to settle the former question, while the latter is still up for debate. John at Mom's Basement and Matthew at Something To Do know good pop-punk. If they're putting their butts (and money) on the line to release In Reverse, you know it's an essential release for any fan of Lookout!/Mutant Pop era pop-punk. The band itself had originally prepared this collection as a homemade CD-R to distribute to friends, family, and musically inclined adversaries. Tim at Mutant Pop helped spread the word by adding it to his mail order catalog. And now here we are: In Reverse exists on glorious compact disc. As promised, it documents this short-lived band's recorded output in reverse order. It begins with the never-released, should-have-been smash hit New Wave of an Old Sound, moves into the beloved When Opposites Attack, and concludes with the rawer Sex, Lies, and Videogames. In between, you'll find studio outtakes and other choice unreleased recordings. Tracks like "Miami To Malibu" and "Milkshakes and You" make me grateful that the New Wave of an Old Sound recordings have been rescued from the dustbin of history. Although they date back nearly 20 years, they sound very much in line with Mom's Basement's current roster of pop-punk and Ramonescore standouts. "Math of Love" manages to sum up the entire genre of pop-punk in under 30 seconds. "Those Three Little Words" and "Shut Up" hold up as classics of their time. "Let Me Go (Before You Fade Away)" offers a hint of the future greatness that was in store for the artist formerly known as Charmin' Charlie. A cover of "Maybe Baby" honors the true granddaddy of three-chord pop. 

I'll say about In Reverse what I've said about numerous other releases: you'll hate it if you hate pop-punk, but you'll love it if you love pop-punk. And if you've already read 779 words about The Koopas, there's no way you hate pop-punk! You can order the CD here for just ten bucks. Digital version is available directly from the band for $8. I would say that those are '90s prices, but you would actually have paid way more back then. Be the first person on your block to jam to "Koopa Troopa Beach" on Discman! 

-L.R.

https://momsbasementrecords.bigcartel.com/product/the-koopas-in-reverse-a-complete-retrospective-1999-2002-cd
https://thekoopas.bandcamp.com/album/in-reverse-a-complete-retrospective-1999-2002
https://www.facebook.com/thekoopasband
https://www.facebook.com/MomsBasementRecords/
https://www.facebook.com/SomethingToDoRecords

Breaklights - "Second To None"

Wow, time really flies! As I sat down to review Breaklights' new 7", I was surprised to discover that it's been four years since I last wrote about this Austin, Texas based band. "Second To None", out now on Otitis Media Records, is actually the band's first 7" following a couple of EPs. On this release, Breaklights retain their signature sound rooted in '90s/early 2000s melodic punk and pop-punk. I like to call it "pop-punk for grown-ups": powerful, melody-driven music with mature lyrics and a nice mellow vibe. This release was produced by FILMAGE director Deedle LaCour, and it sounds amazing. Breaklights have always sounded to me like a punk band from the '90s that would have been on a major or bigger indie label. They fully embrace big hooks and a polished sound, but that punk edge is still there. "Second To None" pairs Charlie's warm vocals and heartfelt lyrics with punchy guitars and a soaring energy. Although this song does not even reach the three-and-a-half minute mark, it has a grand, anthemic feel to it. The band does something a little unconventional with the arrangement of the song towards the end. I won't spoil the surprise other than to say that I enjoyed this little twist. "Overdue" is the flip side (literally) to the feelgood vibe of "Second To None". With an opening line like "Hanging around someone like you/Is a real bad time for two", you know exactly what you're in for. This is an honest analysis of how things can go wrong between two individuals, and I think a lot of people will relate. Again, this is a perfect example of how pop-punk can sound fully "mature" and still pack a serious punch. This is a great-looking 7" and a top-notch pair of songs from Breaklights. If you missed the band's 12" EP Don't Try So Hard from 2018, that's really great as well and definitely work checking out!



-L.R.

https://breaklights.bandcamp.com/
https://otitismediarecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/breaklights/
https://www.breaklightsatx.com/
https://www.instagram.com/breaklights/

Nite Sobs - Do the Sob!

Who's ready for some really great pop? Nite Sobs are a new-ish band from Austin, Texas who have released what is sure to be one of the best albums of 2020. Do The Sob! is an absolute treat for anyone who loves melody-driven rock and roll that's jam-packed with harmonies. Nite Sobs, like many a power pop band, are throwbacks to a golden age of rock and roll. They write two-to-three minute pop songs about the ups and downs of love - timeless stuff both musically and lyrically. But while the Beatles are often ground zero for this sort of band, Nite Sobs' inspirations go back even further to doo wop, the Everly Brothers, and Buddy Holly. Rather than reinventing the wheel, they stick to a timeless style and execute it to perfection. The songs are well-crafted, and these guys can really sing! Those harmonies are legit. I love how warm-sounding this record is - like it could have actually come from the late '50s or early '60s. The band name is perfect because most of these songs are about heartbreak and regret. Yet this is the ultimate feelgood music. You could even gather your family members and re-create these songs a cappella! There's a nice variety here, with styles running the gamut from new wave pop ("Mixed Signals") to the British Invasion ("I'll Keep You Satisifed") to a pure old school '50s sound ("Vowelrie"). Remember the "oldiescore" branch of pop-punk? Nite Sobs are like the power pop version of that. I wanna join the fan club! Do The Sob! is available now in digital and CD formats from Beefcake Records. Vinyl coming soon!



-L.R.

https://nitesobs.bandcamp.com/album/do-the-sob
https://www.facebook.com/nitesobs/
https://www.facebook.com/Beefcake-Records-111248113799068/

Poppy Robbie - "Heartbreak Scenario"/"Twist and Pout"

When we last checked in with the great Poppy Robbie, he had just released his excellent roots/Americana record The Troubled Times of Samuel Heck. Like everyone else on the planet, Robbie has had some time on his hands lately. So he's been dusting off some old recordings to share with the world via his Bandcamp page. "Be My Valentine" is the most recent of the bunch. It originally appeared on an extremely limited edition Valentine's Day collection released in 2008. And by "extremely limited edition", I mean he made exactly one copy to give to his then-girlfriend (now wife) as a gift. I suppose we can conclude that this was an extremely successful release! I'm not sure if Robbie will ever make a proper pop-punk record again, but you can hear hints of the old form on this track. I have tremendous admiration for anyone who's willing to take a song this personal and private and put it up on the Internet where literally billions of people have access to it. And a song as sweet and sincere as this one is exactly what I need at this moment in time. "Twist and Pout" is a track from 2007, which of course was re-recorded last year for the Samuel Heck EP. Robbie himself says that this version is better and more fun than the newer one. How do I say I agree without sounding like the typical jerk who only likes Robbie's "old stuff"? I dig the lo-fi '50s rock and roll vibe here. Robbie is great at channeling his inner Buddy Holly, and you'll find the lyrics hilariously on-point if you've ever played live music in front of an entirely disinterested crowd. "Heartbreak Scenario" dates all the way back to 2004. If I recall correctly, Robbie posted it online and I may have made some kind of smart-ass remark about this being the best song Elvis Costello had done in years. Was I wrong?

One really cool thing about this digital age of music is that you can unearth old songs and essentially "repackage" them virtually. Even for a song you're just going to download or stream, it's kind of cool that cover art still matters and is a big part of the overall package. For someone artistically inclined like Poppy Robbie, the cover designs for these new old tracks must have been half the fun. I've gotta say they're really sharp! Downloads are a dollar each and well worth it. If you know Robbie, go harass him right now about re-recording his pop smash "Still Bored on the Weekend"! And if you don't know him? Just ask nicely.

-L.R.

https://poppyrobbie.bandcamp.com/track/heartbreak-scenario

Eerie Family - self titled

Here we go with another great release from Alien Snatch Records! Although this one is probably not what you would expect. Eerie Family are Alex and Alyse from Hex Dispensers playing music very much unlike Hex Dispensers. Their self-titled LP just released on New Year's Eve. Call it whatever you like: Goth, death rock, dark wave, or (as the label terms it) gloom pop. Any way you shake it, this is a gorgeously creepy creation that fuses elements of post-punk and synth pop with a spooky worldview and this duo's well-defined predilection for melody. I suppose an "upbeat" Goth song is a contradiction in terms, but opening track "Everybody Disappear" manages to be exactly that. It's as hook-laden as it is creepy, and that's really saying something. It's like a love anthem for ghouls, creatures, and zombies everywhere. "A Ghost Who Lives Inside Your Heart" is a chillingly beautiful number channeling the bleak minimalism of Joy Division by way of The Cure and Jesus & Mary Chain. "Dead Stars Still Shine On Us Tonight" could not be more haunting, yet it pulls you in with captivating melodies and nicely harmonized vocals. "I Am Tarantula", told from the point of view of a feared creature that just wants to be loved, is driven by a fittingly playful synth line. "I Hope the Sun Explodes Today" is an old Hex Dispensers song that you might barely recognize. There's a refreshing simplicity to the structure of these songs. Every drum beat and keyboard note comes off carefully considered, and the vocals are eerie in a way that sounds natural and not comically overplayed (a frequent weak point for this genre of music). I'm not generally a fan of "dark" music, but I have been fully won over by Eerie Family. Beyond all else, this is simply fantastic pop. It certainly doesn't hurt that Alex and Alyse have such splendid chemistry, and overall this is a perfect example of how to take death rock and make it full of life. "You only need enough friends/To carry your casket when you're dead" is some of the most profound wisdom I've encountered in a long time!



-L.R.

https://aliensnatch.bandcamp.com/album/eerie-family-s-t
https://eeriefamily.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/ALIEN.SNATCH.RECORDS

bauwaves - u r everything

If the name bauwaves is new to you, it's likely because the Austin-based trio is releasing music for the very first time. Out this Friday on Salinas Records, u r everything is the debut album from this band comprised of Lew Houston (ex Wild America), Rob Barbato (Darker My Love), and Art Limon (The Anchor). Yes, Lew Houston is an old friend of mine. And it's a pleasure to finally review his music since I was in the midst of a long hiatus when Wild America was putting out records circa 2009-2010. There's a very personal story behind this record that Lew has willingly made public. Bauwaves came to be in the wake of his extreme personal crisis. He spent the year 2016 mired in a crippling bout of depression that compelled him to contemplate self-harm and quit writing songs for the first time in a decade. Gradually he found ways to get his depression under control, and a new song popped into his head one day in early 2017. So he got out his guitar, started writing, and before long he had created the songs that make up u r everything. The band spent most of 2018 refining the material and finally recorded the album in the spring of last year.

To say that Lew Houston holds nothing back on u r everything would be a tremendous understatement. This album chronicles the horrific year he spent battling depression, and the vocals and lyrics are absolutely intense. Sometimes with loud guitar bands like this, words can get buried in the noise. That doesn't happen here. Lew's vocals are very clear and direct - like he's speaking to you personally and baring his soul. You can absolutely feel the depths of his despair. Musically, bauwaves sound like they've appeared right out of the pages of Our Band Could Be Your Life or an SST Records catalog circa 1987. Husker Du and Dinosaur Jr. are obvious points of reference with the huge wall of guitar fuzz and bare bones production. The heaviness and honesty of the lyrics also bring to mind Bob Mould's solo recordings and work with Sugar. I sometimes question the future of the "album" as an art form in the digital age, but u r everything is an example of why I shouldn't. Sure, you can listen to any of these songs in isolation. But this album was clearly intended to be taken in as a whole. It's essentially a non-fiction novel in musical form. It's not always the easiest listen, but it's a powerful experience to follow Lew through the darkness and all the way back into the light. The band skillfully creates contrast between the melodic, energetic music and the often bleak subject matter of the songs. "into the light" and "to the floor" are fierce, ripping punkers; while the likes of "too far away" and "early morning summer" are densely slow-burning confessionals. "it ain't real" is full of thundering power, then suddenly takes a psychedelic turn. "just for kicks" has got to be the darkest Ramones-inspired song I've ever heard.

Human beings create art for a great variety of reasons. One of them is to share personal experience in such a way that others will relate, feel kinship, or at least understand. In this respect, music, film, literature, etc. can genuinely unite us human beings. If you've battled depression yourself, u r everything is an album that will assure that you're not alone in your suffering. If you haven't, it will give you a greater insight into what it's like to be stricken with this affliction. At a broader level, bauwaves are a band that will appeal to anyone who fondly recalls the heyday of 1980s college radio and noisy indie rock. This album is a  brave and uncompromising creation that crackles with energy and intense feeling. It's a fine debut - one that offers great promise of what's to come with bauwaves already at work on a follow-up.

 
-L.R.

https://bauwaves.bandcamp.com/album/u-r-everything 
https://www.facebook.com/bauwaves/ 

Radioactivity - "Erased"

For its 50th release, Wild Honey Records has something really special for you! "Erased" is the first new song from Radioactivity since its 2015 LP Silent Kill. The band did release the "Infected" single on Wild Honey in 2017, but that contained a pair of songs that were intentionally left off of the album. These songs are literally hot off the presses - having just been completed August 22nd! "Erased" was written after Radioactivity finished recording Silent Kill, and it definitely picks up where the album left off. It features that melancholic style of songwriting that we've come to expect from Jeff Burke, but it damn sure rocks hard! The song is driven by a tough, punchy riff that contrasts perfectly with its bittersweet melodies. The balance between the punk and pop here is just right! On the flip, "Fear" is a song that Burke wrote way back in 2011 when he was living in Japan. Although it dates back to his days with Radioactivity precursors The Novice, it actually fits Radioactivity better. It's dark and reminiscent of the Buzzcocks - the kind of stinging moody number that Burke should never stop writing. And I sure dig that guitar solo!

"Erased" is available in two limited edition versions: one green and one pink. Artwork is by English artist Jami Morrison. Move fast if you want a copy!



-L.R.

https://wildhoneyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/erased
https://www.facebook.com/wildhoneyrecords/
https://www.facebook.com/radioactivitytx/

The Dialers - self titled

Those of you who come to this space in search of quality power pop are in for a treat today! Mick Fletcher sent me a link to The Dialers' self-titled LP the other day, and it was immediate music to my ears! The Dialers, now based in both Sacramento and Houston, feature ex-members of BOATS!. Out now on the illustrious and ever-dependable No Front Teeth Records, the band's debut album is ten tracks of textbook power pop. These guys have that classic skinny tie era sound down pat with a touch of punk-pop influence on a couple tracks. This really hits the sweet spot for me: good, punchy guitars, melody-driven songwriting, big hook choruses, and lyrics about love and heartbreak. What could be better? Digital album is a $5 download from Bandcamp, while No Front Teeth is offering three different versions of the vinyl. This thing really scratches my eternal itch for power pop. Good call, Mick!



-L.R.

https://thedialers911.bandcamp.com/releases 
https://thedialers.bigcartel.com/product/s-t-lp-pre-order 
https://www.facebook.com/The-Dialers-466836687029370/ 
https://www.nofrontteeth.co.uk/ 

The Hormones - Legendary Junk (1994-2017)

I recently received a nice note from Owen from Dirtyflair Record Company in Australia. He thought I might like a few of his label's releases and sent me a Bandcamp link to check them out. I went ahead and explored the Bandcamp page. Sure enough, I took an immediate liking to this label and the music it has released. The first thing I noticed (quickly!) was that Dirtyflair's catalog includes a compilation album of songs by The Hormones, one of my favorite bands from back in the '90s. I knew of the existence of this collection, but I had no idea it was available in a digital format. I'm thrilled to finally be able to share a couple of these tracks on F & L! When I talk about how 1995 was my 1977, The Hormones are one of the bands I'm referring to. They led a resurgence of Clash/Sex Pistols/Johnny Thunders inspired punk rock in the mid '90s that was hugely influential on my life and writings. Legendary Junk (1994-2017) collects the songs from the band's classic singles along with some comp cuts, unreleased demos from 1997, and a new live version of signature song "Sell Out Young". Altogether, this comprises the first-ever Hormones full-length! It's available from Dirtyflair on LP and CD, which both include a zine penned by Tim Stegall chronicling the history of The Hormones.

In addition to the release of Legendary Junk, The Hormones are poised for their first release of new music since the '90s. The band, which reformed in 2013 after a 15-year hiatus, has set up a Go Fund Me page for anyone with an interest in investing in this project. The new record, called Sing, will be released as a six-song 12". The band will be working again with Dirtyflair on the release of this EP. You can even order Legendary Junk directly from the Go Fund Me page - which will help the band get Sing made!

Some of you will be well acquainted with The Hormones. Others may have never heard the band before. Either way, I highly recommend Legendary Junk to anyone who loves '77 style punk. I'll have lots more to say about Dirtyflair Record Company in the near future, so stay tuned!



-L.R.

https://www.gofundme.com/help-the-hormones-make-a-record 
https://dirtyflairrecordcompany.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/selloutyoung/ 
https://www.facebook.com/dirtyflairrecordcompany/