The Cheap Cassettes - "Worse N' Better"

Here's another one of those "No, you didn't just imagine that I reviewed this before!" posts. I did the same thing with Geoff Palmer's new single earlier in the month. And if I don't extend The Cheap Cassettes the very same courtesy, that would really diminish the chances of one of these guys someday buying me an adult beverage. We are talking about one of my three favorite bands and all the glory that entails. Guys, I swear your F & L varsity jackets are in production!

"Worse N' Better"/"Hieroglyphics In Lipstick" is The Cheap Cassettes' second 7", but it was actually their first single. Confused yet? These two songs originally came out on a nifty-looking cassette single I reviewed back in September of 2017. But with that release limited to a scant 50 copies, the fabled Cheap Cassettes' debut cassette is probably even rarer than the cassingles you might have owned back in the '90s (check under the back seat of your car just in case). The band's plan all along was to eventually release this single on record. And you know what? When The Cheap Cassettes plan things, they follow through! The band has flipped the order of the songs and released them as a 7" record on its own label Cassettes On Record Records. So now "Worse N' Better" is "the hit", and "Hieroglyphics In Lipstick" is the proverbial "B-side that could have been the A-side". I would not have argued either way. "Worse N' Better" probably didn't get the attention it deserved the first time around, so now it steps into the spotlight. I won't really get into breaking down these two tracks since I've, you know, already done that. I'll just say that if you like power pop and aren't already an obsessed fan of The Cheap Cassettes, what are you waiting for?! And how cool must it be to be able to put out your own record and have it say "recorded & mixed by Kurt Bloch" on the back?! Head on over to Bandcamp and order this bad boy today!



-L.R.

https://cheapcassettes.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/cheapcassettes/ 
https://www.facebook.com/cassettesonrecordrecords 

Sick Bags - "Cigarette Spit"

If you've been following this blog closely over the years, you may recall that the Faster and Louder "Greg Mongroll picks" have a storied history dating back to year one. It was Greg who first alerted me to the existence of The Cry!, The Shirks, Thee Mighty Fevers, Patsy's Rats, and many more bands that I would come to love. His latest pick is very much in keeping with the previous ones. Sick Bags are a fairly new band out of Richmond, Virginia playing great trashy punk rock and roll. With me recently craving some straight-up snotty punk rock, this Mongroll pick was well-timed! "Cigarette Spit" is Sick Bags' debut EP, and it arrives on the heels of that killer track "Microwaved Brains" from last year's Typical Girls Volume 3 compilation. You may know guitarist/songwriter Tony Leet from his previous bands Dirty Fingers and the Ladies. Lead singer Mel Medina is fronting a band for the first time, but she sure sounds like a natural. I'm hearing the influence of everything from the sleazy side of '77 punk to old school California punk to '90s garage trash. No complaints there! If you like your punk music raw, gritty, and chock full of attitude, these three tracks ought to hit the spot!



-L.R.

https://sickbags.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/getyoursickout/ 

Vista Blue - Around The World

Has it really been almost five months since I've reviewed Vista Blue? That's hard to believe! There's been a lot going on in Vista Blue land of late. The band is just about to wrap up a successful Kickstarter campaign to fund its first-ever recording in a "real" studio. That studio just happens to be the legendary Ardent Studios in Memphis, and the tapes from that session will be sent to Europe to be mixed and mastered by Perry Leenhouts (Travoltas/Point Break Sounds). You still have a few days left if you wish to support this project with a pre-order of the record. In the meantime, Vista Blue continues to make tons of music available for free download. "Opening Day" was released last month to commemorate the start of baseball season (I long for those days of boundless optimism among Phillies fans...). A collection of outtakes/unreleased tracks called Pieces came out a few weeks before that. Now we have Around the World, which features four cover songs that will soon appear on a compilation CD on Radiant Radish also featuring Los Padrinos!, The Barbecuties, and The Screaming Dogs.

I really like covers records, and I always enjoy Vista Blue's covers. So Around the World makes me doubly happy! "Uh Oh" is a song originally released in 1983 by New Orleans power pop legends The Limit. If you are unfamiliar with "Uh Oh", I highly recommend seeking out the original version of this classic song! Vista Blue honors it with a very fine cover version. I have to admit I was somewhat dreading VB's cover of "Bonehead's Bank Holiday" by Oasis. But this particular interpretation of the song sounds much more like Vista Blue than it sounds like Oasis. That's a win in my book. I'll never deny that Noel Gallagher writes brilliant songs....I just like it better when other bands are performing them! "Let's Go (To Pasadena To Meet Your Parents)" off of The Kung Fu Monkeys' third 7" Hi-Fi At Low Tide is a song that many '90s pop-punkers like me hold sacred. It really makes sense that Vista Blue would cover a Kung Fu Monkeys song given that the two bands are such kindred spirits. And while no mortal band can outdo the Kung Fu Monkeys, Vista Blue turns in a more than respectable rendition of this particular song. To finish the record, the band has at The Mamas and the Papas' iconic "California Dreamin'". And with a little help from some special guest star singers, this cover turned out great!

I appreciate that the four songs Vista Blue chose to cover for Around The World are extremely meaningful to the band. All of the bands covered here were huge influences on Vista Blue. Given Vista Blue's musical style, "California Dreamin'" seems like the perfect choice of a cover. Yet it easily could have gone sideways if the band hadn't absolutely nailed it. And if you were previously unfamiliar with The Limit or (God forbid!) The Kung Fu Monkeys, I hope this release inspires you to check those bands out. Keep your eyes on Radiant Radish Records for further info on the full Around The World CD!



-L.R.

https://wearevistablue.bandcamp.com/album/around-the-world 
https://www.facebook.com/wearevistablue/ 

The Short Fuses - Dawn of the Deaf

Well that didn't take very long! Remember when I told you that The Short Fuses' "comeback" single "The Pink" was a teaser for a brand-new full-length album? I bet you didn't think the tease would only last two weeks! The Short Fuses just couldn't be cruel enough to make you wait several months for Dawn of the Deaf. Out digitally today on Ramo Records, this is the Minneapolis trio's long-awaited fourth album - and first since 2003's Dutchess Hustle.

I will admit that I'm always suspicious when any reviewer proclaims a longstanding band's latest album its "best yet". It's usually a load of crap. And given my involvement in writing some of the press info for Dawn of the Deaf, you would be doubly advised to approach this review skeptically (I would probably suggest that for all of my reviews!). But as a fan, I 100% believe this is The Short Fuses' best album. And it's not even close. The irony is that I'm a notoriously "pop" guy, and this is by far the least pop thing the band has ever done. There were always hints of pop lodged in there with the rock and soul on previous records. Dawn of the Deaf, on the other hand, is a fully focused hard-rocking record made by three individuals who sound like they're on a mission to pummel anything in their path. To recap the origins of this record, The Short Fuses had not recorded or played together since 2003. In the intervening years, Miss Georgia Peach and Travis Ramin had played in 1,000 bands combined (I exaggerate; it was only 999). Justin Staggs was, among other things, painting, making movies, and directing music videos. At some point not too long ago, Justin was writing some new songs that seemed perfect for The Short Fuses. He realized he missed playing with his good friends Georgia and Travis. The feeling was mutual. And just like that, a band was reborn. Travis, who'd been working on a large number of power pop projects, was really itching to rip some guitar. And riding a surge of 2016 election rage, The Short Fuses were energized to make their most powerful sonic statement yet. The band called in the big guns. Daniel Rey (Ramones, Nashville Pussy, Misfits) was enlisted to produce Dawn of the Deaf. Adrian Popovich from Tricky Woo was brought in to mix the record. The legendary Geza X was tapped for mastering duties. All stops were pulled out to ensure that this album would melt faces. Did it work? Well, I would definitely recommend donning protective headgear before clicking play.

I am a fan of the entire Short Fuses' catalog. But to me, Dawn of the Deaf sounds like the album this band has been trying to make for 20 years. Sometimes there's no substitute for that veteran know-how. And the band's excitement over making this record is palpable. It doesn't hurt that Georgia sounds amazing. Her voice is just so full of power and soul and a conviction that is undeniable. In that respect, she's perfectly in sync with the entire band. The Short Fuses have unleashed a resistance rock record for 2019, and they could not sound any more fired-up and raring to fight! You can hear the group channeling its inner Motörhead and MC5 more than ever. There's also a discernible Misfits/Danzig flavor to a lot of these songs which reflects the band members' East Coast upbringing. If you prefer your heavy rock with a sniff of the supernatural, the title track and "Galloping Ghost" ought to hit you just where you like it. Meanwhile, songs like "Baby Got Bat Wings" and "Rockford Getaway" demonstrate how to properly do scorching rock and roll with a soul influence. If you're not already pissed about the present state of things, "Furiosa" just might push you over the edge. A song titled "Rock Yo Self (Until You Wreck Yo Self)" promises something very epic...and proceeds to deliver exactly that!

I think most of us would have been perfectly happy with ANY new music from The Short Fuses. I would gladly have taken instrumental covers of Gaga hits or a concept album about the life and times of Ralph Malph. But lord almighty, has this trio ever crushed this reunion! Dawn of the Deaf is the ultimate "crank-it-up-loud and rock-the-fuck-out!" raging guitar record. The riffs are roaring, the solos are fire, and Miss Georgia reminds us that she is one of the true powerhouse singers in rock. And from a songwriting perspective, the band has never delivered a more compelling batch of tunes. If you've been waiting a while to have your ass kicked by a rock and roll record, HERE YOU GO!



-L.R.

https://theshortfuses.bandcamp.com/album/dawn-of-the-deaf
https://www.shortfuses.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/TheShortFuses/ 

Geoff Palmer - "This One's Gonna Be Hot"

You might be asking, "Didn't you already review this one last year?!" I sure did! But a second post for Geoff Palmer's solo smash "This One's Gonna Be Hot" is warranted because it's finally available on record! And if ever there were a song that needed to be on a 7", this was the one! The legendary Stardumb Records has ventured to release the 7", and I've got a feeling this thing is gonna fly off the shelves! The Connection singer/guitarist has gone back to his pop-punk roots and delivered an instant classic party song. I am somewhat notorious for disliking party anthems, but I must admit that I have been fully converted by "This One's Gonna Be Hot"! I might even be persuaded to drink some of that Miller Lite! That line "This one's gonna be hot/When it drops" is what I call truth in advertising! As you gather that big stack of vinyl to spin at your next house party or DJ outing, this one is a mandatory inclusion!

The release of this single comes in advance of a full solo LP from Geoff Palmer titled Pulling Out All The Stops. Out next month, the album will be a co-release between Stardumb and Rum Bar Records. Backing "This One's Gonna Be Hot" are two tracks exclusive to this 7". "Punker Than Me" is a cover of an Invalids song that was a rite of passage for almost every pop-punk kid in 1995. Here Palmer and friends have given it their own twist and actually outdone the original in my humble opinion. In a much different vein, "That's What You Do" is a perfect slice of the Beach Boys/Beatles influenced pop that has long been a Palmer specialty. Head on over to Stardumb Records to snag the single and pre-order the album. Both of these fine products are available in the States from The Machine Shop!



-L.R.

https://www.stardumbrecords.com/ 
https://geoffpalmer.bandcamp.com/album/this-ones-gonna-be-hot-ep 
https://www.facebook.com/GeoffPalmerMusic/ 

The Prissteens - Almost 24

What's this, another Prissteens collection from Girlsville? Well kind of. Almost 24 is essentially a re-vamped version of 2016's long out-of-print Demos and Rarities cassette - with the live cuts and 7" tracks replaced by additional demos covering the years 1996-99. If you missed out on Demos and Rarities, Almost 24 retains the most intriguing aspect of that collection: the nine tracks The Prissteens demoed in 1999 in preparation for their second album. That album was never made, but Lori Lindsay and Leslie Day reemerged a few years later with their new band Purple Wizard. Songs like "If You Really Loved Me" and "Sugarboy" bridge the gap between both bands and suggest that a second Prissteens album would likely have sounded quite different from the first. Minus the live cuts and studio tracks, Almost 24 has a nice flow to it. This is the most inclusive collection of Prissteens demos ever assembled, with songs representing the full span of the band's career. And even if you already own both volumes of Demos and Rarities,  you will definitely want to shell out a buck for a download of the previously unreleased "Don't Think About You". I wondered after the release of Demos and Rarities Volume 2 if there could possibly be any more "A"-list Prissteens demos lying around. Apparently there was at least one! "Don't Think About You" is what I like to think of as the "true" Prissteens sound - raw garage rock inspired by '60s pop and girl groups. If you're a Prissteens super-fan, "Don't Think About You" is a must-own track. And come on: you'll want to own the cassette since it's just so freaking cool! For those of you who still own nothing by The Prissteens, I'd probably say start with the Demos and Rarities Volume 2 download and work your way out from there. Either way, we are talking about one of the greatest rock and roll bands to come out of New York City (or anywhere else, for that matter!) in the '90s. I will always jump on any opportunity to write about The Prissteens!



-L.R.

https://girlsville.bandcamp.com/album/the-prissteens-almost-24 
https://www.facebook.com/GirlsvilleRecords 

Lifters - "Are You Ready For The Good Life"

"Are You Ready For The Good Life" is the sort of song title that seems to promise something. You can't call your song that and not deliver a killer track. And deliver a killer track is exactly what Durham, North Carolina's Lifters have done! You might not be familiar with this band yet, but you probably know who these guys are. The group was formed by Colin Sneed and Johnny Valiant after the breakup of Unwed Teenage Mothers. To round out the trio, they recruited the one and only Rich Crook (Reatards, Lost Sounds, Lover). Given the individuals involved, you might expect something in the vicinity of garage punk and power pop with a little of that Carolina sauce. And you'd be right! "Are You Ready For The Good Life" is the band's debut single, and just the second release from Nashville's Uh Huh Records. The A-side is an absolutely crackling number that begs to be played over and over. It ought to have you bobbing your head and tapping your toes and turning up the volume. To my ears, it's like early Replacements meets loud fuzzy pop with a pinch of the Saints. On the B-side, "Plane" is another good, bouncy rocker with cool noisy guitars.

In a good way, Lifters brings to mind the heyday of Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill indie rock. Lifters are a band I am sure will appeal to regular followers of this blog, and yet at the same time they don't sound like any other band. I'll have my eye on this trio going forward, and I will also be closely watching Uh Huh Records. The individuals running it clearly have fine taste. I also recommend the label's first release - a ripping single of catchy punk n' roll from wrestling enthusiasts The Mighty Jabronis!

   
-L.R.

https://uhhuhrecords.bandcamp.com/album/are-you-ready-for-the-good-life-b-w-plane 
https://www.facebook.com/uhhuhrecords/