Finally got some new reviews done for ya’ll! Apologies to those bands and labels that have sent records the last few months during my review-vacation. Catching up as best I can. Expect a couple of months with tons of reviews and we’ll see if we can’t get to the bottom of the pile sooner or later. A lot of old stuff worked it’s way in here.. hope you don’t care too much about that. Just wanted to give credit where credit is due.

- Thomas Savage [TS]

 

Baby Shakes

Tell me now, 10”

Rob’s House Records

The incredibly charming Brooklyn chicks are back with an EP shaped like a big red heart. Damn nice. Three songs from their coming album and they sound kinda like we’re used to. Tough powerpop/r’n’r in some kinda girlgroup/Devil Dogs/Buddy Holly mix. And sure, it works. Cute, catchy and rocking at the same time. Recorded by Dave from the Carbonas and the sound really fits them. A little dirty but powerful. Extremely limited edition sp go out and hunt. [TS]

 

Bad Sports
All the time 7”

Boom Chick Records

Quirky and catchy punkrock, or something.. Kind of in the vein of bands like the Black Lips and King Khan & BBQ Show but more punkrock. Maybe it’s powerpop but it’s really quirky and strange at times. Great stuff. Members of the Wax Museums and Maaster Gaiden. Out of the new hotspot – the Denton/Carrolton/Arlington-area in the north of Texas.

[TS]

 

Les Blousons Noirs
S/t 12”
Born Bad Records
Totally out of control, inept french rock & roll from 1961. Covers of “Be Bop Alula” and “Twist Again” are just as deranged as can be. Wonderful! Shaking all over the place. That this was really released as far back as ‘61 and ’62 is pretty mindblowing. Brings to mind maniacs like Hasil Adkins, Dean Carter and Tyrone Schmidling.

[TS]

 

Blowtops
64 teeth 7”

Certified PR Records
Picking up the challenge issued by Terminal Boredom last month and checking out the Blowtops new single. Okay, maybe I never gave their new direction much of a shot. I liked a few songs here and there, but mostly the ‘hard’/’weird’ sound turned me off. It’s a little bit of the same here but I like how it’s actually sounding a lot like their early singles again. Scary and cool. Still don’t fall for this stuff wholeheartedly..but this is definitely the best I’ve heard from them for a good long while. [TS]

 

Brun Dill
Små ilskna kukars revansch i samhället 7”

Ken Rock

This band will probably the take price as the insane-st band in Sweden. Featuring members of the Local Oafs, Henry Fiat’s Open Sore and an assorted bunch of what-huh’s. Truly bent punkrock in swedish but... it’s great! [TS]

 

Cheap Time
Handy man, 7”
Douchemaster Records

Newly signed on ITR. This is the first taste of the ‘new’ Cheap Time. Not as punk, a little slower and just phenomenally good. I get a feel of them being Jay Reatards younger brothers. Not as new wavy as Jay but within the same vein. Great songs and a cool sound of their own. Think these guys will take the world by storm. [TS]

 

Cheap Time
S/t LP

In The Red Records
Fucking awesome, catchy fullenght. Great sounding and with awesome songs. This should really be a hit, or the world’s fucked. [TS]

 

Cheating Hearts
S/t LP
Goodbye Boozy Records
Shortlived band featuring Choyce of the Sexareenos, CPC Gangbangs etc and some kids apparently from the middle of nowhere. They got fucked on drugs wanting to be the Heartbreakers and playing a cool mix of Velvet Underground and Oblivians. This woulda made a killer single but as an LP maybe it doesn’t hold up as well. There’s some great songs on here but then there’s some that are straight out of the rehearsalroom. Making it a fucked up mix of noice, greatness and fucked-upedness. All in all pretty cool and definitely worthy of it’s release. Even if it’s just for posterity. [TS]

 

Creteens

K-way bleu 7”
Boom Chich Records

More of the frustrated Creteens punkrock! And it’s the balls as always. Think they’ll shake the the Reatards-comparison in the near future cause this is really fucking awesome. [TS]

 

Demon’s Claws
Fucked on ketamine, 7”

Rob’s House Records

Demon’s Claws are cementing their reputation as one of the best bands around and Rob’s House as one of the best labels out there. Demon’s do two new songs that could easily have been on their latest album on ITR. I can only say that this is some damn great shit. [TS]

 

Digital Leather
Hard at work LP

Tic Tac Totally

Can’t really wrap my mind around Digital Leather, and I guess that’s a pretty cool thing. They keep surprising me with tons of releases and sounding different all over. Caught them live at SXSW in march and they were pretty damn amazing. Full band and not sounding very electric like they do here. So what’s the deal? I guess it depends on who’s available for a recording or a live show. This lp’s recorded and with everything played by Shawn. Cool songs but I’m always having a hard time with drummachines and the way they sound. However the songs are cool I just wish this sounded like they did live instead. [TS]

 

Digger & the Pussycats
Let’s go to hospital LP

P. Trash Records

New fullenght from these prolific aussie gentlemen. Guess it sounds like you’d think it would as it just continues to build on their sound. They’re good without being fantastic and always deliver live. Ten new songs that you’ll like a lot of you’ve taken a like to their previous releases. [TS]

 

Dirtbombs
We have you surrounded LP
In The Red Records

Starting out with the fun nerdy stuff, this is a fun record for any comicbook fan from the Gary Panter sleeve to the cover/rendition of Alan (Watchmen) Moore’s “Leopardman at C&A”. The record starts out pretty damn cool but kinda loses it’s momentum from time to time. Overall the production is cool (by Mick) and it definitely sounds like a Dirtbombs record so who’s gonna be disappointed? Covers of the Sparks and Dead Moon. [TS]

 

Dirtbombs
Need you tonight 7”

Stained Circles

Whoa! The Dirtbombs covering INXS...yeesh. Okay, Mick Collins has the coolest voice in all of music and this is actually kinda decent at times but just hearing the songs gives me the shivers.. no no no.. big no. Australian toursingle.[TS]

 

Final Solutions
FS-DF 7”

Jeth-Row Records

Getting the single made me remember that I still had to review the LP from last year. An LP that I at first didn’t care so much for but that now totally slays me every time I listen to it. It’s really essential! So just get it. They’re moving around between old punkrock and a modern sound so easily that i find myself a little astounded. One second I’m thinking I have their influences nailed down just to feel totally off the next. They’re taking what they like and bringing it home, Killed by Death, Angry Samoans, Kriminella Gitarrer, new wave etc.. They make it sound their own, and they make it sound awesome! This 7” isn’t gonna let any old fan down. Absolutely amazing! [TS]

 

Gaye Blades
A visit to the home of the man who invented sexual intercourse 7”
Rob’s House Records

Bobby Ubangi (Lids) and Jared Swilley (Black Lips) keep churning out great little ditties in the King Khan & BBQ Show vein. Cute, romantic and catchy. Plain and simple – great songwriting and their sound is infectious, to say the least.

[TS]

 

Gentleman Jesse & his men
I don’t wanna know (where you been tonight) 7”
Douchemaster Records

Songs that stick to my head after my first listen to the single and an incredibly catchy sound makes me smell success for these guys right away. Members from the Carbonas playing some kinda powerpop punk that reminds me a lot of the Exploding Hearts but it’s so damn good so you kinda forget the Exploding Hearts comparison real fast. Gentleman Jesse do it simple but powerful with an emphasis on great songs and it always rocks. This is how I’d like powerpop to sound. Nice sound, cool hooks and fantastic songs. [TS]

 

Guinea Worms

Box of records 7”
Columbus Discount Records

After apparently playing for four years before their debut 7” maybe the world’s prepared for the Guinea Worms. With such hits I would be very surprised if it isn’t. Seeing them live at SXSW only convinced me even more. They’re an absolutely magical liveband. This debut is a real treat with the amazing “Box of Records”. What a fucking tune! Could maybe be descirbes as the Cheater Slicks doing a cover on MOTO. And that Cheater Slicks fits into the configuration isn’t that strange as they share the hometown in Columbus, Ohio. An environment that seems to breed raw, noisy heaven.  [TS]

 

Hex Dispensers
Lose my cool 7”
Douchemaster Records
Rarely have I been so blown away by a band live – in the afternoon, sober, on the floor of a pizzaplace the Hex Dispensers showed me they are one hell of a band. Something that really made me love their fullenght and think of them as one of the best bands around right now. Texas is slaying the competition when it comes to punkrock right now. Marked Men, Wax Museums, Maaster Gaiden, High Tension Wires and a bunch of others. The Hex Dispensers take the best of abovementioned bands punkrock and mix it up with southern style “bluesy” punk from the likes of the Oblivians, Persuaders and Alex Cuervo’s past in bands like Blacktop, King Sound Quartet and the Gospel Swingers. The result is a dark, driven, hard and fast exciting sound. Danceable like few others. Fantastic! And the songwriting is another strong side of theirs. Their cover of the Wipers “Tragedy” feels like the weakest song on this 7”. [TS]

 

Jack Oblivian & the Cigarillos
Drinking women’s milk 7”

Ghost Highway Recordings

New side-project by the prolific Jack O. This is just guitar and drums and sounds kinda nice even though it also sounds more like demos than a finished recording. But good stuff nontheless. [TS]

 

Kajun SS

Get out of me 7”
Jeth-Row Records
The awesome a-side is really the tits! It fucking rips and blows through everything. I really miss these guys but from what I hear there might be more coming up. Cross your fingers. Made up of members from the Persuaders and some other great bands outta the Big Easy. Don’t know if this is an outtake from the their great 12” from a few years ago. The b-side is a cover of the Oblivians “Pillpopper parts 1-2” recorded live and it doesn’t reach the heights of the great “Get out of me” but it’s a fun song. [TS]

 

King Louie and the Loose Diamonds
Memphis Treet LP

Empty Records

King Louie keeps hammering out great swamp pop songs. This is far from as aggressive as the Persuaders or Kajun SS. This is actually pure pop perfection done up southern rock & roll style. Full of emotion and mood. Great stuff. The band consists of no other than luminaries as Harlan T Bobo, Jack Oblivian and Chad Booth (Kajun SS) among others. Louie knows how to get under your skin with both lyrics and music and he’s a master at picking up the great musical history of his hometown New Orleans and adopted home Memphis. Get this! [TS]

 

Lamps
Tim Ford 7”

Hook or Crook Records

One of the coolest bands around, the Lamps outta Cali keep it mysterious and fucked up. One original and a cover of Drunks With Guns. Don’t miss out on the Lamps!!!

[TS]

 

Lost Sounds
Motorcycle leather boy 7”
Tic Tac Totally

Been waiting a long time to hear the tribute to one of the best bands ever, the Oblivians. The record never surfaced but here you get one of the best trys anyway. Jay does a static version of ”Motorcycle leather boy” and Alicja a punky version of ”Love killed my brain”. Their covers really sound like Lost Sounds covering the Oblivians and that’s pretty damn cool. Too bad the rest of the bands didn’t do as good a job. [TS]

 

Manikins
Crocodiles 7”

Human Bretzel Records
Two new ones and “Crocodiles” off their new fullenght. I love their energy (just wish they’d sound a little more trashy!). I think they’re a really genuine band.. taking their cues off their love for rock’n’roll. That’s where their energy comes from, that and they’re all insane.. but that was supposed to be off the record. Just go out and get their records if you like bands like the Exploding Hearts, Gentleman Jesse, Marked Men, Real Kids, Teengenerate, Devil Dogs. Spaceshits etc etc.. This really is great music.
[TS]

 

Mojomatics

Down my spine 7”

Wild Honey Records

A somewhat poppier and tamer Mojomatics open up this single with the titletrack and i can’t sy I’m carzy about it. But on the b-side the good ol’ Mojomatics sound is back again with their trademark catchy garagepop blues. “The Diamond Jack” should maybe have been the a-side? [TS]

 

Pumpers
Don’t hafta go 7”

Rijapov Records
Don’t know anything about this band except I just ordered another of their singles from an American label. This is pretty over the top and crazy stuff with crazy-ass guitarsolos on top of everything else. Sounds cool and fucked up. Songs are pretty damn good. This is great stuff. Think they might be Canadian but can’t remember.. Check them out if you like it trashed out like fuck. I love it!
[TS]

 

Turpentine Bros

S/t LP

Alien Snatch Records
Can’t put my finger on it but there’s something about the Turpbros that doesn’t catch on for me. Don’t get me wrong. I like them but it doesn’t go all the way. I like them live more than on record. There’s a few cool songs on here so I don’t think they let down but I’m still waiting for them to hit that high that they seem to have in them.

[TS]

 

TV Ghost
S/t LP

Die Stasi Records

For me, a bit of a letdown after loving their debut 7”. This lp’s more experimental and noisy which probably would have worked for me had the songs been as amazing as on the single. Although, they have a really cool sound and live they were pretty damn cool. Still the most dangerous-sounding band around. [TS]

 

V/A

Wavy Gravy CD
Beware Records

One of the coolert and most legendary, and craziest of all the rock’n’roll comps re-issued on CD. A must for anyone that doesn’t own this of course. Fits nicely together with comps like BFTG, Las Vegas Grind, Scum of the Earth, Jungle Exotica and Sin Alley as one of  best and funniest. From wild exotica to hard garage to danceable r’n’b to crazy country. Between every song there’s a movietrailer that’s just insane. Nice package! [TS]

 

V/A

Black Sunday / Le Jonathan Reilly split LP
Tic Tac Totally

Split between Memphis Black Sunday and Valencia, Spain’s LJR. And they fit nicely together having a similar approach/sound. This stuff doesn’t really my make mouth wet but there’s some good songs on here from both bands. LJR cover Lost Sounds and MOTO, Black Sunday cover LJR and Karkkiautomaatti. Black Sunday’s even sounding a little like Memphis hip hop group 666 Mafia on “M.R.E.’S” (could’ve sworn it was a cover..). For fans of the more electro-sounding Alicja. [TS]