ALEX FACE
Smell Like a Woman CD

Blues Explosion-style garageblues from Gothenburg. Not really a hit but it’s tolerable. They’re falling into the typical traps with boring music, over the top vocals and trying to make it hard but it ends up sounding more metal than garage. Nope, not really anything special. Too bad..

(Thomas)
Alleycat Records

 

DEAN DIRG
...Raus LP

Great new record from this band that just keeps getting better. 14 songs on 45 rpm with enough speed and energy to keep ten bands going. Great songs, catchy as all get out.. especially the titletrack, “Dean Dirg Raus” is gonna fill a lot of dancefloors.

(Thomas)
Wasted Sounds

 

DISCONVENIENCE
Umeå punk City CD

VICIOUS
Alienated CD

Two of the seemingly endless supply of new punkbands outta Umea. Disconvenience does it pretty much old school style. Ten fast punkers and also including their debut 7”. They’ve got some flair and pretty good female vocals and hardhitting punk that’s more punkrock than hardcore. The Vicious got ten new songs and their two singles on Wasted Sounds and Feral Ward. The Vicious sound has, for me at least, more to to with bands like Lost Sounds than the rest of the Umea scene. They’re pretty cool actually. Maybe nothing that really slays me but they’ve got a cool sound and could very well make it big time.

(Thomas)
Wasted Sounds / Ny Vag Records

 

FE FI FO FUMS
I Just Wanna Boom Boom Girl 7”

The Fums are one of my fave bands these days, keeping their spirits high and dry. This is another cool one from them even though it doesn’t have the hit of their recent singles. The b-side is a fucking great ballad style love song. Awesome! “I Just Wanna..” is

(Thomas)
Rob’s House

 

HARLAN T BOBO
I’m Your Man CD

New one from under the bed, and follow up to the oft-times great debut “Too Much Love”. I’m not getting into this one as much as the first one, there were some real killers on “Too Muchh..” that really won me over, and those hits are what’s kinda lacking on “I’m Your Man” unfortunately. There’s some good stuff but it’s more anguish taking over, in the form of some noise and experimental styles. It’s good, but not as breathtaking as the debut.

(Thomas)
Goner Records

 

JACK-O & THE TENNESSEE TEARJERKERS
Flipside Kid LP

New one from Jack Oblivian and of course it’s a good ‘un. Pretty moody, but there’s some dancenumbers on here too. Some stuff might not be up to snuff but the great stuff far outweighs the mediocre, as with all his post-Oblivians stuff (except for the Cool Jerks, which I didn’t like that much). Great stuff for the car, great stuff for listening to at night. Get this!

(Thomas)
Dirt Cheap Date Records

 

JEFFREY JAMES & THE IDIOTS
Hotsy-Totsy CD EP
New Finnish band made up of members from bands like Larry & the Lefthanded, 20 Minuters and Phantom 409. Two originals and two covers, they’ve got a pretty cool sound but it doesn’t take me by storm, kinda like a Finnish Cramps maybe. Pretty cool anyway..they’ve obviously have the right influences, I think it’s the production that takes it down a bit for me. I think it’s a little too big and clean for this kinda stuff. Makes it sound a bit too pscyhobilly-akin.
(Thomas)
Trashcan records

 

LAMPS
S/t CD

A little bit of a letdown for me, I loved the first record. This new one is still new to me and might not have sunk in yet but it’s lacking the great sound and songs from the first, also self-titled 12”. I love their sound but it just seems they’re going in another direction than the Necessary Evils-noise delivered on their debut. Still it’s good stuff and anyone liking bands like A-Frames, Intelligence, Brainbombs, Necessary Evils will want to check this out. I just hope they’re back at good old (and more garagey form) next time.

(Thomas)
In The Red Records

 

LOVER!
One in a Billion 7”

Whoa, great fucking debut single from Rich Crook’s (Reatards, Lost Sounds, Knaughty Knights) new Memphis outfit. Actually this is mostly Rich by himself and calling in some friends when he needs ‘em. This single kicks the lp’s ass too, the sound and energy and songs on this here li’l disc is awesome! You could say this is his continuation of where the Knaughty Knights left off. High in energy and with hooks galore. I’d kind of put this in the same vein as the Marked Men but with a Memphis-vibe. Don’t miss Lover! On tour in Europe october-november 2007.

(Thomas)
Solid Sex Lovie Doll

 

MANS
High 7”

Stompin’ bluespunk in the same vein as Ape City R&B (who’re great!), in that kinda Gories way. Cool as all get out actually. “High” is awesome. Their Stockholm show was a spectacle which lasted way too long and had way too much vomit but what else to expect when you put those two freaks up on stage. “Bad For You Baby” on the b-side isn’t as great but a cool trashy punky thingie. Real cool single – get this!

(Thomas)
Yakisakana

 

MARY WEISS
Dangerous Game LP

Mary Weiss of the Shangri-La’s backed up by the Reigning Sound and with songs by (among others) Greg Cartwright..sounds like it could be really cool. But it’s mostly a letdown, it sounds like it could’ve been okay but it’s just lacking in every department; songs, energy, production.. Mediocre at best.

(Thomas)
Norton Records

 

MOTORAMA
Dirttrack Specialist CD

Not the Italian band with the same name (bad name btw, why two bands would want it beats me). This is an American band citing bands like Ramones, Motorhead, AC/DC and others as their inspiration. Not very much my cup of tea as I don’t hear a lotta good stuff in there anywhere. Hard and annoying..

(Thomas)
Last Chance Records

 

THE NAGZ
Wrong Direction 7”

Second release from cool new Stockholm label, Radio Obligato. The Nagz are also from Stockholm, featuring members from the Maggots, Voladoras, Henry Fiat’s Open Sore etc. They love powerpop, and this is powerpop.. very nice production, sweet songs. I find myself wanting them to cut loose. Never was a big fan of powerpop though. This is pretty good anyway. Bit too nice for my primitive tastebuds, but cool anyways. If you’re a PP-fan, then by all means check this out. Better than most of what I’ve heard in the genre.

(Thomas)
Radio Obligato Records

 

STUPIDITY
I Need You... Like a Hole In My Head CD

Heavily 80’s garagerock inspired, think Nomads, Fleshtones etc. They do it fairly good but lacking some originality. Better than a lot of stuff in this genre lately anyway..but nothing that really captures me. Starts out pretty good then goes downhill with a few stinkers, and it doesn’t really pick up from there unfortunately.

(Thomas)
Go Fast Records

 

V/A – RAW MEAT LP

Fucking fantastic rockabilly comp. This totally got me back into rockabilly again after being pretty tired of it for a good may years. The music’s on here, all totally unknown for me, is just plain and simple amazing. It’s packs a lot of emotion, the songs are varied but sticks to that same overall feel. I must say that the guy that put this together did a beautiful job with it.

(Thomas)
Hog Maw Records