Hung Like Hanratty - Living For The Weekend

Hung Like Hanratty are a Sutton-In-Ashfield 5 piece who feature frontman Al Sation and his great and humours lyrics along with Liam Smith (Lead Guitar), Tezza (Bass), Ricky Barsby (Rhythm Guitar) and Kyle Ellis (Drums).

The song I'm posting today is the one that features the distinctive keyboard sounds of the much missed Dave Greenfield who is probably better known as the keyboardist with The Stranglers. It's called Living For The Weekend and as well as closing the album, it'll also feature as the flipside to Hung Like Hanratty's next single which will be a tribute to Dave released on 31st October and titled Fly High With The Ravens.

Smash Fashion - Got Da Hee Bee Gee Bees (At CBGBs)

Smash Fashion are from LA and have been putting out music that's been wowing many top publications and reviewers for the last 15 years. They line up with Roger Deering (Lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Lloyd Stuart Casson (Lead guitar/backing vox), Repo (Drums/percussion) and Scarlet Rowe (Electric bass/backing vox) and so far have 4 albums under their belt.

They claim to be "Purveyors of decadent psychedelia and atomic power pop" and whilst that's quite possibly 100% correct I've got to admit I was put off by the word psychedelia but what we're presented with is some top notch rock n roll swagger that mixes up elements of the best of 70's UK and US rock, punk, glam and power pop. It's impressive and assured, doesn't hold back on the guitar riffing.

The track that I am sharing is a confident rocker namechecking the famous New York club and I'm assuming the title is inspired by Steven Lee Beeber's 2008 book Heebie-Jeebies at CBGB's: A Secret History of Jewish Punk.

This is Got Da Hee Bee Gee Bees (At CBGBs)...


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Ten Foot Pole - Don't Be A Dick

Ten Foot Pole is an American punk rock band founded in 1983 as Scared Straight.

Scared Straight was a punk band from Simi Valley, California. The band was formed in 1983 by a group of friends and was originally called S.O.F. Original members were Scott Radinsky, Mike Thompson, Gary Gallanes, and Dennis Jagard, who started the band to enter a "Battle of the Bands" competition at a local skate rink. After going through several members and name changes, they began playing with some "Nardcore" bands from nearby Oxnard, California, which helped them gain recognition. All of the Scared Straight records were released by Mystic Records.

In the early 1990s, they changed their name to Ten Foot Pole. One of the reasons for the name change was to move away from the "straight-edge" reputation that followed the band with a name like Scared Straight. In the beginning, Ten Foot Pole had a reputation of being a more aggressive, hardcore punk band that likes to party and have fun. The band released two albums under their new name with the old lineup: Swill and Rev. After the release of Rev and a split EP with Sweden's Satanic Surfers, Radinsky was forced to leave the band due to his professional baseball commitments and Ten Foot Pole's desire to be a full-time touring band. From then on Dennis Jagard took over lead vocals for the band.

Last year they released the album Escalating Quickly and I am featuring Don't Be a Dick from this album. It is a great catchy punp track erring on the side of silly.

 

Strike Anywhere - The Bells

I previously posted Strike Anywhere back in April. Last month they released a new EP titled Nightmares of the West through Pure Noise Records. It is a great EP and The Bells is probably my favourite track from it. It is everything I enjoy about melodic punk rock.

Pardon Us - Still Needs Singing

Pardon Us are a melodic punk trio from Liverpool who recently released a new album called Seamless. Don't approach Seamless expecting many surprises. What you get is a dozen more tracks of the "mild mannered/severely polite" melodic punk that they're renowned for. Picking a favourite is nigh on impossible given the standard throughout is uniformly high but the band themselves have already nominated a couple of contenders in the form of the videos they've released.

Other "should be smash hits" are plentiful so I suggest you have a good listen to the album and make up your own mind. It's available via Everything Sucks Music on yellow with black splatter vinyl and digital download.

This is Still Needs Singing

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MESS - Street Boys

Mess are a new band from Guadalajara, Mexico and should not be confused with bands of similar names.

They play early 80's influenced oi music and recently released an excellent debut 5 track digital ep titled Intercity.  

If you like your music to be both gritty and anthemic then you'll find plenty to enjoy here. The ep's fast paced and catchy with all the songs clocking in around the 2 minute mark. This is the longest track and it's called Street Boys...

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Múm - We Have A Map of the Piano

Múm (pronounced “moom”) is an experimental electronic group from Iceland whose music is characterised by soft vocals, eccentric beats and colorful effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments. I discovered these a while back when I was on a bit of a Sigur Ros hit and liked what I heard. Sometimes people find these types of vocals really annoying, but I love everything about this song. It's the kind of thing I put on as background music whilst reading and the rain is bouncing off of the windows. Definitely recommend to listen to with headphones.

This is We Have A Map of the Piano.

Deftones – Ohms

Deftones dropped a new single on Friday and have a new album coming out at the end of next month. A band that keep evolving, but you always know it is them. It has got a bit of a mixed reaction so far and sometimes, a bit like Radiohead can be, tracks take a few listens through before you appreciate them.

After a few listens this is a cracking song for me. The guitar is bright but still thick, the drumming is on point, the bass sounds good and Chino... is Chino. His vocals sound great especially where he lets his voice soar.

I know this type of music isn't to everyone's taste here, but this is a great track and almost makes every other metal band in the unverse redundant. It was the 3rd or 4th listen with headphones that didn't for me. Maybe it'll be the 1st for you or maybe it just won't...

This is Ohms.

Gabi Scandal - Sticla

Gabi Scandal are a London based Romanian street punk band who feature former Scandal guitarists Ricardo Stoco and Caio Guerra.

There is not much more information available about them, but the song I am sharing starts off sedately before growing into an anthemic singalong. It translates into English as Bottle and starts out as a love song, a love song about a bottle. A song about drinking and quitting drinking it is a great debut song and introduction to what may come in the future.

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MC16 - Anti

These are a little known Shropshire trio who have released numerous singles and they have all been great. They're a band that believe music should challenge, confront, question and entertain - capturing the spirit of true punk rock music. They're a band with both a message and the happy knack of writing a catchy soundtrack to back their well thought out, often political, commentaries on the injustices they see going on around them. Words are powerful, often more so than weapons in these days of the internet, when the president of the USA uses Twitter as a place to vent scattergun thoughts and even the ordinary man on the street can cause outrage amongst millions by saying the wrong thing.

Anti sees thee band ask the question do words actually mean as much now that it's so easy to share them. Or is it all too often a case of protesting just to appear cool. Is it becoming the fashion to virtue signal but then to move onto the next cause without ever taking any action to back up your words?

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Young Francis Hi Fi - I Wanna Hold You Tight (Tonite)

Young Francis Hi Fi are an energetic bubblegum punk band playing 2 minute songs about girls, getting high and hanging out and they're fronted by Berlin born Young Francis who was previously a one man band but has now enlisted the services of the aforementioned Rotten Foxes Jimi Dymond (guitar/backing vocals), Mac Daddy (bass/hand claps) & Danny Joe Handsome (drums).

Concentrating on catchy, feel good rocking n rolling tunes they are one to keep an eye on.

 This is their debut release, it's called I Wanna Hold You Tight (Tonite).

 

The War Goes On - Punch Drunk

The War Goes On are a Danish 4 piece based in Copenhagen who list amongst their influences The Wipers and Motorhead. They released the This Shitty Life ep in 2012 and followed it up in 2016 with a Self Titled debut album.

After another 4 years they've a new album on it's way. It'll be titled Assisted Armageddon and it'll be released by Adult Crash Records. The label describes it as the "2nd full length of über catchy melancholic and bleak Copenhagen punk rock. Drawing equally on Danish 80'ies pop-rock classics and old US and UK punk."

They have released a track from the album to get people interested. It is called Punch Drunk and mixes a hard hitting back beat with catchy as fuck vocals. You can get it name your price on Bandcamp   https://thewargoeson.bandcamp.com/track/punch-drunk

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Adult Crash Records

Classics Of Love - Future Shock

Classics Of Love are the Los Angeles band that feature Operation Ivy's Jesse Michaels. But they aren't the same Jesse Michaels fronted Classics Of Love that released an excellent Self Titled album on Asian Man Records back in 2012. That band were pretty much done and dusted but when Jesse started making more music during the lockdown he was given the go ahead to continue using the name despite drafting in a new supporting cast. The new line up now sees him ably backed by Sharif Dumani (Alice Bag, Exploding flowers, ETC) on guitar and bass and Peter John Fontes (Los Nauticals, Surf Fronts) on drums. The new record is a 5 track ep called World Of Burning Hate and it's Jesse's hardest hitting release yet. It's lean, mean and to the point with only one of the songs creeping past the 2 minute mark. The guy's a genre veteran but the fire in his belly still burns bright. The new guys don't hold back and provide raw and authentic backing. I believe there's a vinyl version of the ep upcoming from Asian Man but for now you'll have to make do with the digital download.

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Jim Bob - If It Ain't Broke

If It Ain't Broke is the third single from Carter USM's Jim Bob, taken from his new solo record 'Pop Up Jim Bob' released August 14th 2020!

This is the third single released from the new album Pop Up Jim Bob, and judging by the tracks released so far it’s looking like he’s reverting back to his punk rock roots! Fingers crossed that this work will finally please both Jim Bob fans and the “does it sound like Carter” fans alike.

In little over 2 minutes Jim has managed to sum up all the toxic shit that is evident right now in Trump’s America and by extension, Johnson’s Britain. From racism to homophobia and the destruction of the whole fucking planet. Jim is back, fed up and ready to Make Albums Great Again.

This is If It Ain't Broke.

 

Future Punx - Mind Over Matter

Future Punx are a Brooklyn, New York, quartet (Nicholas Martin (Drums), Jake Pepper (Guitars/Vox/Sequencing), Chris Pickering (Bass/Vox/Sequencing) and Heather Strange (Synth/Vox)) who have somehow absorbed every aspect of 80's New Wave and created something completely original and unique. Take Tubeway Army, Human League, Gang Of Four, Missing Persons and even Italian Disco and you have music for the body as well as the mind!

Since 2013 this band has been releasing EP's and LP's but in June of this year they dropped their dance floor manifesto simply called "2020". Eleven songs to get you moving. My pick is "Mind Over Matter" but on any given day I could also go with the female vocals of "(It's A) Woman's World."

You can get the album (and the ep AND a new live album) on Bandcamp.

The Thorazines - There's Always Time For One More Bro Hymn

The Thorazines are a 3 chord pop punk band from Melbourne. Despite struggling to get together due to the ongoing pandemic they've already released a couple of eps this year which are both fun and very catchy. They've outdone themselves though with this new track. At almost 5 minutes in length it's somewhat of a pop punk epic but it's one that'll blow your mind.

The song is about bringing people together and it does exactly that by bringing together a bunch of talented musicians who collaborate on the song. It's inspired by the Pennywise classic Bro Hymn and not only is it in aid of a good cause (all monies made will be donated to Mental Health Awareness programmes) it's also a great song.

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There's Always Time For One More Bro Hymn...

Millie Manders and The Shutup - Bitter

I know of Millie Manders from many posts by and support slots with Riskee & The Ridicule. They've already released a number of top notch EPs and we have so far had 3 teaser singles from their upcoming debut album Telling Truths, Breaking Ties. In March they dropped Silent Screams, a worryingly frank account of being in a very dark place and this was followed in June by Your Story, an upbeat song about the sad topic of unrequited love. You can find them on Bandcamp.

Today I am sharing the 3rd of those singles. It's an angry song directed against someone who's the focus of Millie's wrath. Her hearts hurting and she's wanting to rip that someone apart. She's in a bad place but she's comforted by her dark thoughts.

You can pre order the album here.

Stiff Richards - Going Numb

Stiff Richards recently announced that they have a new album coming out in October. To whet our appetites they've released a song from it as a name your price download. Going Numb is a 3 minute garage stomper about wasting away, a feeling many of us are suffering from during these days of the pandemic.

Riot City Radio - Anchor In The Storm

Riot City Radio are 3 piece street punk band from Plymouth with a line up of Matt Colton (Bass/Vocals), Tom Boutwood (Drums/Vocals) and Tom Murphy (Guitar/Vocals).

They reccently released their debut ep and is titled Anchor In The Storm. If you like your music to be heartfelt, anthemic and feature big sing along choruses then this is a band you should pay attention to. It's working class punk music, melodic oi with the occasional dash of ska. It's very catchy but still hits hard. This is the title track, Anchor In The Storm...

Foo Fighters - I'll Stick Around

Foo Fighters is an American rock band, formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1994. It was founded by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of Nirvana after the suicide of Kurt Cobain.

They are a band that seem to massively split opinion and are one of those that many people who see themselves as "proper" rock fans don't like. Whatever. I love their first three albums and the rawness of their debut is brilliant. I am sharing I'll Stick Around which many see as a dig at Courtney Love and there are many of those scattered throughout their catalogue.

The distortion and loud/quiet theme are all ones I love.

Chixdiggit - I Remember You

Chixdiggit is a Canadian pop punk band formed in Calgary, Alberta. The band performed internationally, and released a number of studio albums, mainly with light-hearted pop songs, usually about girls and relationships.

This is I Remember You from their 2005 album Pink Razors

Shorebirds - The Ballad of Marvin Heemeyer

Shorebirds were a short-lived Punk Rock band from Olympia, WA formed in 2007 by Mattie Jo Canino, Chris Bauermeister and Keith Henderson. The band can be considered something of a supergroup due to the band featuring members of Jawbreaker, Latterman and RVIVR.

The band was formed in 2007 following the breakup of Latterman and Mattie Jo Canino's relocation to Olympia, WA. Canino connected with Bauermeister, having moved to Olympia following the demise of Jawbreaker in the late 90s and Keith Henderson, a local drummer. Together they released a self-titled 7" inch and a split with Something's Wrong in 2007. The following year they released their only full length, It's Gonna Get Ugly via Rumbletowne Records before quietly disbanding at the end of 2008.

Canino and Bauermeister would go on to play in the short lived Mutoid Men together (not to be confused with Mutoid Man). Canino would then go on to form the acclaimed RVIVR in 2011 with Bauermeister rejoining temporarily in 2014 to record bass on their Bicker & Breathe EP. Bauermeister would eventually go on to rejoin Jawbreaker in 2017 with a highly successful reunion at Chicago's Riot Fest.

The Ballad of Marvin Heemeyer is from their only album It's Gonna Get Ugly. Marvin Heemeyer was an American welder and an automobile muffler repair shop owner who demolished numerous buildings with a modified bulldozer in Granby, Colorado on June 4, 2004 in the "Killdozer" rampage before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Some say he died standing up for himself and we've all been in a place where we just want to knock it all down.

Lucy and the Rats - Dark Clouds

According to a witness, their sound came across like a lab experiment gone wrong; the most delicate of hamsters being savaged by the filthiest sewer rats whilst humming the sweetest of sweet melodies. But with the twin guitar assault, these rodents had some bite and, voila, Lucy and the Rats were born!

Lucy and the Rats is Aussie punk rock legend Lucy Lucy Ellis and her London backing outfit. She crafts beautiful melodies and sings with a tenderness and vulnerability that bring to mind the 1960s heyday of girl groups and Brill Building pop. While known primarily for their punk bona fides, band-mates Joe Tolosoa (Los Perros, Johnny Throttle), Manu Santos (Thee Tumbitas, Johnny Throttle, Raw Fun, Michael Jackson), and Liam Brody (The Gaggers, Johnny Throttle, Scraps) have proven to be exceptionally accomplished players in a pure pop style.

I am sharing Dark Clouds, which is a great indie pop punk track from the album and acted as the lead single for the album.

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Murderburgers - Another Way Out Of Here

Murderburgers are a pop-punk band from Scotland. They seem to be getting more grim with each album, which is fine by me!

This is Another Way Out Of here from their 2013 album These Are Only Problems.

Enjoy!

ALL - Million Bucks

All is an American punk rock band originally from Los Angeles, currently based in Fort Collins, Colorado, formed by Descendents members Bill Stevenson, Karl Alvarez, and Stephen Egerton when Milo Aukerman left the Descendents to pursue a graduate degree in biochemistry, forcing the band into a hiatus. The remaining members decided to carry on as a band, adopting the title of the Descendents’ last studio album, All, as their official moniker.

They have had various singers over the years but the track I am going with today features Chad Price on vocal duties. It is Million Bucks from 1995's Pummel and the video is  90stastic.

I Am The Avalanche - Holy Fuck

I Am the Avalanche is a punk rock band from Brooklyn, New York formed by vocalist Vinnie Caruana after the break-up of his previous band The Movielife, and followed his short stint playing in Head Automatica. The group's name comes from a lyric written by Vinnie Caruana for a song which was later discarded. The phrase also appears in the poem "Oh, Immobility, Death's Vast Associate" by Stephen Dobyns; however, Caruana maintains that this is a coincidence, and that he was not aware of the poem until after naming the band.

They have 3 studio albums to their name and I am going with Holy Fuck which is the opening track from their 2nd album Avalanche United. A great song that shows off what they're all about. Throaty vocals, gang singalongs and a fast punk beat.

They also have a new album coming out sometimes soon, which I am really looking forward to. But for now, this is Holy Fuck.

Shit Present - Anxious Type

Shit Present describe themselves as an emo pop rock punk indie guitar based musical project or whatever from the south west of England. They have released two albums to date and I am going with Anxious Type from their debut. I saw them support The Smith Street Band a few years back and this was one that stuck out then.



I had bad dreams
So I smoked myself to sleep
I'm sorry if it affected you and me
If you know what I mean.
The girls at school
Still haunt me in my sleep
They keep telling me I'm not welcome
And its my problem.
I should be old enough by now
This is the last time i'm putting myself down.
Just tell yourself
You're not the anxious type
And calm down
Everything is fine
Just fine, just fine, just fine, just fine.
And I was crying
For what seemed like half a year
But i'm trying, you just only see my fear
Cus you hold me dear.
And I swear
I'm never going back
I'm not going back
To being like that.
I'm old enough by now
This is the last time i'm putting myself down.
Just tell yourself
You're not the anxious type
And calm down
Everything is fine
Just fine, just fine, just fine, just fine.
Just fine, just fine, just fine, just fine.

The Gaslight Anthem - Great Expectations

The Gaslight Anthem was an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey, formed in 2006. The band consists of Brian Fallon (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Alex Rosamilia (lead guitar, backing vocals), Alex Levine (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Benny Horowitz (drums, percussion).

The Gaslight Anthem released their debut album, Sink or Swim, on XOXO Records in May 2007, and their second album, The '59 Sound, on SideOneDummy Records in August 2008. The band's third album, American Slang, was released in June 2010, and their fourth, Handwritten, was released in July 2012 through Mercury Records. The lead single from Handwritten, "45", became their most successful single on the charts, and possibly their most well known to date. The band's fifth studio album, Get Hurt, was released on August 12, 2014, through Island Records. On July 29, 2015, the band announced an indefinite hiatus following their European summer tour, which concluded at Reading Festival on Sunday 30 August. The band temporarily reunited for a string of shows in 2018 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The '59 Sound, before resuming their hiatus.

I first saw The Gaslight Anthem on the Lock-Up Stage at Leeds Festival in 2008. The '59 Sound had been out a matter of days, but the crowds were already getting to a decent size for a band on so early. I was blown away. The following year they played the Radio 1/NME Stage and the tent really was packed for them that time around. Wow, what an album and 12 months can do.

I am sharing the opening track from this album, Great Expectations. Great lyrics and a fantastic way to open an album. "Everybody leaves, so why, why wouldnt you?" hits me like a HGV every time.

Sloppy Seconds - You Got A Great Body, But Your Record Collection Sucks

Sloppy Seconds is a Ramones-influenced punk band from Indianapolis, Indiana that started in 1984. They gained notoriety in the underground punk scene with gritty and controversial songs like "Come Back, Traci," "I Don't Want to be a Homosexual", "Jani is a Nazi", "I Want 'em Dead" and "So Fucked Up."

The band's unusual and controversial lyrics encompass pornography, classic horror movies, classic television shows, comic books, alcohol, being fat, and getting drunk.

Today I am sharing a track from their 1998 album “More Trouble Than They're Worth”.

The track is You Got A Great Body, But Your Record Collection Sucks. The line “You got every Tom Cruise film soundtrack ever made. They might get you off, but they ain't gonna get you laid” never fails to amuse me.

Jason Isbell - It Gets Easier

Jason Isbell is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Green Hill, Alabama, in Lauderdale County. He is known for his solo career, his work with the band The 400 Unit, and as a former member of Drive-By Truckers for six years, from 2001 to 2007.

Back in May he released his latest album Reunions under the "Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit" project. It is a great album and well worth your time if "alternative country" and "Southern rock" is your thing.

As a bit of background, Isbell has had various personal issues and has checked into rehab a number of times. In his 20's he used to go through a bottle of Jack Daniel's and do cocaine every evening. He has been sober now for 7 or 8 years and has sung about substance abuse before, but “It Gets Easier” is his fullest-throated attempt to write an AA anthem. It opens with the lines “Last night I dreamt that I’d been drinking … I had one glass of wine / I woke up feeling fine / That’s how I knew it was a dream” which deserve a place of honour among his most indelible lines. It is a howling barroom stomp about the ongoing challenges of staying sober. The seriousness and reverence are mostly stripped away, and he allows himself to laugh off his alcohol-filled (but ultimately sober) dreams, while still acknowledging the past chaos he’d wrought. It is addressing the vices that we all have and trying to fight them off. Whatever these vices are it is something we can probably relate to at some point and in some way! Give the album a spin, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

The Blinders - Black Glass

The Blinders have been posted on here before but as a reminder they are a three-piece English Alternative rock band originally from Doncaster, now based in Manchester. The band is made up of vocalist and guitarist Thomas Haywood, bass guitarist Charlie McGough, and drummer Matthew Neale.

They recently released their 2nd full album titled Fantasies Of A Stay At Home Psychopath. It is a great album that paints a bleaker picture and is more personal than their debut album, Columbia. I am sharing the track Black Glass that takes the tempo back down to the minimum with an ominous build-up of tension and progresses into an explosion of energy. It is one of the best tracks on the album for me and combines the band’s recent exploration of new musical influences with the familiar menace shown on their first album. The whole album is worth a listen as a piece. Give it a go.