Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen - Like I Used To

Two of the most influential songwriters of the past decade, Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen are unafraid of diving headfirst into the red. Think of those climactic howls in “Seventeen” or “Your Love Is Killing Me”; consider the dreamy crescendos of “Shut Up Kiss Me” and “Lark.” While plenty of artists seek inspiration from heroes of emotional abandon like Bruce Springsteen (whom they have each covered excellently), Van Etten and Olsen understand the true power belongs to the listener—when you’ve brought the magic into your own world, and you’re throwing your head back, singing along at the top of your lungs.

Their first collaborative single, “Like I Used To,” lives up to its potential, plays to their strengths, and still manages to pack a surprise. The verse melody sits squarely in Olsen’s comfort zone—a little bit classic country, a little bit girl-group balladry. And the chorus, which arrives on an ascending wave of glockenspiel, like a golden staircase appearing through the fog, is pure Van Etten: a long string of ribbon she unfurls in the wind, equally ragged and triumphant.

The whole thing feels momentous, predestined to be a crowd-pleasing set closer, and the lyrics add to its casual grandeur. “Lighting one up like I used to,” they sing together, “Falling in love like I used to.” Even when the words eschew the directness of previous career peaks (or when they’re straight-up quoting Michael Jordan), the duo makes sure you know they mean it. Produced by John Congleton, the song feels meticulously arranged for them to find the spotlight at any given moment and steal the show, an effect mirrored by Kimberly Stuckwisch’s expertly styled music video. If the good old days are behind us, as they suggest every time the chorus rolls around, the memories have never felt so sweet. 

Pack Rat - Two Sides Of Your Heart

Pack Rat is the new solo project from Canadian man of many talents Patrick Bertrand (aka Patrick McEachnie).

With lockdown leading to boredom, he bought himself a guitar and started writing his own songs and now he's in a position to go it alone by not only playing everything and singing but also recording the results himself. 

Those results take the form of a debut album titled Glad To Be Forgotten, it'll be released in the autumn on Drunken Sailor Records and going off the evidence of this teaser single it'll be up their with his previous work. 

A lively love song that features a healthy dose of budget synth, it's a garage banger with pop sensibilities that more than does the job of raising hopes for a killer LP. It's called Two Sides Of Your Heart...

Mujeres Podridas - Muerte en Paraíso

Hailing from Austin, Texas, Mujeres Podridas (it translates to Rotten Women) are a hardcore punk quartet who released a demo in 2017 and followed it a year later with an ep titled Sobredosis. 2020 ended with them releasing a debut album titled Muerte En Paraíso and this LP has just been given the vinyl treatment by Beach Impediment Records.

Translating as Death In Paradise, it features 11 raw and energetic punk bangers which stand out largely due to a bravura vocal performance from Spanish singing Dru Molina. She's more than ably backed by Eddie Leal, John Morales & Phillip Gonzalez. You can get it via their Bandcamp and I am sharing thr title track.

Bandcamp

EEL MEN - Are You There God It’s Me

EEL MEN are a 4 piece from London who have just released a debut 7" on No Front Teeth Records

It contains 2 tracks of mid paced post punk and I am going with the lead track, it's called Are You There God It's Me...

Mystery Girl - Dialtones

Mystery Girl are a power pop/punk quartet from Albany, New York and line up with Thomas Race (guitar/vocals), August Spataro (guitar/vocals), Eric Pressman (bass) & Dan Crampton (drums).

They've just released a debut Self Titled album, limited to 300 copies on vinyl and available from No Front Teeth Records (UK) & Boulevard Trash (US). Pitched at fans of The Undertones, Dead Boys, Exploding Hearts etc, it's 11 tracks of catchy pop and roll tunes that will worm their way into your consciousness.

A definite highlight from the album and one they released a video for, this is an upbeat burst of infectious energy called Dialtones... 

Facebook

Bandcamp

The Meffs - Football

The Meffs are Essex duo Lily Hopkins (vocals/guitar) and Lewis Copsey (drums) that I previously shared back in March.

They got some great reviews for their self titled debut which was released last year and the compliments and praise continue to come in.

Their latest single is called Football and the video features footage from a recent hometown gig at Three Wise Monkeys, Colchester. Their energetic and noisy eruptions of erudite punk rock got the crowd moving which is good to see again!

Facebook

Bandcamp

The Jaded Hearts Club - Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)

The Jaded Hearts Club are a British rock supergroup and covers band consisting of vocalists Miles Kane (of the Last Shadow Puppets) and Nic Cester (of Jet), bassist Matt Bellamy (of Muse), guitarists Graham Coxon (of Blur) and Jamie Davis (of Coxon's former label Transcopic), and drummer Sean Payne (of the Zutons).

This latest single release from earlier this month is catchy and fun. This is Do I Love You (Indeed I Do).

Chuck Robertson and Friends - Mountain Flower

Chuck Robertson and Friends is a Central Coast Californian rock band fronted by Chuck, the lead singer of the Mad Caddies.

We've heard the ska, the dixieland, the punk, the reggae, now I'm Diggin this country side of Chuck!

Unsound Advice - Robotic Insanity

Unsound Advice are Jay (Guitar/Vocals), Ben (Bass/Vocals) & Brett (Drums), a trio from Brisbane who play an energetic mix of rock, punk and grunge. 

They've just released a new 6 track ep titled Surprise Party For Psychics. The name came about because it seems that no psychics predicted the Covid pandemic.

This is the lead track and somewhat of a live fan favourite by all accounts. It's about following the herd and stifling your own creativity in order to fit in. It's called Robot Insanity...

Facebook

Bandcamp

The Control Freaks - Gonna Be A Riot

Something trashy and lots of fun today as The Control Freaks return with an outrider for their highly anticipated 3rd album, Get Some Help. 

The Control Freaks hail from San Francisco and play vibrant, simplistic but extremely moresome garage punk.

From the new album this is Gonna Be A Riot.

Facebook

Bandcamp

Dead Sheeran - World Beating

MESS - Fire Fire Fire!

Mess are the UK '82 influenced oi band from Guadalajara, Mexico, who featured on here around a year ago.

They return today with a new single. It's the first to be taken from an upcoming sophomore ep which will be titled Fuego, Fuego, Fuego. It's the sound of a band at the top of their game, still displaying plenty of their trademark Blitz spirit and ready to scorch your ears. In a year that I've been slightly disappointed in the lack of top quality oi releases, these guys are burning bright.

The song's called Fire Fire Fire! 

Bandcamp

Slow Faction - La Commune

London's finest Slow Faction are back with somewhat of an epic track. As this is not their first appearance, I am going to save the write up and just share the track.

You can get the song as a name your price download on Bandcamp.

It's called La Commune...

Facebook

Bandcamp

Be Fair - Cero Deniro

For me, nothing beats stumbling across and then sharing something by a new band that you know nothing about but who sound very promising.

Be Fair are a Sheffield/Leeds based outfit, delivering, catchy, fast-paced, no-nonsense punk and they've just uploaded a debut 5 track demo to Bandcamp. It's self recorded and they admit it's a bit rough but it sounds pretty damn good to me. Titled But can we do it on a wet Tuesday night in Stoke? it's name your price over on Bandcamp.

It reminds me of many bands I have seen over the years in venues such as Joseph's Well and the like and it takes me straight back there.

All 5 tracks are worthy of your attention, good old school shouty UK punk with the odd gang chorus, I look forward to hearing more. 

Cero Deniro is the opening track which in Spanish it means zero money and is a dive bar singalong.

Bandcamp

Wild Billy Childish & CTMF - Where the Wild Purple Iris Grows

Steven John Hamper (aka Wild Billy Childish) is back with a new album in collaboration with CTMF. It's titled Where The Wild Purple Iris Grows and it's the first CTMF album since 2019's Last Punk Standing.

Returning to territory closer to his garage roots as opposed to the recent folk and Bob Dylan inspired work, the album seems to be going down very well with fans.

This is the title track, it's "about a river on the fens long ago. The last of the traditional eel catchers, and the wild iris growing on the fenland banks." It's called Where The Wild Purple Iris Grows... 

Sincere Engineer - Coming In Last

The official music video for Sincere Engineer 's new single "Coming In Last" off of the upcoming album 'Bless My Psyche' available 10th September, 2021 on Hopeless Records.

Dan Andriano & The Bygones - Sea Level

Dan Andriano has got a new band and a new single here for you to check out.

You can hear that beautiful voice below.

This is Sea Level.

Blisterhead - Balaclava Boys!

A track I thought I'd already shared as I have had it on repeat since its release. I assume I didn't as I couldn't decide which track to go with!

It's some Swedish Street Punk Rock from Blisterhead who have been going for a number of years and on their latest offering give us some energetic, melodic punk rock mixed with some rock'n'roll and street punk influences and lots of sing along choirs and ohoho's.

Balaclava Boys! is a great example of this and the track I am going with.

Leper - Turn To Dust

Leper are a hardcore punk 4 piece from Umeå in Sweden featuring a line up of TB (vocals), Mackan (guitar), John (bass) and Mange (drums).

Late last month they released a 5 track EP titled Ögat​/​/​The Eye. It's also available on Vinyl and as a name your price download via their bandcamp.

I'm sharing the fast and furious Turn To Dust.

Bandcamp

Love Spit - Share the blame

Love Spit are a new south coast of England 4 piece featuring on vocals & guitar Bri Slutcher (who played bass for the UK Subs on their 90's albums Normal Service Resumed & Occupied); on bass & vocals Angus Simpson (Squidboy); on vocals & guitar Shane Creech and on drums Lewis Willoughby (both The Mistakes). 

They play sing a long punk and roll and have just released their debut Self Titled ep. It features 5 tracks and is available from NBQ Records on cd  It'll also be on "all regular streaming sites."

They've just released a video for one of the tracks, it's an old school love song that reminds me a little of both the Buzzcocks and Cock Sparrer. It's a very promising start so check it out. It's called Share The Blame... 

Love Spit Facebook

NBQ Records Facebook

Chubby and the Gang - I Hate the Radio

London 5 piece Chubby And The Gang have morphed into one of this country's best bands. Their status as punk icons was confirmed with the release of debut album Speed Kills and that position is going to be solidified with the August 27th sophomore lp The Mutt's Nuts. Telling stories of modern London and "marinating speed and sick-of-it-all energy in a mixture of 50s pop sounds"  Charlie Manning Walker (aka Chubby Charles) and "The Gang" (Tom ‘Razor’ Hardwick, Meg Brooks Mills, Ethan Stahl and Joe McMahon) look to have another winner up their sleeves. 

The release of a video last week means we've now heard 4 tracks from the album and you can stream them on their bandcamp

Possibly my favourite of the 4 tracks so far, this veers more towards the 50's pop sound of their musical spectrum. It's a naggingly beautiful mid tempo song called I Hate The Radio... 

Facebook

Bandcamp

ESSES - Little Mouse

ESSES are an atmospheric post punk quintet from Oakland, California, who formed in 2014 and feature a line up of Miss Kel (Vocals), Dawn Hills (Guitars), Skot B (Guitars), Scout Leight (Bass) & Kevin Brown (Drums).

Their new album album came out on Friday and is available via their Bandcamp

The album "centres around the topics of mental health, memory, and trauma, roaming over the events that are internalized into an unconscious space like a lucid dream and the world around which we cannot escape. The record interprets the psychology of moving through this comatose space as two separate beings inhabiting the same body and archetypal imagery. Emerging with “The Source” and culminating in “Schism,” the record progresses with a continuous storytelling approach throughout the nine meticulously ordered numbers." 

If you're into lovingly crafted gothic punk than this is for you. 

This track is called Little Mouse...

Facebook

Bandcamp

Star Party - Thru The Flowers

Washington State trio Star Party have added a cover of The Primitives' 1986 debut single Thru The Flowers. It's for a new compilation album from Portland, Oregon label Girlsville Records. They bring plenty of fuzzy distortion with their cover of the track.

Minus The Bear - Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse

Minus the Bear was an American indie rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2001, and comprising members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving. Their sound was described as "Pele-esque guitar-taps and electronics with sophisticated time signature composition."

Minus the Bear released six albums and four EPs. The band's final line-up consisted of Jake Snider (vocals, guitar), Dave Knudson (guitar), Cory Murchy (bass guitar), and Alex Rose (synthesizers, vocals). On July 17, 2018, the band announced their retirement and accompanying farewell tour. Their final live performance was December 16, 2018, at The Showbox in Seattle.

Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse is the third track from their debut album Highly Refined Pirates.

The Get Up Kids - Holiday

The Get Up Kids are an American rock band from Kansas City, Missouri. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-1990s Midwest emo scene, otherwise known as the "second wave" of emo music. As they gained prominence, they began touring with bands such as Green Day and Weezer before becoming headliners themselves, eventually embarking on international tours of Japan and Europe. They founded Heroes & Villains Records, an imprint of the successful indie rock label Vagrant Records. While the imprint was started to release albums by The Get Up Kids, it served as a launching pad for several side-projects such as The New Amsterdams and Reggie and the Full Effect.

Their second album Something to Write Home About remains their most widely acclaimed album, and is considered to be one of the quintessential albums of the second-wave emo movement. Like many early emo bands, The Get Up Kids sought to dissociate themselves from the term "emo."

This is the opening track from Something to Write Home About.

Saves the Day - At Your Funeral

Saves the Day is an American rock band from Princeton, New Jersey, formed in 1997. The band currently consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Conley, guitarist Arun Bali, and bassist Rodrigo Palma.

After forming under the name Sefler in 1994, Saves the Day released their debut studio album, Can't Slow Down, in 1998. It was followed by Through Being Cool (1999), which featured their first single, "Shoulder to the Wheel". Stay What You Are was released in 2001, peaking at number 100 on the Billboard 200. It spawned two successful music videos on MTV2, for the singles "At Your Funeral" and "Freakish", and has since sold 300,000 copies.

This is At Your Funeral from Stay What You Are.

Adolescents - LA Girl

The Adolescents are an American punk rock band formed in Fullerton, California in 1980. Part of the hardcore punk movement in southern California in the early 1980s, they were one of the main punk acts to emerge from Orange County, along with their peers in Agent Orange and Social Distortion.

Bomb the Music Industry! - Campaign for a Better Weekend

Bomb the Music Industry! were an American punk rock musical collective from Baldwin, Nassau County, New York, United States. They wrote, produced, recorded, and distributed all of their music under the leadership of songwriter and producer Jeff Rosenstock and his donation-based online independent record label Quote Unquote Records.

Last week marked the 10th anniversary of their sixth and final studio album Vacation. Great album and where better to start than the opening track. This is Campaign for a Better Weekend.

Flangipanis - You Don't Have To Be A Cunt

Potty mouthed purveyors of bad taste Aussie punk rock Flangipanis are back with a new song.

A band that seems to do well at mixing serious points with a good dose of fun in their music. Hailing from Brisbane they have recently dropped a new track that is pretty self explanatory, very catchy and hopefully just a teaser for a bunch of new stuff. It's called You Don't Have To Be A Cunt... 

Facebook

Bandcamp

Optic Nerve - Crash

Optic Nerve are from Sydney and introduced themselves a couple of years ago with a rough and ragged Self Titled demo cassette. They returned earlier this month with a follow up ep titled In A Fast Car Waving Goodbye. 

This is the opening track from the EP. The guitars are choppy and frantic, the drums barrel along at pace and the vocals are punchy and expelled with great gusto. The song's called Crash.

Bandcamp

John Grant - County Fair

I've had this album on since its release and have debating which track to share. The album is called Boy From Michigan and is potentially his most personal work to date. It is open, honest and as you would expect, packed with contradictions.

I am sharing County Fair which has one of the album's most melodic moments. Love the nostalgic feel and melancholic sound to it. Beautiful wonderful harmonies and an instant hit for me.