So, ”Doojiman & The Exploders II: Electric Boogaloo” was released on Jan 24th this year by Beluga Records in Sweden. It’s the 2nd full-length album by Doojiman & The Exploders and follows up on 2016’s “Sweden’s Newest Hitmakers”.
‘Electric Boogaloo’ is one of those records you pick up knowing nothing about it and who they are. You decide to check it out and drop the needle and throw caution to the wind. Boy was I glad I did. I love it when a Rock and Roll record kicks you up the arse and leaves you with a five-mile smile not quite knowing what the fuck it is you just heard but it felt good, no, felt fan-fuckin’-tastic. Rock and Fuckin’ Roll records might not be selling like hotcakes and the kids might want to stream the odd song or two but I love a record that throws caution to the wind and just writes songs that come to them from the ether and those stars align and the tunes all sound amazing, fun, cool, out there and so Rock and Roll.
The easiest way to describe Doojiman & The Exploders is they take a vile of DNA from the likes of some pretty good ’60s &’70s Punk, Rock, Garage, Pop and a whole lot more chuck em together and see what happens. They take risks because that’s what Rock and Roll does sometimes. They throw it in a suitcase along with a bunch of makeup and glitter and roll down the hillside of life and see what happens when they hit the bottom. Dust themselves down and march back to the top again with a pocket full of tunes.
MC5, Stooges The New York Dolls, and some Ramones and they’re not just a retro trip they also bump elbows with bands like Turbonegro, The Hellacopters, and some indie just because they can. From the uptempo opener, they touch on the likes of Green Day post ’21st Century Breakdown’. ‘Buzzkill’ is a band channeling Keith Richard tone and playing rock and roll that should be on the radio all the time but isn’t so we’ll have to make do.
It’s not all kicking ass and party tunes you know as ‘From Myself’ is an early morning come down with West coast melodies. But wait, ‘Spiderman’ should be a hit – there’s still time. This record sounds like it must have been a blast to record, there is such an upbeat vibe happening even the psychedelic tweaks here and there like on ‘Dogs’ have me tapping my feet and did they really just put in barking samples? The album climbs the dizzy heights and swoops down for the quieter parts. ’29’ is cool with the 60s vocal treatment and melody as the rest of the band just strum along. ‘You Wanted Blood’ Who doesn’t? is a spaced out ride and a more mature sounding song these cats remind me of Razorbats at times and have a similar songwriting style. Mixing up the genres for the good of the music. From the start to the Numan synth fuzz out of the final track ‘FTPA’ I don’t always get what it might be they’re singing about but I like the cut of their jib and at times they rock like motherfuckers and when they don’t the songs are interesting and most listenable and that’s always a good thing. Take a chance on these guys because Doojiman & The Explodes have released a mighty fine album crammed full of top tunes that need to be heard – damn they deserve to be heard. go check em out and pick it up.
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome. The 45 RPM Singles Club is open for business. It’s 2020 and a new decade is ushered in and the jukebox is positively bulging with quality. Right up till the 11th hour we were taking on new releases and this merry lot are exceptionally good so, Check out these new releases starting with –
More Kicks – ‘Blame It On The Satellite’ (Wanda Records, Snap Records, Beluga Records) BANG! More Kicks new double A-side single ‘Blame It On The Satellite’ / ‘Ain’t That Just The Way’ & ‘Your Vibration’ it’s available for pre-order now! Released 7 Feb on Wanda Records, Beluga Records and Snap Records! The band will have copies for sale on their February tour too! but if there was any justice they’d be sold out by then because its an absolutely exquisite couple of tunes all taken from their magnificent long-player released towards the end of 2019. ‘Blame It On The Satellite’ punches through with that throbbing bassline before building towards the chorus. I loved it when I first heard it live and it just got better and better on the record. to throw ‘Ain’t That Just The Way’ as another A-side is just spoiling the listener with such a memorable and lovely melodic slice of power pop. Then finally ‘Your Vibration’ is jumping like a cat on a hot tin roof it’s there to show how to get a dancefloor jumpin’. As good an EP you’ll not find released all year (as good maybe but not better) Buy It! Pre Order from Wanda Records
Ryan Hamilton and the Harlequin Ghosts.- ‘Can I Get An Amen’ (Wicked Cool Records) I guess in answer to Ryans question the simple answer is a resounding “Hell Yeah!”. On the subject matter for the single Ryan explained about being brought up attending church which would explain the lyrics and subject matter but being co-written with Stevie Van Zandt is a feather in the cap and clearly the pair have chemistry and understanding its got a great uplifting feel to it and it oozes optimism. Then to back it up with a cover of the classic Durannies ‘Ordinary World’ seems like a no brainer now he’s recorded it beautiful song and beautiful cover. Keep on rockin’ Mr Hamilton you’ve got this and those Harlequin Ghosts aren’t too shabby either. What a Fantastic single Buy it here
Bad Sam – EP (Self Release) Always a great day when you can crack open some Bad Sam on your stereo. What better way to start a new decade than with Newport’s finest. Four tracks for your bucks and of course its the usual high-quality punk rock with something to say. It’s been mooted for a while that they had music recorded and apart from the one track that sneaked onto the Bristol Skate compilation (‘Darker Days’), there are another three tracks of pure genius for your ears to take on board beginning with ‘Alcoholic’ and the expected caustic assault from Bedis with a chorus we can all bark along to. If you want a copy you’ll have to be quick as these will go in the blink of an eye. ‘Looking Back’ is like some fucked up Sabbath trip of doom but fear not kids, of course, all hell breaks loose but a fantastic track none the less. Leaving just ‘Tag’ to rattle along and shake your core like a rag doll, of course, they’re meant to be heard live and hopefully it won’t be long before we have that pleasure as well. I’m left chuckling as Bedis signs off with a succinct message and a life-affirming satisfaction that Bad Sam is back in the room taking no prisoners just the way it should be. Great Stuff!
Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts – What Kinda Love (BNM) – What kinda music more like. After Tuk called time on Biters or put them on hiatus (however you look at it) he’s gotten himself some restless hearts and ‘What Kinda Love’ is the first glimpse as to what he was going to do next and those expecting a massive departure can rest easy has Tuk merely tweaks his sound but still knocks out infectious, radio-friendly rock and roll with lashings of power pop and radio-friendly tones. Check out the video and those in North America can catch him opening for Joan Jett and Def Leppard. The album will be along shortly so check out his socials for news.
Videostore – My Back (self Release) Videostore makes bedroom oriented indie songs for an imaginary eighties brat pack movie soundtrack. That’s the claim on their Bandcamp page and on this evidence who am I to disagree?
Side project from Argonaut is a lo-fi slab of alt-indie and that’s cool. Its got a hint of Sonic Youth going on and is quite addictive, you can check em out on Facebook or find em on Bandcamp and pick up the track there.
The Claws – Stumblin Around (Dead Beat Records) Yeah Haw! rock and Roll is alive and kicking folks and Dead Beat Records Recording artists The Claws have released a second single for their debut album ‘No Connection’. Sipping from the same bottle of red that The Faces and Keif n Mick once sipped from these cats have the threads and barnets to compete and most importantly they have the chops as this video will testify to. Check em out peeps its good stuff. They’re fronted by Chad Cherry (of the Last Vegas!) Facebook
Wyldlife – Neon Nightmare (Wicked Cool Records) Over the last few years there have been a number of bands who’ve blown me away with every record they release yet when I think they might crawl out of the shadows they disappear and hibernate for another year or two well put Wyldlife at the top of that list. Then hey presto up they pop with a single that just snuck out at the last knockings of 2019. This time they have a fighters chance by getting signed to the excellent Wicked Cool roster of wicked cool acts. Whats a couple of months anyway I’m including this one on the grounds of it being excellent and therefore you should check it/them out.
BBQT – Fever Rocket/Savage (Surfin Ki) You want some sleazy glam rock? Of course you do you filthy punks. This digital double is full of sleazy snotty glammed up punk rock and fuckin’ roll and don’t you forget it. The opening track is Glitterband mixed in with some fucked up bowie meets Bolan glam but if they were brought up on a steady diet of The Dolls and early ’70s Keith Richards. But it doesn’t end there, no sir. ‘Savage’ does what it says on the tin it opens up like a long lost outtake from too much too soon before going off like a speedball ricocheting off every wall it comes into contact with. Rock and Roll is still exciting kids and don’t you forget it because BBQT has the proof. Strap yourselves in and enjoy the ride I did.Facebook / Bandcamp
Prima Donna – Sing To Death (Wicked Cool Records) Its no coincidence that Prima Donna finds themselves recording on Wicked Cool as well seeing as its the magnet that pulls in these awesome rock and roll bands. Wyldlife, Prima Donna, Steve Conte, Kurt Baker, Ryan Hamilton to name a few. Well ‘Sing To Death’ came out in 2019 and it was about time we featured it and as much as it is an embarrassment that Kevin Preston and the boys haven’t been regularly on RPM (not that I haven’t asked him for an interview mind) regardless, the deal is this as long as Prima Donna keep making great music RPM will keep featuring them. Now the A-side is an ‘Eat To The Beat’ inspired slice of rock and roll whilst the B-side is not. in fact the B side is the poptastic cover of ‘Cruel Summer’ I kid you not The video is online and should be checked out. Prima Donna can do no wrong so suck it up, kids. Dancing to their own tunes (and other pop ones) this is another must-hear. Facebook
Dead Friends – Cis White Whale’ (Standby Records) “Cis White Whale” is the first single from Dead Friends’ upcoming EP ‘High, Wasted Genes’ out this month via Standby Records. This tune got right under my skin and I like it. Can’t wait to check out the full EP on this evidence its got potential. Click play and turn it up LOUD!
Kurt Baker Combo – Can’t Go Back (Wicked Cool Records) Come and get your fix of power pop via the immensely talented Kurt Baker and his beat Combo. they play rock and roll with lashings of Costello and the attractions inspired new wave. The lead track is polished and like a summers breeze on a winters day put your shades on to play this one whilst the other track is ‘No One’s Home’ and more in line with some sloppy Stray Cat struttin’ old school Rock n Rollin’ then when your done checking out these guys back catalogue it’ll be summer for real and hopefully time for another new record from Kurt. Facebook
Grande Royale ‘Out Of Gas’ (The Sign) Grande Royale releases a music video for their single ‘Out of Gas’. The single is taken from their album ‘Take It Easy’, released last September on The Sign Records. Its Swedish Southern Rock if there’s such a genre. Facebook
The Black Watch hails from the city of Angels and play lush pop-influenced rock in the same dark vein as Echo and the Bunnymen and The Cure and if you make a connection it’ll be a real earworm and you won’t shake it for days. Bandcamp
The Lovely Eggs – This Decision (Cargo Records) These bonkers punks are back swinging with this slab of unrepentant noise taken from their soon to be released new album ‘I Am Moron’ check this out and catch em live before (or just after) the album is released.
Jonny Polonsky –The Weeping Souls (Ghostworks Recordings) Jonny Polonsky announces the new album ‘Kingdom of Sleep’, teases first single ‘The Weeping Souls’. A melancholy single that’s laid back and has a bright production driven by big acoustic strumming. It’s easy to see why the likes of Mark Lanegan and Black Francis are fans Polonsky has a great voice and this first single is thoroughly engaging. Makes for a good appetizer for his sixth album that’s due soon. Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram
I love a band who love Rock and Roll. More Kicks clearly are in love with Rock and Roll so its a no brainer when they knock out tunes full of melody and crafted guitar licks that jolt and shake and are like wrapping a silk scarf around the listeners neck to pull them closer to the speaker to catch the hooks that are just falling nonchalantly out of the speakers. It can’t be this easy to pen an album full to bursting with great songs, can it? Maybe it can pop pickers or maybe More Kicks have the gift.
More melodies than you can shake a tambourine at – groovy rhythms at ever middle eight and chorus. With members known to the London scene who also ply their trade in other most excellent bands (it makes you sick I know) its garage power pop with a huge fuckin’ smile – I don’t know if they’re smiling because they know how good they are or because they don’t give two hoots what you or I think because they’re doing what they want to do on nobodies terms except their own. It really is a beautiful thing. Sulli, Kris and Paolo sound like they’ve been playing together forever
It is a melting pot of the finest 60s garage – pop – mixed with some 50s melodies and some 70s attitude it’s gritty and sharp. These cats have a strut like they just invented Rock and Roll and they want everyone to know it.
Twelve songs (including the first which is entitled ‘Intro’) we’re off and running with ‘What A Mess You Make’ and a rip-roaring opener it is too. The songs are short storiesand this one after a bit of doing the boxer beat on the drums we’re off and its never looking back from there on in. The melodies wash over you as Sulli makes that guitar sing like a tree full of larks. Was that really only two minutes? I could have hit repeat and just played that all damn day but wait ‘You Left A Stain On Me’ slinks in with some great BV’s.
The songs pile in one after the other and you get the feeling you might have heard it before somewhere. ‘Shes A Reaction’ feels like the LAs mixing it up with some classic Bluetones but with added psychedelic edge with those keys in the background. The two singles follow ‘I’m On The Brink’ and ‘It’s A Drag’ but there are eleven singles on here, they could and probably should all be hits in a just society.
The tunes are short and oh so sweet and on ‘Rock And Roll Again’ you even get a tutorial on how to get dressed. the way the tune builds is a joy. Lots of records get front-ended with the best songs but More Kicks don’t need to do that because this record is like a diamond throughout however you look at it from the 50’s breakdown of ‘Aint That Just The Way’ with another immaculate chorus. Topping all that has gone before it is the standout track on a standout album for me has to be ‘Blame It On the Satellite’ with its punchy rhythm before the guitar picks away on the fringe of the second verse and it just builds from there. Bloody brilliant! The lyrics pretty much epitomise where More Kicks is, they’ve taken the best bits of their record collections and thrown them into their own more kicks melting pot and poured out the result into the grooves of this here album. It’s fresh – it’s exciting and first and foremost it’s a bloody triumph. Whilst the worlds is hellbound in a handcart More Kicks are kicking against the norm with a record that makes me want to smile and just fall in love with Rock and Roll all over again. There’s even a wicked guitar solo on ‘What You thinking Of’ and the amps do go up to eleven on ‘Young Enough’ and the albums closer ‘Your Vibration’.
Listen, You don’t have to take my advice but give this record a listen and turn the bugger up loud and have a party on your stereo. One of the finest Garage – power pop albums I’ve heard in a long long time. It makes me happy to play More Kicks and in these dark times thats no easy task. Buy It!
Jack “Oblivian” Yarber was an absolute unknown to my ears I’m not afraid to admit even if he is on solo album number seven!.
Finding time doesn’t seem to be a problem for the prolific Yarber as the list of bands Yarber has been a member of over the years is Huge and a review all of its own but he has spent time with Johnny Vomit & the Dry Heaves (a high school punk project that also featured future Squirrel Nut Zipper Jimbo Mathus), ‘80s new-wavers the End, ’68 Comeback, Knaughty Knights, and Tav Falco’s Panther Burns. Two of Yarber’s former bands — the Compulsive Gamblers and the Oblivians — have seen their reputation and following swell in the decade since their demise, especially the Oblivians, whose international fan base borders on rabid. Due largely to his stint in these bands, both partnerships with Greg Cartwright, now of the Reigning Sound, Yarber has been an acknowledged influence on artists such as the White Stripes, the Hives and Jay Reatard. and breath. Don’t worry I’d only heard of the last three bands as well.
So what do they sound like you ask? Well, its got a melting pot kinda vibe about it but all within the confines of playing some tasty Garage Rock and Roll and some swampy blues thrown in for good measure. The first track is an instrumental bluesy workout that has plenty of guitar choppin’ but in the time-honored tradition of Thunders opening with ‘Pipeline’, it’s not the longest song in the world and helps the listener get comfortable before heading deep into the record.
‘Scarla’ is a stomping bluesy bit of slide driven Rock and Roll with the merest whiff of Psychedelia on those vocals but its a toe-tapper. ‘La Charra’ is brooding but I keep waiting for the drums to kick in over the honking horns but it doesn’t and before you know it the songs moved on. That’s another point here the songs are pretty short which is why they’ve managed to cram in Sixteen songs. Maybe treat the instrumentals as more like musical interludes while you go get anouther beer from the cooler. ‘Girl On The Beach’ has a little bit of Reggae going on and does remind me of Jaya the Cat in a weird sort of way.
The recording sounds a little lo-fi but that’s sympathetic to the style the band is bustin’ out ‘Stick To Me’ is like they’re channeling their inner Keith Richards which is never a bad thing right? Right. That Lo-Fi vibe is never more evident than on ‘Dream Killer’ with its drum machine buzzing by. Things get snotty on ‘Boy In A Bubble’ whilst it sounds like they’re leaning on Wilco Johnson on ‘Funky Blue’.
I love the folkiness of ‘Bank, Gun, Jail’ its like Dylan never happened. Possibly saving the best til last as ‘Loose Diamond’ is Chuck Prophet leading the Urban Voodoo Machine through a slow smoke filled daydream a very decent tune indeed. I think if some of the chaff was cut away off this record Jack would be sitting on an excellent garage blues album that’s not saying its not a very good record but it might help focus the listener’s attention better or is it just me? Either way, go check out this cool slab of wax and drift away to something entirely different.
Wow, Every now and then a record comes and absolutely knocks you off your feet from the first listen to the last refrain of the guitar on the last track of the album. Well, Jordan Jones did that to me from the first minute I dropped the needle and the acoustic guitar sounded the battle call for ‘I Wrote You A Song For Me’.
An absolutely blistering ray of sunshine of an album that just screams summertime and plonks a big fat smile across my chops as I drift away lost in the music.
Sure, its nothing more than ten songs with varying tempos played with traditional instruments in a power-pop Rock and Roll style. Its got swirling organs – acoustic guitars, overdriven clanging electric guitars and a sweet vocal not a million miles from the late great Marc Bolans tone. When you sprinkle in some magic dust and glamtastic harmonies – for me, you’re onto a sure-fire winner and this self-titled ray of Californian sunshine is quite simply fucking Brilliant!
‘My Somebody’ plugs straight into a slab of power pop Posies style but with a heart and soul belonging to Ronnie Lane and some of his Faces style of writing tunes that subtle yet awesome melody. From the swirling organ to the instrumental breaks that lie behind the slightly distorted riffs – Damn this is good.
Without jumping ahead let’s not ignore the opener that grabbed my attention before the first bar had finished. ‘I Wrote You A Song For Me’ is some street fighting riffs on the old acoustic guitar. A melody so sharp you can hang your hat on it – followed by an almighty arrangement. You might think I’m getting a tad carried away here but this album really is twelve inches of sunshine and great songs.
‘Understood’ is carefree trash ‘n’ roll as it just throws its arms in the air and rocks out as a good power pop song should. Well, one that’s got a dash of The Boys-style punk rock pumping round its heart. ‘No Makeup’ deffo has a hint of The Faces about it as we tread down the familiar pattern of Girls – love – loss – heartache – breakups – you know the kind of stuff Rock and Roll has always been about – nothing too heavy here.
I couldn’t pick a favourite that would be unkind to the other track but ‘Rumour Girl’ comes pretty close to the top. Plenty of energy great harmonies and arrangement. ‘Waiting’ is a slower more peaceful meander like a Teenage Fanclub song with a real 70s edge to the melody. If you don’t like ‘Be My Baby’ then I’d seriously check your pulse it’s like The Exploding Hearts never went away and a fantastic rocker with jangly guitars mixed in for good measure.
Just to back up my gushing praise of this record it seems to get stronger and stronger and unlike many album front-ending the best tunes this one is easing you in gently so your heart doesn’t skip a beat by the time you reach the simple yet so effective acoustic twelve-string pickings of ‘Do You Want To Hang Out’ with its super harmonica break – it’s as simple as that – storytelling in the same vein as say a Kevin Jr or a Nikki Sudden its just plain and simple and comes across as effortless and hits the spot so so well. The album ends with the gentle ‘Oh My Heavenz’ yup a song with a glam rock Z on the end. Jordan Jones has released one of the finest debut solo albums of the year. This guy should be a superstar it comes across as effortless to Jordan but I’m sure it isn’t. Don’t think about it just buy this record!
So, ”Doojiman & The Exploders II: Electric Boogaloo” was released on Jan 24th this year by Beluga Records in Sweden. It’s the 2nd full-length album by Doojiman & The Exploders and follows up on 2016’s “Sweden’s Newest Hitmakers”.
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