When I picked up the self-titled debut from Fake Names I hadn’t heard a single song but I’m a fan of Brian Baker and Dennis Lyxzén and of course Fugazi’s body of work I’m very familiar with. So, it was a no-brainer picking up the record and when it arrived I was delighted with the strength of the song and what each member brought to the table. There were familiarities but no one overpowered the other which helped with both the flow of the album and taking it on its own strength and not just the sum of its parts.
I didn’t expect four years later to find out that ‘Expendables’ would follow it up but boy was I pleased. Brian Baker, Michael Hampton, Dennis Lyxzén, & Johnny Temple would be joined by the newest member Brendan Canty. A veritable whos who of punk rock and a wealth of songwriting talent. Something of a real dream team. ‘However instead of rehashing the past, ‘Expendables’ isn’t a rehash of the debut but a more melodic beast, sure, the punchy guitars are still present but there seems to be an emphasis on melodies and contending for chart positions or a more widespread appeal no bad thing at all.
I’m torn if this is a better collection of songs for style but it has every fighting chance to surpass its punchy sibling. Thats for future musings as I’ve only had this for a number of weeks.
The band enlisted producer Adam “Atom” Greenspan (IDLES, Yeah Yeah Yeahs). With the focus on production the melodies do pop and with the vibrant, urgent shine its got quite the rush. Having the band record in the same room certainly helped them be a proper “Band” if you know what I mean. Whilst they all hold day jobs with other established bands and for me International Noise Conspiracy are a band I miss punching in the scene with todays political landscape but Fake Names offer glimpses of INC and more. The title track is a triumphant steam train of a track with a big guitar sound sitting on top of a steady beat but the BV’s and melody is what takes charge., oh, and a great vocal.
Whats not to like on tracks like ‘Delete Myself’ and ‘Can’t Take It’ is a steady rocker with a really impressive barking vocal. ‘Go’ is an uptempo rumbling brawler bu tthe chorus is somethign of a lighter departure and a lot of the record is push pull between the urge to windmill the big distorted guitars against some sweeter melodies even if they are delivered in an aggressive manner it all adds up to a great listen.
I’m loving hitting this record up from start to finish – it makes me feel good a real throwback of an album that I’m excited to hear something new that jumps out on me and throws me around my speakers. From ‘Targets’ to ‘Too Little Too Late’ this is an album I would recommend to punks, rockers and everyone in between its such a strong record it will feature at an end of year showdown for sure. Buy it!
Today, post-hardcore dream team – Fake Names – announce their second studio album, ‘Expendables’for release on March 3rd, 2023 via Epitaph Records.
The band is comprised of members Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Bad Religion, Dag Nasty), Michael Hampton (S.O.A., Embrace), Dennis Lyxzén (Refused, INVSN, The [International] Noise Conspiracy), Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys, Soulside) and newest addition Brendan Canty (Fugazi, Rites of Spring). It’s the latest exchange in a musical conversation that spans four decades, but instead of rehashing the past, ‘Expendables’ is a reinvention that sees the band dialing back the distortion and leaning into the melodies.
Today they share lead single “Delete Myself,” a high energy craft cocktail comprised of Punk and Garage, finished with unforgettable riffs.
Forming in 2016, Brian Baker describes Fake Names as a “mutual admiration society,” saying that once the five members got in the same room together, it felt as if they had already been in the band together for years. “There’s this intangible energy, a clairvoyance that comes from our shared experience,” he explains. On ‘Expendables,’ the result pairs their unparalleled pedigree with a pop sensibility that’s slightly unexpected and wholly satisfying.
Melding 70’s U.K. punk with power-pop and classic rock, the Fake Names’ self-titled debut album (2020) was actually a demo that Epitaph founder and Baker’s Bad Religion bandmate, Brett Gurewitz, wanted to release as is. After releasing a three-track EP in 2021, the band enlisted producer Adam “Atom” Greenspan (IDLES, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) who helmed a surprisingly cleaner sound for Expendables. Baker says, “The pop influences are a little more out front on this one and the production really helps it shine. It sounds more direct, more urgent.”
There’s also an economy to these songs that’s rooted in the fact that they were recorded in the span of a week, eliminating the option to add excess instrumentation or arrangements. What ensues is an album that retains the members’ purity of vision in a strikingly refreshing way.
Speaking to lyrical themes, Baker discloses, “In general, Dennis writes about revolution, and Michael and I write pop songs. I’m amazed at how it works, but somehow it strikes the right balance of salty and sweet.” This imagery is paralleled in the album artwork which Baker describes as “70’s dystopian” and features an eerie army of mannequins set against a cold urban backdrop. That dichotomy of lively music and bleak imagery is an important thematic element of Expendables because the album is more than just a collection of catchy songs: it’s an artistic statement about our own impermanence.
Scumbag Millionaire / Upploppet – Split (Lux Noise) This is how a split should be done. One band you know, in this case Scumbag Millionaire, and the other- a new one on me, Upploppet. and boy what an introduction. Full tilt, no bullshit, heads-down rock and fucking roll. What a pair of bangers we have here.
Scumbags do write shit tunes it would seem and their contribution is (Don’t Say) I Didn’t Say So’ thunderous drums howling guitars and distorted vocals springing to the finish line before they inhale is how a punk rock and fuckin roll single should be and these mofos absolutely nail it. Not wanting to be outdone Upploppet kick the shit out of their instruments for a thunderous romp through the imaginatively titled ‘Born To Lose’ but forgetting the title, of course, they’re from Sweden and of course we highly recommend you pick up a copy of this before they’re all gone with the wind. Pick up here
Jerry Lehane – ‘Drinking Life’ (Rum Bar Records) A heartfelt wholesome Rock and Roll tune wrapped in memory soaked lyrics with some six-string strumming pierced with some sweet barbed solo licks sees Jerry knock out a hard-edged road worn slice of Rock and Roll with some help from Bosstone Dicky Barrett. Sure there are touches of Neil Young and Crazy Horse happening especially when the solo meanders through the chords. But its Epic in every sense of the word from the arrangement to the storytelling lyrics all adds up to a really impressive tune. Bosstones and Dogmatics couldn’t make a bad record if they tried and this is 100% proof. Check it out here
Electric Frankenstein / The Stripp – Split (Spaghetty Town Records) Whoever said rock is dead is definitely not listening to Spaghetty Town Records. They are back with a ripper of a split EP. First up is New Jersey kings of hard rockin punk Electric Frankenstein. If you aren’t familiar, where have you been?! Founded by brothers Sal and Dan Canzonieri, they’ve been knocking out their punk attitude rock and roll since the 90s, they’ve lost none of their venom and passion as ‘American Lies’ is like a cannonball being fired. Then they hit you in the guts with the beast of a tune ‘Everybody’s Dead Again’ which is an absolute banger of a tune. Worth getting hold of this 7″ for this song alone.
Second up, Melbourne Australia’s The Stripp. Who’ve created a buzz in the underground music scene down under. Fronted by Bek Taylor the band’s raw mix of high-speed sleazy hard rock with catchy riffs has had heads turning in the action rock community for their high-energy rock n roll. ‘Dice Man’ has the hallmarks of Girlschool meets something altogether more down n dirty. With their second offering being available in the video below.
Spaghetty Town has made a limited run of this 7″ on green, pink or black vinyl. Of course it’s available on all streaming and download outlets and also available from the bands direct.
Chubby & The Gang – ‘I Hate The Radio’ (Partisan Records)“I Hate the Radio” taken from the forthcoming album ‘The Mutt’s Nuts.’ sees a side step from the rip-snorting hard rockin new wave of hard core that you might have been expecting instead a soft song for hard men in the shape of I Hate The Radio. Absolute corker it is too. Check it out here in video form and then when you’re done go order the bloody album – Listen/pre-order: Here
Smashed Gladys – ‘Never Take No’ (Golden Robot Records) A little rough round the edges this is a demo that was going to make up the bands third album that never saw the light of day back in the day. With a familiar raunchy barroom rocker ‘Never Take No’ is classic Smashed Gladys. this is the third track from the album thats yet to be released. Sadly Cato sadly passed away in 2020 and Golden Robot Records are proud to bring you new material in her honour. These songs as demos for their 3rd album, which has now been remixed.
E.T. Explore Me – ‘President/Drug Me’ (Voodoo Rhythm Records) How about a bit of scuzzy disco then kids? Yeah we go tit right here from these Dutch loons. They’ve got a bit of dodgy lo-fi disco happening in their lives and these powerful grooves will have you out on the dancefloor in those silk shirts bustin moves. When they say columbia meets Trash Disco they aint messin wiv ya. This is exactly whats on offer. ‘Drug Me’ is more of the same with a funky late 70s early 80s keith Richards guitar work happenin’ – what a pair of ace tunes but don’t get me started on the video it will blow your tiny mind. Get on it here
The Chevelles – ‘Steve McQueen (I Wish I Was)’ (Wicked Cool Records) What a banger this is. From Western Australia, this is all flash guitar breaks Keith Moon drum beats and a top melody over some rip-snorting guitar riffing. the Chevelles are power poppin garage rockers with a heap of stone-cold attitude. A real sparkling single this is to be fair.
“Fuck just getting older, let’s get louder” said frontman Duane Smith and a big fat Amen to that we say. Clearly not giving a fourX we like that from our rock n rollas.
Jizzy Pearl’s LOVE/HATE – ‘Wanna Be Somebody’ (Golden Robot Records) I remember watching Jizzy in a small club near my home town and so loud were his vocals I thought they’d blown my eardrums he’d lost none of the venom in his tone and it would seem he still has one hell of a set of pipes on him as the heavy groove-laden sounds of ‘Wanna Be Somebody’ hits you like a baseball bat. Check it out by visiting Jizzy Here / Listen/buy ‘Wanna Be Somebody’ HERE
Listen to ‘Soul Mama’ HERE
Steve Conte – ‘Dog Days Of Summer’ (Wicked Cool Records) Lifted from his forthcoming new long-player Conte delves deep into the sounds of classic Rod Stewart when Rod the Mod was making better records than anyone ( well almost anyone) A real ‘Every picture’ vibe going on here. The sound of summer tweeting in the intro and outro makes way for the carefree sounds of two brothers and an awesome drummer (Charley Drayton) who played with Keith Richards in his expensive winos. A top summery tune – that’s for sure and if it’s the vibe that the album is hitting then this is the sweet spot of summer right here. It’s a Must have! Stream this bad boy here and pre order the album (‘Bronx Cheer’) from Wicked Cool Records. Website:www.stevecontenyc.com
Fake Names – EP (Epitaph Records) Fake Names, the band featuring DC punk legends Brian Baker, Michael Hampton, and Johnny Temple, fronted by Dennis Lyxzen from Refused, have surprise-released a brand new 3-track EP. The EP features guest drummer Brendan Canty (Rites of Spring, Fugazi)! and a punchy catchy ep it is too. Its bright opener has a good hook on the chorus ‘It Will Take A Lifetime’ is a brightly produced slice of post-punk with emphasis on the melody. ‘Running’ has a lot more punch as it steps into the Bob Mould, Bad Religion territory but has some great bv’s and a catchy breakdown. My pick of the three tracks is the laid back ‘Cuts You Down’ with a chilled verse leading to another catchy chorus. A very decent ep and hopefully the start and not a one off.
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