The band’s three Eps pulled together, shifted the track listing round and added a pair of live tracks for what is effectively the band’s first full length album on No Front Teeth.
You know the drill by now, if it’s on NFT it’s got every chance of being pretty bloody good, and not having come across the band’s eps I’m delighted to have the opportunity to play catch up from the opening ‘GTA’ its energetic tuneful punk rock with a raw delivery from the previous members of the superb Ten o Sevens and NFT legends The Gaggers. This North London three-piece knock-out bright energetic punk rock n roll. You can pogo and join in on the gang vocals of ‘GTA’ with its no-nonsense delivery. ‘1984’ has the same skank that some of Strummer’s work used to have on the verse before breaking out for the chorus its got a strong melody and the lyrics will draw you in. ‘The Answer’ offers some Buzzcocks abrasive guitar attack wrapped up in a solid beat. It’s a really enjoyable run-through with some poignant guitar soloing but I love the feel of ‘Boring People Get Bored’ It’s totally ’77 London punk but enough distance between then and now and kids need to get their heart rate up to songs like this especially when it’s done this well. I went days just listening to the Ten O Sevens album and missed what they could have done next but hearing these songs I’m delighted with the next phase and Mapache music. It’s not rocket science it is punk rock and Mapache does it really well. ‘Mind Changing’ lightens the mood and sails quite close to the ragged style of The Libertines which is another great place to be. ‘Fomo’ is a rapid romp with some traditional Chuck Berry licks thrown in for good measure as the band just get on with business. A throughly enjoyable punk rock DIY record.
Not to be confused with about half a dozen other very different styles who share the same name this mob but none of those bands have got that DNA of early Clash and a heap of other garage punk coursing through their tunes and the sneering vocals hit the spot every time. Hell if you get on their Facebook page or via the link below they’ll send you a CD copy for Free, how punk is that? What are you waiting for get on with it you wasters and freeloaders. Get some ‘Battery Powered’ punk rock in your life you’ll love it and thank me later.
Marc Valentine – ‘Mornington Avenue’ (Arcane Wires Records) Its the second track lifted from July’s album release ‘Futures Obscure’ and the second absolute banger, it has to be said, courtesy of Mr. Valentine. The single features a guest appearance from the legend that is Matt Dangerfield for extra kudos. Marc said of the record that it was semi-autobiographical, and stories and memories from youthful misadventures. It’s the perfect antidote for what’s going on in the real world with a fantastic melody and feel power-pop perfection.
A left hook on the chorus, a right hook on the melody the vocals are carried on and a KO for the breakdown. You’ll have this song in your head for days – exactly what a single should sound like. Brilliant!
Mad Brother Ward – ‘Ugly Life’ (Ruined Records) Two tracks on one side and a nice etched piece on the reverse all pressed on a nice blue wax. More than twenty-five years after releasing two widely acclaimed 7″ eps. legendary underground provocateur MAD BROTHER WARD returns with a two-fisted blast of straight-ahead punk rock. A true legend of the underground, Mad Brother Ward is currently known best for successfully stepping into the shoes of Joe Young in ANTiSEEN after Young died. This single is his first new record in almost thirty years. Lo-Fi production, its a crash and burn slab of nuclear punk rock. ‘Ugly Life’ be fucked, buckle up kids this is a blast.
‘I Just Wanna Die’ is an altogether slower more looking down the sight of a sniper’s rifle. It’s a catchy bugger that’s for sure with some neat neat neat guitar licks to fire it along. Punk as fuck! go get a copy before they’re all gone gone gone! Buy Here
Rock N Roll Manifesto – Vol Two (Rock n Roll Manifesto/NFT Records/Stamp Out Disco/ Hyperloop Records Loved the last 7″ from Rock N Roll Manifesto and love to see a four-way split especially when its new songs from bands I happen to love like this one. Sonny Fuckin Vincent ladies and Gentlemen opens up side one with a new and exclusive track entitled ‘Over A Cliff’. Of course it’s all killer. awesome guitar breaks, catchy melody, a stonking rhythm, and tempo but I knew it was going to sound great and that’s just one of the four – worth it for this one track alone) Sharing side one is The Manakins from Sweden with their tub-thumper ‘Dark Time For The City Lights’. What a killer chorus! Record of the month is here already and I’ve not even played side two yet!
Flip this over and you have London towns Miscalculations with their angular monochrome punk with the blitzkrieg that is ‘Controlling My Shadow’ leaving The Judex to close this sucker down with their unique sound of psychobilly vocals over some sharp chopping guitar chords. ‘Step Off Sucker’ is a one-take live in the studio banger with a cool as guitar break. Three out of four are unreleased and all four never on vinyl so don’t delay kids get this right Now!
Buy on Bandcamp from the USA Here / Stamp Out Disco (Australia) Here / NFT Records UK Here / Hyperloop Records UK Here
Gyasi – ‘She Don’t Care’ (Alive Records) Channeling the spirit of the good and the great of 70’s Glam from Bowie and Bolan to Mott The Hoople and T Rex Gyasi has bloody well nailed it (we’ve heard the album so…) This is another taster lifted from the long-player and another perfectly executed slab of Glam Rock that packs a punch and has such a flamboyant attitude to carry this off in 2022.
This guy deserves to break through and become a superstar from those platform boots alone never mind his exquisite taste in tunes. Stream the shit out of this and get a hold of that long-player when it comes out. Its a banger with twelve more Rockers to boot!
Stepmother – Stepmother EP (Legless Records) Wow, Hang on a minute, Australia is churning out Garage and punk rock by the bucket load and Stepmother from Melbourne are the latest to grab our attention. This three-track banger of an EP is proto-punk mana from the Gods. ‘Fade Away’ is the introduction before we get our breath taken away with the brilliant ‘Take Our BReath Away’ as it races towards the guitar break and shakes its shit all over our speakers.
A power trio to sit up and take notice of. This is a primal slab of Rock n Roll with a groove and plenty of boogie to let it all hang out to now its fair to say that on another round-up this would be record of the month – No doubt about it.
The Boppers – ‘Motorbikin’ (Wild Kingdom Records) Yeah you read that right. Chris Spedding’s Motorbikin’ gets a slick release from the Boppers. Lifted from their upcoming album ‘White Lightning’. When the band performed as secret guests at The Hellacopters’ release party, the success was instant. Hear “Motorbikin’” and pre-order the album here: https://orcd.co/motorbikin
Automatics – ‘Cold Steel Serenade’ – with a galic leaning The Automatic release this their new single ‘Cold Steel Serenade’ and to be fair it does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a late-night lament with rousing guitar breaks and big chorus’.
Mean Jeans – ‘Hits From The Bog’ (Fat Wreck Chords) Heading out with Australian punks The Chats Mean Jeans drop a new digital release. Hits from the Bog features three unreleased tracks from their debut FAT release, ‘Tight New Dimension‘ . Head to your preferred digital platforms to hear it now!
“We just unearthed some recordings that got lost in the bog somewhere along the way. Listening back, I have to wonder what we were smoking at the time, cuz there’s definitely some saxophone, a single jazz chord, and we’ve betrayed the ‘4 chords per song’ rule. Still, I think they’ll appeal to anyone feeling possessed by junk food and/or slime.” this is a fair assessment from the band. Sounds like it’s going to be an absolute blast on this tour Its sunshine pop-punk leaning heavily on the likes of Da Ramones (obviously) with an eye on what Evan Dando achieved. It’s goofy and inoffensive and live? It’ll be a blast Go get some!
The Venomous Pinks – ‘Apothecary Ailment’ ( SBÄM Records) second single from their upcoming album “Vita Mors” – out June 3, 2022 on SBÄM Records: https://shop.sbam.rocks Pre-save it here: https://bfan.link/vita-mors
Simon Juliff – ‘Stars’ (Dog Meat Records) The first new Dog Meat release in over a quarter of a century is the new single “Stars”, taken from the forthcoming album of the same name, from reticent Melbourne pop-rock singer/songwriter Simon Juliff. Juliff, who was singer/guitarist/songwriter for Melbourne band The Roys in the ‘00s, was a friend of many of the ‘90s Melbourne bands on Dog Meat and nearly a Dog Meat signing with his first band The Evil Dead. Bonkers how these twists of fate happen. Happy recording for himself it’s taken until now to release some tunes and well worth the wait it is too. A great teaser for what’s to come on the album later this year. Facebook
Jaguero – Worst Weekend Ever (Epidemic Records) Five-track EP from Italian punks Jaguero kicks off with a really rounded production that fills the air with a warmth that I wasn’t really expecting. Influences from some of the big American pop-punkers and Alt smash acts to the Nirvana like ‘Negative, Awesome!’ and the excellent mash-up that is ‘Get Along’.
With a range of influences yet making a cohesive end product will see Jaguero do well when they can find their niche impressive EP to be getting on with.
Eel Men – ‘Are You There God Its Me’ (NFT Records) Jangly jarring guitars over a good melody is always going to be a single to grab the attention. This one is backed by a metronomic robotic backbeat and guitar lick that is part Devo and part Kraftwerk and a spoonful of Buzzcocks for good measure. There that’s the yardstick to aim for three classic bands thrown into the punk rock melting pot and out pops the Eel Men
Kurt Baker – ‘Keep It Tight’ (Wicked Cool Records) It’s fair to say that this cover of the Single Bullet theory song is held dear by Mr Baker so much so he burnt a cdr of the song from vinyl and ended up covering it here. Coolest song in the world by underground garage sounds about right. Kurt Baker should be huge I guess those of us in the know will just have to hold on to that secret until the rest of the world catch up with us and Bakers genius. until then Keep it tight kids
Delusions Of Grandeur – ‘Self Titled’ (Self Released) Lockdown blues got to some Hip Priests and a couple of Bitch Queens and out birthed Delusions Of Grandeur. A noisy (obviously) chug through four blistering tracks of tunes that if the backyard Babies wanted to get back into the groove they should listen to. With guitar licks sparking off the wheels of this Punk and Roll beauty as the EP opens with the bashful ‘Drinking My Life Away’ with some gang vocals on the chorus as these gents trade licks. Sing-a-long drinkathon. Nice. ‘Shits Fucked’ is sped-up snarled punk n roll that just about summed up the past 18 months rather nicely.
If you ever loved the really early ‘Get some Action Now’ era Hellacopters and hankered after some Dragons meets a healthy dose of Gluecifer then this is a no-brainer. With a nod to some spicey Motorhead on the closing track which is never a bad place to be. Excellent EP from top to bottom. Four track 7″ available on gold, white or black vinyl – Buy It Here
Steve Conte – ‘Flyin’ (Wicked Cool Record) with a cool acoustic song Conte is Flyin. The latest track off the upcoming album, ‘Bronx Cheer’ its a song in the mould of The Faces balladeering meets classic early Black Crowes. Steve says of ‘Flyin’, “This one goes back to 1994. We jammed on this in my rehearsal studio very organically and I came up with the lyrics later. I did a few demos of it over the years and it never left my consciousness.” The lyrics focus on perseverance and how, “in the face of adversity, disappointment and trauma, a person of strong will can keep going for their dreams.” Whilst the track has a wonderful sound from the acoustic to the earthy Drum sound and the snap of the snare it showcases Conte’s vocals really well and the track has a really earthy sound. It’s all about light and shade it doesn’t always have t be full-tilt rock and roll. Great tune. You can pre order the album Here
Billy Idol – ‘The Roadside’ EP (Dark Horse Records) Four tracks of vital idol with opener ‘Rita Hayworth’ with his familiar snarl and curled lip vocal it’s glossy and has that Idol pound on the rhythm and slick gang vocals on the chorus. What’s not to like? it is what it is.
Seconds out and the King Rocker cranks up the laid-back acoustic guitar for ‘Bitter Taste’ it’s a reflective side of Idol and one he’s used to good effect on his last couple of records. ‘U Don’t Have To Kiss Me Like That’ sees a pop beat and some female vocals puncturing the wall of sound It’s a big sound and made for the American market and another side of Idol he’s used to great effect throughout his career. To be fair he could write this stuff in his sleep. Drum machine at the ready as he goes for the reflective cool sound on the EP closer which to be fair is a decent tune and his vocals sound really good but I’d have prefered an album please Billy rather than an EP.
Cutters – ‘Midnight Bus’ (Self Release) A cover of Betty McQuade’s 1961 hit ‘Midnight Bus’ sees Australian Punks give the tune a bloody good tuning to be fair. There is no question in my mind that the most impressive new records are coming from down under where there seems to be a hell of a lot of great bands currently kicking the shit out of instruments all over the continent.
Cutters are right up there with the finest exports from Oz now get over to Bandcamp and check em out you might just fall in love with these punks. Their mini lp ‘Australian War Crimes’ is a fuckin belter! Here
Junkyard – ‘Lifer’ (Acetate Records) ‘Lifer’ backed by ‘Last Of A Dying Breed’ sees these Californian Rockers come out swinging. It’s hard-rocking licks with a thumping great rhythm section what were you expecting? If this was a new AC/DC track people would be hailing it as the second coming. These guys are veterans of the hard rock scene and still have energy and a pocket full of tunes that cut it. Never meant to reinvent the wheel just borrow it for the Hog their riding with this as the theme tune for burning rubber on the highway.
The Professionals – ‘Spike Me Baby’ lifted from the new album ‘SNAFU’ is Tom Spencer throwing his Loyalties tip into the Professionals jar and knocking out the best of both worlds. Sure it’s not Jonesy but it has his blessing and once you’re over that it’s a really good song and why wouldn’t it be. Its familiar has a rock-solid beat courtesy of Mr. Cook and a decent melody with some sweet guitar licks to boot. If you’re wondering yes the album is rather good as well some excellent tunes on offer
Jackson Reid Briggs – ‘Fear/Move’ (Legless Records) Jackson Reid Briggs is back with a 4 track EP of punk/soul belters. Jackson got together with two mates a few days after the initial lockdown in Melbourne, Australia ended in November 2020. Noone except Jackson had heard the tracks yet but they smashed them out in a few hours in a storage unit. Coming on like a ragged US Bombs its class punk rock n Roll.
From the opener ‘Fear’ through ‘The Chase’ which happens to be the pick of the four on offer here. ‘Move’ is a blast of ‘on the hoof’ punk rock with a swirling keyboard mixing up some great gang vocals and spat out lyrics. ‘Monster’ closes off this EP in grand style with a great thumping beat and chanted chorus with a cool guitar lick and some splendid handclaps. Fantastic four to be fair and well worth checking out. Buy Here
Albany New York please step forward and bring those Mystery Girls with you please. I always love getting the NFT newsletter because I always know there’s gonna be a couple of new rekids that I need to discover and spin the black circles repeatedly and low and behold this trashy retro Rock and Roll record pressed all my buttons for the 70s glam punk n roll.
‘A Little At A Time’ got things off to a summery trashy start and instantly I’m looking for my cut-off denim and turning the collars up to get down with these cool cats. What you get for your bucks is plenty of bang in a 60s meets seventies sloppy trashy rock n roll way. Channeling the thunders solos and neat backbeat sitting upfront in the mix.
With an emphasis on strong melodies and heartbreak lyrics about girls, good times, and all teen trash staples. ‘Lipstick Traces’ being a timely example of all that and more. Almost drunk slur vocals subtle gang vocals holding the lead up and some awesome trashy guitar breaks whilst the rhythm stays in control with plenty of ride – it’s the perfect summer slam heartbreak tune. Follow that up with a tight ripper that’s all slicked-back hair and leather jackets with a solid switchblade riff and gang vocals. then it abruptly ends because that’s that – done and dusted no point in overstaying ones welcome.
I love the hooks that bands like the Mystery Girls just get – it’s not by design or trying hard I imagine this is all they know and it’s like falling off a log for these cats. A steady diet of Disconnected and L.A.M.F and some sweet records thrown in with Lizzy and the runaways for good measure. In isolation songs like the Dolls heavy ‘Chandelier’ are real dance floor party bangers but as an album the flow is excellent just shifting gears gently here and there probably just enough for the band to refresh their bubblegum and smoke a lucky strike no filter and back at it.
There’s a dreamy quality to songs like ‘Head On A Stake’ just like The Cry did but more Blondie with additional textures with the organ in the mix. Further heading down that 60s pop mix is ‘I Like Kissing’ well hello! who doesn’t and I’m sure being in the Mystery Girls is not something you have to worry about, maybe walk around town with the album under your arm and see what happens, I’m sure you’ll be fighting off admirers with a big stick.
Sure a lot of the riffs are recycled and the ideas are timeless but they work and this record is boss. All snotty and kicking ass just like it should. To take this sucker home the band rips through a particularly snotty ‘Six Bends’ before signing off with the wonderful ‘Sit And Cry’ sounding like they’ve struck a deal with old nick to get the Ramones to write them one of those ‘End Of The CEntury like pop tunes and just channelled it ending this record on a particularly high note.
Top album I highly recommend it. Now, where do I get one of those flick knife combs to go in my back pocket?
He cried More More More. Once again this month we just had to open the singles club due to some of our favourite bands knocking out a 7″.
We begin with a single reviewed by Kenny Kendrick…
Madysin Hatter – Wild & Strange (Self Release)
The latest single from New Jersey rocker Madysin Hatter is called Wild & Strange. It’s a heady mix of 80s sleaze, rap & pop. Madysin has a unique voice and the song really showcases her talent. She has assembled an all star cast on the song, Tyler Bryant (frontman of Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown), Frank Ferrer (of Guns N’ Roses), Rob Bailey (David Johansen), and Brett Bass (Gregg Allman). The song was co-written by Madysin Hatter and Rob Bailey, who also produced. Wild & Strange is a strong track and the accompanying video is a lot of fun with Madysin showing off her kickboxing skills!
Madysin has built up a strong reputation in the US and has played live with such luminaries as Winger, Faster Pussycat, Tom Keifer and Lita Ford to name a few. After checking out some live performances online, it’s obvious that Madysin is a formidable force live. After playing Wild & Strange a few times, it’s been stuck in my head all day! I’ll look forward to hearing more from Madysin Hatter, and hopefully, she can grace some stages in the UK when the madness of the pandemic is over.
Madysin Hatter is definitely an artist to keep an eye on!
“Wild & Strange” is available on all digital & streaming platforms. Here www.MadysinHatter.com / Facebook
Los Pepes – ‘Want You Back’ (Self Release) Coming out on various coloured variants it’s Londons very own music machine Los Pepe. Man, I love this band never less than 100% they manage to capture their Rock and Roll like a rocket in a bottle they have awesome melodies and a sharp sense of arrangement and usually at Ramones levels of speed and drive.
‘Want You Back’ has added harmonica as it motors along with crisp riff-a-rama and a great big hook its terrific. ‘Never Get It Right’ turns it up a notch or two as Ban and the boys just nail it. It’s like they’ve shaved off a little of the early Damned attitude. Adding a third track just for luck is the massive sing a long of ‘Tell Me’. Another thoroughly enjoyable trio from Los Pepes and it only helps whet my appetite for another album so come on guys get it on. Pick it up Here
Prima Donna – ‘Atomic Love’ (Wicked Cool Records) Christmas single aside it seems like an age since we had a record from the awesome Prima Donna. The wait is over as ‘Atomic Love’ comes exploding out of the distance and the radio-friendly handclapping singalong comes bursting out of the speakers. Sure it’s cool, Sure it’s stylish, sure it’s great. From those handclaps to the slide solo its an awesome 7″ and if there was a top of the pops this was made to be on the show. Preston knows that a perfect single is 3:10 seconds which is why ‘Atomic Love’ is exactly that and you’ll be singing along before the final chorus. The flip side is a bright and breezy cover of Gene Pitney’s ‘He’s A Rebel’ Perfect. Buy Here
BBQT/ Appaloosa – ‘Jump Outs / Nod Out’ – ‘Seasons Of Change’(No Front Teeth Records) Glam Stomping Punk Rockin Rock and Roll from Austins BBQT. Its trash tastic as ‘Jump Outs’ is like the perfect tribute to the Dolls and everything that followed. A new band on me is Appaloosa who also ploughs a glam trashy punk rock furrow and I like it a lot. Perhaps it’s a close runner up to BBQT but it’s the width of an eyeliner stroke in it. 100% of proceeds earned from both bands on Bandcamp from this release will go directly to the Sex Workers Outreach Project (www.swopbehindbars.org). Another great single pick it up here
Black River Delta – ‘Californian Sun’ (Sofaburn Records) Black River Delta is blues-rock band originating from Bollnäs, Sweden. The foursome have released two studio albums – Devil on the Loose (2016) and Vol. II (2018), and are poised to drop their latest heavy-hitting full-length effort Shakin’ this spring. I’m hearing the likes of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and even some INXS, especially in the voice. A fairly refreshing take on modern blues and rock. Check em out on their Bandcamp Page
Beastwood – The Long Road To Ho (Coffin & Bolt Records) Possibly the most disturbing sleeve I’ve seen in a long time but then I clicked play and after the big rolling guitar lick and solid rhythm the gravel and whisky vocals kicked in and off we went on some dirty greasy hard rockin tip and I fuckin liked it. ‘Electric Gangbang’ is a dirty rockin noise that certainly had my attention. Can anyone come? I’ll bring a bottle.
I’m not going to Salt Lake City by the Dwarves springs to mind every time I hear the place and that’s where Rock and Roll gave birth to these degenerates. Not all bad then. All four tracks are loud and proud I’d imagine its SG’s and Rickenbackers all the way with these guys and the engineer left the session with a banging headache because these have to have been recorded loudly. Quality check it out Here
The Flaming Sideburns – ‘A Song For Robert’ (Svart Records) A fitting tribute to Strings from The Flaming Sideburns. Lifted from their brand new album released later this week its a really fitting tribute and a great tune long overdue from The Flaming Sideburns its been a while but it’s great to have them back. (Album review coming this week) get on it Here
Teenage Fanclub – ‘In Our Dreams’ (PeMe And Murge) From the forthcoming album ‘Endless Arcade’ with its 60s dreamy verse and fuzzy guitar break it’s always a good day for the Fannies to be making records. The video was filmed in Motherwell – not something you hear every day when discussing pop videos. Pre Order it Here
Poison Heart – Sailors Stories’ (Heavy Medication Records) Poison Heart delivers two new songs, their first new material since 2018’s “Heart of Black City” album. Only 150 copies pressed so will sell out its a classic slice of garage Rock and Roll with some hard rockin guitar stylings. With a new six stringer on board the two new tracks rock like fuck as these Warsaw boys show that Poland can rock out with the best of them. ‘Good Times’ could just about be the size of it as Poison Heart have the chops to step up to the plate and take on Europes finest and head further afield on this evidence. Really strong single offering can’t wait to hear more.
Hot Laundry – ‘Shake Slide Twist’ (Die Laughing Records) Rock and Roll with attitude and a tonne of energy. The 12 bar of ‘Shake’ is infectious as San Francisco based Garage Rockers HOT LAUNDRY released their new EP ‘Shake Slide Twist’ I didn’t see that solo coming but I love it. To be fair all four tracks are bangers whilst ‘What Would I Do’ is more measured and more akin to The grooves The Bellrays get into. There is variety throughout the four tracks on offer with ‘Glitter And Gold’ which has a real swagger about it. Quality EP check it out
Danko Jones – ‘Flaunt It’ (SPV Records) Motormouth Danko Jones always seems to have a plan and on his social media he’s generally spot on as he is with his band and their Rock and Roll. ‘Flaunt It’ is a top tune lifted from their new album due late summer ‘Power Trio’. If this is a taste of what we can expect then bring it on what a rocket ride rip-snorting track it is. turn it up and Rock!
Millie Manders and The Shutup – ‘Broken Record’ (, taken from their debut album ‘Telling Truths, Breaking Ties’ released in August of last year. Its a break-up tune with attitude Millie has a thoroughly engaging powerful voice and who doesn’t love some saxophone with their rock and roll? It’s released to coincide with the bands run of shows starting this summer that was originally pencilled in for last year. Facebook
Kool name that to be fair. How was I ever not going to open the file with a name as good as that? But hey don’t even bother searching for their Facebook profile or their Instagram pics of them with cats and dogs n booze n birds coz you know it’s not ever there right? Right!
Sixteen snotty fucked off punk rock tracks for your delectation with minimal mix, no autotune, no studio trickery just blistering stabs of short and sweet punk rock that’s what Kool & The Gang Bangers offer at the altar of Punk Rock.
‘Night Of The Living Deadbeats’ is the Ramones playing Dead Boys it’s as simple as that kids and if you’re looking for the ray of sunshine I guess you won’t find it on ‘Hate Your Guts’ or ‘This City Sucks’ nor are you finding a rainbow on the snotty ‘Full Of Shit’. However, you can pogo and you can chew on the inside of your gums whilst shaking your head along to the beat, that’ll comfort you.
These Swedish punks have got a natty line in raw riffola and catchy lyrics but it’ll take a few plays to tune into the lyrics so low down in the mix they are on times but that’s perfect for the attitude and it doesn’t take a lot of concentration to get into each song seeing as almost everyone is under one and a half minutes from start to finish ‘Drag Me Around’ even has a spot on guitar solo. But wait ‘Rats Crawl Back’ tips over the two-minute barrier almost the perfect TOTP length but that’s never going to happen (mores the pity). Hang up the phone reminds me of when The Hives kicked off with a good hook over a repetitive riff ‘cept this is far more punk rock.
’15 Minutes Of Pain’ starts on the bass and to be honest I wasn’t even sure there was one on there previously such was the raw lo-fi racket being kicked up. The album saves the best til last as ‘I Hate The World’ wraps up proceedings. I might leave it an hour before hitting repeat I might go out and pick some flowers or run through a field just to prove that it’s not all bad maybe I’ll cwtch a puppy or feed some birds then when I’ve had a tit full of being nice I’ll play some more ‘Feel Bad Music’. Maybe you should too.
I’ll take a six-track EP every day of the week if its choc o bloc with banging snotty punk rock and roll with howling harmonica, dirty overdriven filthy guitars and lyrics nonchalantly spat out. Imagine Joan Jett with the attitude of Texas Terri and a pocket full of Dead boys meets The Dolls raunch then if you’ve got that we’re in business. If L7 went down the Rock n Roll route of Thunders licks mixed with a generous dose of Ramones then they might chew out a rhythm like these six it’s as simple as that.
Howling out of Richmond Virginia with a Cadillac with the roof down and a lap full of smokes and beer Sick Bags are the biz.
Tony Leet has got it going on here as the songwriter and six-stringer the guy is on fire and has assembled a band around him who just gets it. Sick Bags are on fire from the opening lick of The title track right through to the runaway train that is ‘Halfway To Hell’ and its gang vocals on the chorus. There’s no magic formula or groundbreaking new sounds going on here just a bunch of top-grade nuclear punk rock n roll and it’s done like they mean it and played like it really matters and that makes a world of difference. Mel Medina-(Vocal), Tony Leet-(Rhythm and Acoustic Guitar), Paul Kirk (Lead Guitar and Harmonica), Tommy Nelson-(Bass), Anthony Manuel-(Drums) make up the band and boy do they deliver.
Its been a year since the last single so maybe this year is the time to deliver a full album because on this evidence these cats have got the chops in spades. Get it whilst it’s still available – top record.
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