SIERRA BONITA Video Directed/ Produced/ Shot/ Edited By Craig Temple (Racketeer Pictures) From the Rich Ragany album “You Can Get Dark With Me” on Barrel And Squidger Records.
The video is a love letter to London past and present… Rags adds, “Craig Temple is so creative and talented.… taking a simple idea and making it so widescreen. A real journey. About the song… My friend from LA… her Dad disappeared on her early… But she tried for a reconnection. It didn’t work… but we spoke about how brave it was to try and steal back some moments in their lives “I don’t mind… you know I stole that for ya…” has that feeling of “you understand that you stole from me… I’ll try and steal ya something nice give to you … for you… anyways.” To try.
More universally, the song is about stealing one last moment of empathy and understanding in a lost situation. What it can do for the hearts involved. Moving on doesn’t necessarily mean giving up.
About the album and artist… The last few years has seen the Calgary, Canada born, New York City seasoned, and now UK based songsmith, Rich Ragany, build up quite a reputation with his various bands of rock n’roll trailblazers, The Role Models, The Loyalties and most recently, Rich Ragany & The Digressions. Rich’s songs have won over the hearts of many, most recently with the critically-acclaimed albums “Beyond Nostalgia & Heartache” and “What We Do (To Not Let Go)” gaining considerable airplay on BBC Introducing.
Rich over the years has shared stages with the likes of Ramones, Bad Brains, SNFU, Rammstein, Oasis, The Lemonheads, Warrior Soul, The Men They Couldn’t Hang, Whitfield Crane, Ginger Wildheart, The Professionals, Steve Conte (New York Dolls), Michael Monroe… as well as each band packing out venues in their own right. All this experience and resulting attention has brought him to signing a deal with Barrel And Squidger Records (who have released music by CJ Wildheart, Massive Wagons, members of Status Quo and Sex Pistols).
With a brand new album titled “You Can Get Dark With Me” Rich describes the new album: After the big dramatic production of The Digressions’ albums I wanted to create something more personal… a world of its own. So I decided to deconstruct to reconstruct. Every song is a mix of home recording, from the first day of writing each song, and proper studio stuff, to keep a real personal “straight from the moment of inspiration” feel… but have a sonically and emotionally expanded spirit as well. Guitars recorded on the fly in my bathroom as I wrote, in real-time. Mostly acoustic, later taken and manipulated to sound “electric” (inspired by the Stones’ similar sonic experiments on Street Fighting Man). Backing vocals done on the spot… some of these literally recorded on a phone mic in my bathroom. I then took all this to my trusted friend and talented producer, Andy Brook and added big studio-grade bass and drums via the talented duo of Simon Maxwell and Ricky McGuire… and experimented some more. Then JUNO and Canadian Country Music Award-winning producer (and another old friend and brother) Russell Broom got involved in a few tracks, most notably SIERRA BONITA Travelling back to my early home of Calgary and recording with him really brought things full circle. So… songs that started out so simple and solitary had travelled quite far. In its own world… reaching out now.
The sun is out the sky is blue and the tunes keep spinning in the pumphouse. Today kicks off with a slice of 70s Derry and those snorkel parkered, Doc Martin wearing oiks The Undertones announce that ‘Here Comes The Summer’ their 4th single off that classic debut record.
New bands are coming through and South Wales is showing signs of leading the way. Baby Schillachi are at the sharp end and they have a brand new song out for the summer ‘tHe AnTi suNcrEAM’ Check this bad boy out or we’re sending Hotshot round to torture you.
Chris wedged the classic ‘Hoover Dam’ from Sugar into this week’s show and it’s a timeless classic that’s most welcome anytime.
We’ve championed the work of Jesse Malin over and over and brought you updates on his health issues and we are delighted to see he’s returning to the stage later this year for a special show in NYC. After the recent release of the live album, there is a triple album heading for release in the near future where some huge artists cover Jesse’s music from D Generation to his solo work and Bruce Springsteen to Tommy Stinson. Lucinda Williams to Billie Joe Armstrong and Rancid all play their part so we’re delighted to play ‘Black Haired Girl’ from Glitter In The Gutter as performed superbly by Billie Joe. Pre Order that album Here
Another Rum Bar coming in hot is the album from Joe Jennings MVPs and from this single ‘Doin Time On The Company Dime’ it promises to be a belter of a record and we can’t wait to play more. such a talent it’s great to see Joe team up with Rum Bar – cheers!
With his brand new video out this week Rich Ragany continues to evolve his music and the people he plays with from the core of Good Guys he has surrounded himself with he continues to turn out great music whatever the style. ‘Sierra Bonita’ is the latest laid-back offering from Rags. Head over Here for his latest music and first Solo album ‘You Can Get Dark With Me’.
Scandinavia has always delivered great Rock music and this episode we are happy to bang out something from the Hellacopters and The Flaming Sideburns back to back both bands having something of a renaissance in recent years and delivering fantastic comeback albums.
Repeat Records are causing a bit of a stir at the moment with some recent compilation albums that have the cream of the crop delivering excellent alternative music and we’re happy to play our part with ‘Supercharger’ from The Saffs. The Yum Yums are up next with a slice of summer power pop ‘Poppin Up Again’. The final Rum Bar offering is Duck and Cover with ‘Help Myself’ before we finish with an absolute banger off that new Hip Priests EP ‘Home Is Where The HAte Is’ with their finger on the pulse and the UK heading to hell on a hand cart it seems wholly appropriate for this to close out the show this week. Help us out by liking and sharing on social media and keep tuning in. Diolch people
Whammo! Look who’s back with a new shiny spinning disc of musical meanderings for your perusal. If you read the hallowed pages of Uber Rock back in the day, you’ll probably be aware of the name Rich Ragany. Affectionally known as Rags to all and sundry, you may remember him from such class acts as The Loyalties and The Role Models, and more recently with his band The Digressions. Well, the Calgary born and New York bred singer/songwriter, who has lived in London for enough years now to be considered a local, has cast aside his trusty telecaster, strapped on an acoustic guitar and he’s riding that steel horse into town all on his lonesome.
Don’t worry, Rags hasn’t gone all Bon Jovi on us just yet, but his debut solo album ‘You Can Get Dark With Me’ is a more stripped-back, singer/songwriter affair than his previous works. On offer we have 10 tracks recorded in various settings, including his own bathroom! Produced by Andy Brooke and Russell Broom and featuring Ken Mochikoshi-Horne of The Bronx playing guitar on first single ‘A Pleasant Fiction’, as well as fellow digression Kit Swing providing backing vocals.
Opener ‘Empty and Free’ sets the scene nicely. This is the sounds of The Lords Of The New Church and The Replacements jamming out in some forgotten Tarantino spaghetti western. The vibes are anthemic and upbeat from the off, with a trademark Rags melody that will embed itself right in the brain. Guitar lines jangle and intertwine before the dulcet vocals reverberate through the speakers.
First single ‘A Pleasant Fiction’ follows. Featuring the guitar talents of The Bronx man Ken Mochikoshi-Horne, it’s an album highlight for sure. The verse creates a certain drama, again the alternative 80’s are strong with this one, I’m getting early Hanoi meets Japan vibes, are you with me?
The title track came about after a 3 a.m. heart-to-heart with longtime friend and former Amen/Wildhearts bassist Scott Sorry. This is classic balladmongery, with Rags enticing the listener with heartfelt melodies, the juxtaposition of Kit’s vocal accompaniment then gives a silken, dreamy edge to the raspiness. A blood-on-blood tale that gives a sense of longing and vulnerability that we have not seen from this artist before. ‘Sierra Bonita’ is the surprise twist of the album. With pulsing electronica and skulking verses, it has early 80’s new wave vibes, coming on like Billy Idol or prime, drug-ravaged Depeche Mode at their best.
Elsewhere the likes of ‘Reach Out’ and We’re Alive Anyway’ break out the tinkling ivories where the singer is full of nostalgia and hope. And ‘The Great Nothing’ continues the dark and foreboding Lords alternative 80’s theme.
He’s had his ups and downs the past few years, but Rags is still aiming for that guitar shaped swimming pool with ‘You Can Get Dark With Me’. It harks back to the days of those Role Models albums, there seems to me a whole heap of nostalgia and soul searching going on here, and if you were dragged up on a diet of Hanoi, The Lords and The Dogs, then you will fall in love with the sonic tapestries created within this album.
There’s a diverse and rich set of tunes that somehow sound familiar after just a few listens, which is always a good indicator of a top-ten album contender come the end of the year.
Rich Ragany has laid his heart on his sleeve and poured his soul out on ‘You Can Get Dark With Me’, so the least you can do is return the favour and pick up a cheap alternative to that Replacements box set you’ll never afford.
Again its another week and another bunch of brand new, hot off the press singles. A few debutants and some seasoned vets of these pages get covered. I’m always impressed by the quality of some bands and labels and the lengths they go to to make the little records and this bunch of singles we’ve gotten hold of is no exception. If there was a prize for record of the week, month, the year there was only ever going to be one winner and that honour goes to the new one from The Black Halos. So good it is and so passionate that we drafted in Rich Rags to put pen to paper and pour his thoughts over the page on the release. It’s fair to say he does justice and some to such an awesome song. Now I’ll step aside so you can check out this weeks 7″ singles…
The Black Halos – ‘Ain’t No Good Time To Say Goodbye’ (Yeah Right! Records) Vancouver, Canada’s punk heroes The Black Halos pen impassioned tribute single for inspiration, legend and friend, SNFU’s Mr. Chi Pig.
After the critically lauded 2019 single “Geisterbahn II” and the sold-out shows that followed, many people were hoping that the new line-up of the Halos would continue as a going concern. And for now, it is. At its rock ‘n’ roll heart are the original members, frontman Billy Hopeless and the guitar team of Rich Jones and Jay Millette, joined by pals John Kerns (Age Of Electric) and Danni Action (ACIIDZ) on bass and drums respectively.
When the world’s plans changed due to the pandemic, traditional ways of creating and working had to change along with it.
This single was recorded in isolation. And you couldn’t tell if ya tried. Its rich deep sound and empathetic interplay of guitars, the ragged and street-sure confidence of the rhythm section… well… it all gives a supportive encouraging shoulder for Billy’s aching anthemic send-off. Like the friends who embrace you while still donning their knuckledusters.
The boys surely have his back on this one.
The storied public life and works of Mr. Chi Pig (Earth Name: Ken Chinn) started with the formation of SNFU in Edmonton, Alberta in Canada in the ‘80s. I personally was from a couple of hours south, so let me impart to you the influence and huge amount of PMA that their explosive early existence created. The shockwave was thus… You (yes YOU!) too can come from a city trapped within the mind-numbing cotton wool of hundreds of kilometres of prairie boredom and tragedy and still stand up, be counted and heard. He and his band let ya know you could reach out and connect… you just had to be willing to work. Hard.
Many amazing songs came from the greatest titled albums (“Something Green And Leafy This Way Comes” anyone?). From the “get yer hands off the waitress, asshole!” hardcore skirmish of “She’s Not On The Menu” to the achingly beautiful “Painful Reminder”, they showed everyone you don’t need to be a one-trick kid. Just yourself. Your humour, your heart, your anger… they all can have a chance. Get on that road and let ‘em live.
So I think it’s fitting this song was written and recorded by The Black Halos. The bleeding sunsets they themselves chased lit fires and branded hearts and minds across North America and Europe. All along the miles of matchbook stages, hotel beds and floors… looking at the same neon lights blinking through the drapes that SNFU had.
There’s a family-like connection in that, and it shows.
Billy and Ken were close friends, seeing each other regularly in Vancouver over the years. Hopeless’s love and pain are evident in the song’s lyrics. “If you’re hearing these words, one of us ain’t alive”… writing after the fact a common knowledge or pact they both carried. That whoever remained would surely remember. “I never wanted to sing these words…” pouring out of his perfectly poised poison heart.
He does sing them, though.
The great singers are obituary writers in their own way. They take the thoughts and feelings we didn’t say or find hard to share, no matter how difficult to face, and make sense of them for us. Billy has taken his personal loss and made it into something universal that we can all carry with us to help us through our own experience.
All of this is guided by the perfect touch of Rich Jones’ late-night beer-light to guide us songwriting. This is one of the very best and most emotionally realised works of their long partnership.
Getting better after all this time. Still inspired and inspiring.
The excellent cover of SNFU’s “Rusty Rake” rounds this off nicely, taking their song and giving it a respectful and energised spin back home.
I’ll leave you with the words of Billy Hopeless himself…
“Just know this; whether you cry or smile when you think of him, it’s because he reached you. And you should never let go of that.”
All proceeds of the single will be going to the Chi Pig Mural Fund, for a tribute to be displayed in Edmonton, Canada.
Author: Rich Ragany
In true Halos style and a touch of class, they have pledged to donate all profits from the sale of vinyl and digital copies of the single to theChi Pig Mural fundand as such, the songs will not be available on any streaming services. You know what to do, you good people, you always do. Pick it upHere
Adam West – ‘Hi-Ball’ 7″ EP (Savage Magic Records) Savage Magic Records is turning 10! …and what better way to bookend the first ten years than to release an Adam West record! Their first release was the live Adam West EP ‘Merci, Bon Soir!’. Ten years and over 50 records later, They dish up this little gem.
These three tracks were originally intended to make up half of a split 10″ EP on Munster Records in Spain, but something happened (as things often do) and this entire recording session from 1998 was shelved and remained unreleased in any form until now. Celebrating ten years of doing the record label, Savage Magic wanted to do something special with one of their all-time favorite bands.so here it is kids – Adam West’s “Hi-Ball” EP! The opening track is a high octane rocket ride that’s running on pure adrenaline and is of the finest vintage and being left for a decade to ferment has done it no harm as it sounds like it was penned yesterday and fired onto the wax or bludgeoned by a hefty les paul. ‘Hi-Ball’ might be a blast but the bass line of utter filthy proportions on ‘For All I Care’ is a real rush and as the song rattles along its nasty and snarling like a rabid dog. Adam West and Savage Magic you spoil us with these tunes. If these two weren’t enough there is a third, ‘Something Wicked’ is a rolling riff of gargantuan proportions and it’s making my tweeters and woofers rattle like some old man’s dentures. If this isn’t a slice of supreme Rock and Roll of the action kind then I don’t know what is. Awesome!
Pre-order it now Here but be quick they’re limited in colour and quantity
Manne Olander Following – ‘The Misanthrope EP’ (Savage Magic Records) First solo effort from Deadheads frontman. Some classic garage rock anyone? Manne Olander comes outta the blocks like his backside is on fire and only gets more intense as the track unfolds. The EP only gets better as the second track ‘Dystopia’ has plenty of thump from the lower end as the bass absolutely rattles my speakers. Flip this bad boy over and there’s a stonking Rocker ‘Backstabber’. Uncompromising Loud Rock and Roll just the way it should be. Outlaws dancing with the devil and playing all the best tunes. Oh and Manne Plays everything himself! let that sink in as you spin his single!
Very limited number here – 100 on solid red wax, 100 on white wax, 100 on black wax. Buy It Here
Guerrilla Teens – ‘Mad Love’ (self Release) Well, fuck all for an age then all of a sudden you put ’em on lockdown and they want to monkey around making new music. Recorded remotely our new favourite noisemakers from the mean streets of Portland, Guerrilla Teens are back in the house and this time they’re bringing some ‘Mad Love’ and of course, it’s a fuckin’ banger, what did you expect?
Catchy, sharp and shorter than an orangutang not one more track but two. How about some snotty Steve Jones inspired punk rock and roll riffage entitled ‘Gateway’? what a tune this is. Possibly the best this fledgling band have offered thus far. I only hope some fair-minded label picks these up and when they don’t have to social distance they get into a studio and record an album full of these songs. It’ll be in my top ten for the year no question about that. Go pick em up without delay – Here
The Lurkers – ‘Fits You Like A Glove’ (Damaged Goods Records) Yeah you read that right it’s the fuckin’ Lurkers! Stride, Moore, Esso are back swinging with this catchy little ditty. With a great big dirty riff with plenty of Chugg all the way to that chorus with its understated melody. We might be a bit early here but we couldn’t wait in giving you the heads up. The B Side ‘ When You Are Borderline’ is a bruising encounter from the thuggish riff to the chorus it means business and is pretty damn good. The A-Side is taken from the new long-player ‘Sex Crazy’ oh didn’t I mention there’s a new long-player? Well, there is and if its got better songs than the b side which is exclusive to this single then I can’t wait to get an ear full. Catchy and a bit nasty – perfect! Limited to 500 copies on Yellow vinyl keep your eyes peeled Facebook
Young Francis Hi-Fi – ‘I Wanna Hold You Tight (Tonight)’ (Self Release) Young Brighton punks kicking up a bit of a storm on this up-tempo Banger. They claim to pen two-minute pop songs about love and getting high, well, it is what it is and these guys have the chops with a confident melodic slice of energy which we like a lot round these parts and I guess they walk the walk as well as talk the talk seeing as its less than two minutes long, about Love but we can’t corroborate if they were high when recording so two out of three ain’t bad. To add some context here this Berlin-born Brighton based punk hooked up with those Rotten Foxes which might be why we love it so much and probably why we can confirm that their mission statements must be true and he does indeed love to get high and if it wasn’t for The Black Halos this would be our pick of the pile no doubt about that. – now can we have an album full of songs like this, please? thank you kindly. Check it out Here Social media – Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
The Jailbirds – ‘Dull My Brain’ (Golden Robot Records) Some classic hard rockin riff-a-rama from Canadian Hard rockin trio. With big riffs, big hooks and big vocals The Jailbirds turn the clock back to cock rock o’clock. Man this band sound like they were born several decades too late and had this been the late ’80s they’d be contenders with the big boys. Warrant and Dokken or on a technical side Mr Big fans should be all over this.
The Slackers – ‘Nobody’s Listening / Sleep Outside’ (Pirates Press Records) The Slackers are a band that shouldn’t need any introduction. They fuse the best elements of Ska and reggae. Here they release two brand new songs that showcase what they’re all about and should put a big fat smile across your face. To be fair they’re poignant and send out a timely message when they are so desperately needed. Evoking a sense of nostalgia and sending a message to your feet to not stand still and whilst you’re taking in the lyrics (and Grinning from ear to ear) remember to dance like there’s no tomorrow oh, that sax break on ‘Nobody’s Listening’ is awesome. Check it out. Facebook
Borracho with Jake Starr – ‘Borracho with Jake Starr’ (Savage Magic Records) In the not too distant past well 2015 to be exact at the Strange Magic Showcase Night #1 in Pomona, Jake Starr took the stage with Borracho and knock out two amazing versions of Adam West classics. I’m reliable informed it sounded incredible, So much so that plans were made about getting these two songs recorded in the studio and releasing a 7-inch. Lo and behold, and almost five years later it is actually happening!
‘Sixth Son of a Seventh Son’ from Adam West’s 2002 single of the same name, and ‘Bulletproof’ from Adam West’s 2005 album ‘Power to the People’ are reconstructed Borracho-style! Again super limited amounts of this available with 100 on solid purple wax, 100 on solid green wax, 105 on traditional black wax. The A-side is loud and fair play to Borracho they are fucking loud even when the volume is on low its LOUD! Stoner Rock whatever you’d call it a good tune will always be a good tune and this is proof no matter how its reimagined it’s still a banger As for ‘Bulletproof’ it sounds like something Lemmy would have recorded around ’79 – heavy fuckers . Available Here
Nekrokraft – ‘Witches Funeral / Return of the Kvlt’ (The Sign Records) From Ska to classic Black Metal complete with church organ intro anyone who knows me knows I’m quite partial to a bit of Black Metal and the likes of Venom and Midnight will always have a space in my Black Heart and classic noisemakers like early Mayhem and Hellhammer too. so, Nerokraft (top name obviously) manage to cram in as many cliches as possible from the gruff scary vocals to the double bass thump and spooky scooby doo intro I only hope they wear Monks robes to the supermarket and corpse paint 24/7 and their favourite tipple is a vintage bottle of virgins blood. Anyway, the first track even ends with a clap of thunder so far plays to that whilst ‘Return’ has a thrashing metal riff that goes for broke and is easily the pick of the two on offer here. this Swedish five-piece have re-recorded these tunes and still thrash like satanic mofos so job done. Horns up motherfuckers Nekrocraft are in da house and it’s rather splendid and I’m delighted that they resisted going into Danni Filth territory with the vocals. Nice one gents Facebook
Throwing Stuff – ‘ACIYHAB’(TNS Records) With a take on the classic Black Flag artwork Throwing Stuff are here to raise some money for Black Lives Matter UK and Food Not Bombs Myanmar so we’re always going to get behind good causes through music. The band themselves will match the donations which is a fantastic gesture. The single was recorded across the locked down cities of Manchester, UK, and Yangon, Myanmar, where vocalist Ben now lives.ACIYHAB, which stands for “all coppers inside your head are bastards”, is about how police forces serve to both consciously and unconsciously control those considered a “threat” to the status quo. In your face punk rock is the order of the day and it should be supported. Buy HereFacebook / Twitter
Volcanova – ‘Super Duper Van’ (The Sign Records) With their stoner heavy fuzzed-out rock riffs Volcanova Its the third single taken from their debut album ‘Radical Waves’ its got a big harmonic chorus wrapped up in an even bigger riff that is true to its fuzzed-out roots and God damn it I hear a cowbell! Never will there be a point where I don’t smile upon hearing a song with a cowbell in it and this is no exception. These Icelandic Rockers are cool as a polar bear sitting on an ice cube and they know it. Wear those Kaftans with pride gents you deserve it.
A question that is often all caps shouted across screens by keyboard warriors defending their record collection decisions.
Power Pop. A holy grail whose contents are loudly proclaimed obvious (depending who ya ask) and essential. Apparently sacred (yet neverendingly argued) since the storied days of Peter Case losing his Nerves to then lace up his Plimsouls. Somehow important yet almost impossible to achieve… one wrong move, a drink too far, a chord eschewing a jangle and you’re “just rock n roll”.
Or so it seems…
The Speedways. The members languidly lean on the bars of darkened London pubs or float like spectres in corners of Some Weird Sin and Garageland gigs. Striped shirts and leather jackets. Dirty street-tamed Chucks and scuffed Thunders boots carry them from one late night heartache to another.
They are true believers who take their turn on stage with hearts outshining the Cheap Trick badges.
Heart.
How do you capture it? How do you?
This album is a stellar example of doing just that. It is the emotion, the essence of love (lost and yearned for) that makes special songs, damn the torpedoes and neat classifications.
This is their second full-length album and the growth since ‘Just Another Regular Summer’ is apparent right off the opening track. ‘This Ain’t A Radio Sound’ opens with a playful ‘80’s Cars ‘Heartbeat City’ keyboard that is somehow right at home alongside the dirty street jangle of Mauro Venegas’ guitars. Then Matthew Julian saunters in, his vocals accomplishing a feat in common with that of my favourite singers. It is instantly recognisable. Equal parts world-weary and up to the fight. Like how Phil Lynott would somehow whisper your thoughts back to you. At once like a friend and someone you wish you had the nerve to approach. A very rare and special dichotomy that gains trust from the listener. People will say you’re born with that. I can see here that you can earn it.
‘The Day I Call You Mine’ shakes off the skinny tie and gets tough. And sweet. The rhythm section of Kris Hood and Adrian Alfonso are like a modern day Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke of The Smiths. Taking the gorgeous songcraft and walking it home like schoolyard best friend bodyguards. In fact, every melody and arpeggiated chord on this long-player is kept safe in their scrappy hands.
“Daydreaming’ opens with razor-sharp back alley chords and a streetwise snarl that has me all of a sudden thinking, “Is this ROCK N ROLL???”
Speaking of that… ‘Your Brown Eyes Look So Blue’ comes dangerously close to sounding like a forgotten outtake from the soundtrack to “Grease”. High School dancing itself right to the edge of the parking lot of kitsch to puke, but teetering there and miraculously feeling much better, thank you! It was a close one boys, but then again, some imminent peril makes albums and nights out exciting.
The track order on this album has a great arch to it. The way it builds to a cinematic centrepiece starting from the dreamy fade into focus intro of ‘This Is About A Girl Who Loves The Sun’. It builds wonderfully into widescreen guitar pop. The song takes you off the dusty and noisy summer city streets and into the cinema to catch your breath and “to stop taking it out on yourself” as Matthew reminds you in the lyrics.
The exuberance of ‘Number Seven’ kicks the cinema doors wide open and the sunlight comes streaming through. We’re in The Speedways’ neighbourhood now, and there’s a place they know that’s perfect for an afternoon drink. Matthew puts his arm around you on the walk and lets ya know that you’ll get by… it doesn’t matter who believes you.
Another standout track is the band next door sound of ‘Empty Pages’. Effortlessly cool and just the right riff for just the right lyrics (“On Halloween I couldn’t hide”… who hasn’t felt that way? Vulnerable and surrounded by Pound Shop devils and clowns) The song is the sound of hanging out. Pure and simple.
The whole set does an excellent job of establishing a recognisable sound while crossing gang lines into territories that may feel like defection. The early Petty and almost ‘50s stomp intro of ‘Had Enough This Time’ giving way to a sun shower of cascading guitar shimmer and a riff that steps right off a beach to join in? Really? It works. Really well.
The album closer, the rather magnificently titled ‘In A World Without Love It’s Hard To Stay Young’, is a perfect bookend. A pocket symphony of guitars that shine like the afternoon sun reflected off a Camaro’s dashboard. Its harmonies sonically answer Julian’s proclamation, “I thought I was the only one to feel this way, until…” with the easy embrace of a close pal.
No. You’re not the only one who does, Matthew. You just have a timeless way of expressing it. Your band is right there with you bringing these songs into brilliant focus as well.
Pretty happy that a band like this exists, making albums to this calibre.
It sounds awfully good with a cold one or a double too!
OH! Power Pop?
I ain’t getting’ into that! Whaddya think, I’m crazy?
Buy Beluga Records Here / Speedways Bandcamp Vinyl Here
Well, these are strange times and Rock and Roll won’t be clamped down even if we are. Thanks to the magic of this here interweb we can still get our mitts on new music (gloved up of course) first up on this playlist is a right banger from Noo Yawk Citys Wyldlife . It’s recently been reviewed on RPM and I happen to agree with Ben when he claimed it could be a contender for record of the year. We have added ‘Sacre Bleu’ to our banging playlist.
Next up is a band from Sweden called Dictator Ship and Fraser covered this one and ‘Your Favourite’ is a great slice of scandiRock with ‘Eat The Poor’ making the cut in our Playlist.
Australia is quickly becoming the epicentre of Global Garage Rock and you sure can add The Chats to that list of fine Australian bands and with their recent record ‘High Risk Behaviour’ hitting the shelves we’ve included ‘ The Kids Need Guns’ to our playlist with its classic DC early days rawness and their snotty lyrics The Chats rightly are causing a stir around this globe all of their own.
It’s not all snotty records this month we did have some offerings from the Classic Rock and Grunge crossover of Buffalo Summer so included the excellent ‘Hit The Ground Running’ taken off their recently released album ‘Desolation Blue’ with some fine cool slide on the otherwise beefy riffs it’s a real tour de force from Soth Wales on this new album.
It might have been a lifetime ago that The Psychedelic Furs last released a new album but the wait is over and Made Of Rain is almost upon us. We’ve included the first single taken from the record ‘You’ll Be Mine’.
Naked Six have a new album out and the lead track off that album is ’21st Century Brawl’ and that makes our playlist with its jarring poke before the album kicks off with some great tunes. Well worth investigating so let this opener suck you in but don’t forget to buckle up.
Ben found his stereo working overtime as The City Kids released ‘Things That Never Were’ so we’ve added ‘You Get Nothing’ To our playlist.
I know a girl, a girl called Party, Party Girl. Bono sang that but the Dahlmanns sing ‘Party Girl’ which was released as part of a split with Tommy & The Rockets on Beluga Records a classic castanets clacking slice of power pop with saxophone and New Wave approved piano.
Then Comes Silence who we include ‘Devils’ from their most excellent ‘Machines’ album that was recently reviewed with some dark Goth undertones this has been on heavy rotation around some RPM circles as the corpse paint went on and certain writers were only venturing out after dark with this on their playlists. Get on it kids.
If a bit of Goth isn’t your thang then why not grow out those sidies and some facial hair and get on down with Rookie. We’ve got ourselves a ‘One Way Ticket’ to listen to this great playlist and ride out this Global pandemic.
As well as some awesome reviews April sees us bring some news that bands push out so why not include some of the movers and shakers who are busy this month either re arranging tours or putting the final touches on new releases. How about some Rock with American Jetset? ‘Gold & Nines’ is classic cock rock n roll so it makes the cut. Our old friend Jizzy Pearl also announced that he has signed a new deal with Golden Robot Records so expect some new music and live shows soon. We head back to when he did the album ‘Just A Boy’ and include the cracker ‘Do You Wanna Get High’.
With everybody with a guitar and camera phone shooting home shows we have a few suggestions of who you could check out starting with Rich Ragany & The Digressions who bring ‘Later Than It Is’ to our playlist off the excellent debut album and rumour has it that recording has begun for the follow up which commenced before this lockdown but be sure we’ll bring you the news as and when.
Another artist smashing the numbers watching his home broadcast is Mike Peters with his ‘Big Night In’ I’ve not tuned in yet but rest assured I will. Heres one from his recent output ’13 Dead Raindeers’. Another live streamer is Jesse Malin who we also interviewed recently and who has a brand new single out sadly it’s not on this service yet so make do with a cut off his last album ‘Chemical Heart’.
There’s fifteen reasons to stay in and have RPM Playlist be your companion and while away the hours playing some quality rock and roll . Go on a journey of discovery and see where it takes you as you avoid the rocks on the choppy water of Rock and Roll 2020.
Well, we’ve reached that time of year again where the writers of RPM were forced into the voting both given a blunt pencil and forced to vote for their album of the year. Unlike a certain General Election result this time I don’t think people were too disappointed with the final result and by a landslide rock and Roll won.
Interestingly this years winner didn’t win any single writers vote but featured very heavily throughout the writers lists more than any other artist or artists so its a fair cop guv and, to be honest, had the live show count been anything to go by it was a landslide and another good year all around. With writers coming from several continents and five different countries there might be a few miles between us but we all have some things in common and one of those is a love for Rock and Roll. I’m sure had it been a Top 20 people would have still had a headache as to what to put in. Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s been a shit year for new music as there were plenty of records released and many of them reviewed on RPM Online and with over 50 albums getting a mention from the team of writers (that’s just their top 10!).
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank not only all the artists who’ve released new records in 2019 and to all the excellent press departments and Labels especially the independent ones who’ve worked tirelessly to bring us the music and obviously to the songwriters and musicians whose work we’ve had many many hours of enjoyment listening to and raving about you know who you are many of whom it’s been a pleasure to get to know throughout the year.
What we’ll do is give the top ten a rundown in reverse order then each individual writers ten albums in no particular order so here goes.
So congratulations to all the bands who made the RPM Online top ten. Especially Michael Monroe for taking top spot in the hotly contested category as well as all the ones that didn’t there were dozens and dozens of albums released in 2019 that we reviewed. We managed to catch up with a few of the bands who made it onto the pages of RPM Online in 2019 to find out what made it onto their turntables this year and to find out any highlights they might have had. Here is some beginning with Jeff from The Brothers Steve…
Jeff Whalen (Guitar /Vocals – The Brothers Steve)
“I don’t think I listened to any records that came out in 2019! So I picked my top 5 records that were new to me in 2019!”
Tiny Tim—God Bless Tiny Tim
The Beagles—Here Come the Beagles
White Reaper—The World’s Best American Band
The Speedies—You Need Pop
The Millennium—Begin
Rich Jones Guitarist (Michael Monroe/Black Halos) –
Pup – Morbid Stuff
The Wildhearts – Renaissance Men
Jeff Rosenstock – Thanks, Sorry! / Sorry, Thanks!
Berlin Blackouts – Nastygram Sedition
The Menzingers – Hello Exile
BEST RE-ISSUE: The Replacements – Dead Man’s Pop
Duncan Reid – Duncan Reid & The Big Heads
Starcrawler – ‘Devour You’ (especially the track No More Pennies)
2 Albums which spoke to my Country Side:
The long Ryders – ‘Psychedelic Country Soul’ (especially Greenville)
Kim Lenz – S’lowly Speeding’
Not an album but the single ‘Fire Ready Aim’ by Green Day which was superb
And The Baby shakes ‘Cause a Scene’ (especially the title track)
As for Highlights, there were Many highlights of 2019 especially Rebellion which went superbly for us and I’m really looking forward to the release of our new album early 2020 as well as playing the Kubix Festival.
Steve Coulter – (Drums) The Brothers Steve
The Gold—T’he Gold’
The Armoires – ‘Zibaldone’
The Cutthroat Brothers – ‘Taste For Evil’
The Coolies – ‘Uh Oh! It’s…The Coolies’
The New Pornographers – ‘In The Morse Code Of Brake Lights’
As for the highlights of 2019 it has to be making the Brothers Steve ‘#1’ & The Go All The Ways as well as writing about music ‘Go All The Way A Literary Appreciation Of Power Pop!
Lee Love (The Hip Priests)
Clowns – ‘Nature/Nurture’
TV Crime – ‘Metal Town’
Bitch Queens – ‘City Of Class’
The Drippers – ‘Action Rock’
Schizophonics – ‘People In The Sky’
Melchior Quitt (Bitch Queens)
Clowns – ‘Nature / Nature’
Amyl & The Sniffers – ‘Amyl & The Sniffers’
The Hip Priests – ‘Stand For Nothing’
Saint Agnes – ‘Welcome To Silvertown’
The Schizophonics – ‘People In The Sky’
As for the Highlight of 2019, There are several. Two for Bitch Queens were to put out our brand new album ‘City Of Class’ and to finish our new recording studio to keep on doin’ what we are doin’ far away from the big business.
The Best event this year was Sjock. “What could be better than hanging out with my boys from The Hip Priests and seeing the best Action Rock bands from all around the world! I am looking forward to touring with Bitch Queens in Europe next year and to record a shitload of new singles and split 7“ And of course, there are two of the probably best records 2020 in the pipeline – The Good, the Bad & the Zugly and Kvelertak. 2020 is gonna be good!
Mathius Engelbrekt Carlsson – “Demons” –
All right. My top picks for 2019.
Jeff Dahl – ‘Electric Junk’
Guitar Wolf – ‘Love & Jett’
Amyl & The Sniffers – ‘Amyl & The Sniffers’
The Hip Priests – ‘Stand for Nothing’
Bitch Queens – ‘City of Class’
The Drippers – ‘Action Rock’
Dead Furies – ‘Stay Gold Ponyboy’
“One of few highlights of 2019 was getting ‘Kiss Off’ off the ground. This has been one of those years. For music it has been a great year though and especially for Rock’n’Roll.
Next year it’s the 25th anniversary for “DEMONS” and we hope that we can tour as much as possible starting with Japan in January. A new record will be out as well as some old stuff. Hopefully our first unreleased album and possibly a Demonology II. See you on the other side.”
Running Blue is a Promotional and live concert booker that give a shit about Rock n Roll and is happy to bring to London an extraordinary evenings entertainment courtesy of Mr Darrell Bath (The Crybabys) And Mr Rob Carlyle (The Compulsions) as these two Rock n Rollers from both sides of the pond play some tunes from their respective back catalogues as well as others. They’ll be joined on the evening by Rich Ragany as they did last year for a sold-out show. Tickets are limited so we suggest you get on it right away to avoid disappointment.
As well as this show Running Blue have several other events please visit their facebook page to keep u to date with their shows and support them supporting live music
The next wave of artists for Camden Rocks Festival 2019 is here! The multi-talented punk and folk singer-songwriter Frank Turner is joined by hitmakers The Wonder Stuff, Random Hand, Discharge, Richie Ramone, The Professionals, Eliza And The Bear, Sonic Boom Six, Area 11, Spunge, Shvpes and ninety other phenomenal bands across indie, rock, punk and metal announced.
They join the first wave of acts that includes Ash, Ratboy, New Model Army, Wheatus, Carl Barat, Ginger Wildheart, Milkteeth, Pretty Vicious, Raging Speedhorn, Angelic Upstarts, The Virginmarys, The Last Internationale, Bang Bang Romeo, Rews and many more.
This year Camden Rocks Festival is a two day event for the first time! Bringing you 400 artists across twenty grassroot venues in Camden Town.
Get out your microscopes and open up a spreadsheet to map out your days. If you were to ask us here obviously the star attractions of The Wonderstuff and Ash will have their fans but watching The Hip Priests, The Spangles or Rich Ragany & The Digressions is where the gold dust is. We’ll be doing our bit on the run-up to the event when we know venues and band times and let you know where we’ll be heading.
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