Singles Club – August Second Leg

Singles Club – August Second Leg

What a week for tip top single dropping on the RPM HQ doormat. Check out this handy bunch of tasty treats. Pour a drink sit back and make a playlist of these. Your day will be a banger…

The Young Hasselhoffs – ‘Life Got In The Way’ (Rum Bar Records) Omaha, Nebraska’s punk rock romantics open another Singles Club and another offering from the Excellent Lovers of Rock n Roll that are Rum Bar Records. This time it’s sprightly pick-me-up punk rock of The Young HAsselhoffs with ‘Life Got In The Way’ sure it’s Big Time Green Day inspired and why not? It has a tonne of energy, great production and makes me smile. Job done! Lifted from their forthcoming, brand new full length release ‘Life Got In The Way’ due out this Rocktober Check it out Here

Jesse Malin & Bruce Springsteen – ‘Broken Radio’ (Wicked Cool Records) The re-releasing of Jesse Malin’s “lost album, ‘Glitter in the Gutter’, and ‘Broken Radio ‘22’ is the lead single for the campaign.  The track features Bruce Springsteen, along with Malin, on vocals, and is about Malin’s mom’s love for music.  It is the perfect kickoff to the album campaign.  Glitter in the Gutter was originally released in 2007 on Green Day’s Adeline Records, but has been out of print for years and has never appeared digitally.  The 2022 version of Broken Radio is revamped with Malin’s current band, giving it a more modern update. Glitter was a great record mixing up Malins influences and pushing boundaries of what people expected from the D Gen frontman. Getting Springsteen in was a great idea but really underplayed at the time so lets hope this fresh kickstart and new coat of pain give it the energy and push this fantastic album deserves. pick it up Here

The Speedways – ‘Shoulda Known’ (Snap!!/Hurrah Musica & Beluga Records) Two brand new tracks lifted from the forthcoming album from The Speedways Who serve up the song of the summer. If you’ve been following their career, you’ll be unsurprised by the quality of tunes on offer here. An instant classic, catchy as hell, complete with key change. You know how 1979 was a year of amazing tunes from The Jags, Elvis Costello, The Korgis? ‘Shoulda Known’ is up there with the very best power pop. Honestly, I don’t know how they do it, but it’s an ongoing master class.

‘A Drop In The Ocean’ starts like a Kinks riff, before the verse comes in, shimmering with a beautiful, melancholy melody. Like any amateur songwriter, I know how hard it is to come up with the goods, but The Speedways can be relied on to deliver every time. What can I say? Listen and buy. The album of the summer? I wouldn’t bet against it. Buy Here

Words: Martin Chamarette

More Kicks – ‘Animal’ (Dirtnap Records (USA) and Stardumb Records (EU)) Opening with a guitar lick that says Hell yeah we love the knack and My Sherona is boss but this bad boy rolls further down that freewheeling hill towards the solo that just burns baby! A smoldering rock-n-roll tune that just gets better and better. Suli writes great tunes – that’s a given and this is more kicks which is most appropriate when describing this retro-drenched banger. If you were looking for more proof then flip this bad boy and ‘The Wind Up’ crackles and snaps its scuffed Cuban heels to the whig-out tempo and again it’s different from the A side but just as good. Then the third and final track is a whistful road song with acoustic guitar and cool lyrics. ’10 Miles High’ is simple yet superb! from the Dylan-esque strum to the swirling organ and gang BV’s layered in the background and then it’s done. Buy this record! Here

Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts – ‘Ballad Of A Misspent Youth‘ (MRG through Virgin/Universal) Man it’s been two years since ‘What Kinda Love’ and twelve Months since ‘Same Old You’ well kids after releasing the news of the new label signing the single ‘Ballad Of A Misspent Youth’ is released. It’s got A big Early Kiss Riff borrowed and some rock n roll lyrics, of course, Tuk is back in the room after a lengthy lay-off this needs to be played loud and over and over. check it out Here

Kurt Baker – ‘Electric Fire’ (Wicked Cool Records) Kurt Baker’s latest single, ‘Electric Fire’, is out August 19 on Wicked Cool Records.  Baker wrote the track with his longtime collaborator and guitarist, Geoff Palmer.  The two were inspired by their influences, such as Oasis, Elvis Presley, The Supersuckers, and more.  With this release, Baker hopes to bring a little bit of light and levity to the intense and frustrating times we’ve been living.  He says, “Let’s face it, we’ve been through a lot and the best cure is a little rock n roll for our soul.”  We’ve been longtime admirers of Baker’s music and songwriting skills so seeing him sign to Wicked Cool seemed a great fit and the quality tunes keep coming thick and fast and ‘Electric Fire’ rolls off the conveyor belt of cool tunes. orcd.co/electricfire

Blodkvalt – ‘Decapitation’ (Fysisk Format Records) Its no secret that we have a love of Black Metal here at RPMHQ so when Fysisk Format turn in a new tune or when Fysisk Format have a new record coming out we have to check it out on reputation and so it turns out Blodkvart are bang on the money – Bleak, dark, Black as fuck. I only hope they are ok in this searing summer heat Europe is undergoing. Oslo isn’t exempt from the chaos of this heat so grab a blackpack and yomp to this motherfuckers.

Slyder Smith & The Oblivion Kids – ‘Pleasure Victim’ (Cargo / Ray Records) The second single lifted from the magnificent debut album from former Last Great Dreamer, Slyder and the boys bang out ‘Pleasure Victim’ an exciting rush of energy that harks back to Wardour Streets Marquee and the likes of Hanoi kicking out the jams this, is a thumper in that vein.

Great rolling lick before the chug leads the way on the verse before some cool stabs and a solo that’s like a gob full of space dust as the six-string slides by. Bang and then it’s done! Banger of a tune – trust me! Pre-save it here

Automatics – ‘Wild Ride Through Wonderland’ It’s a big sweeping acoustic-driven slice of Rock n Roll with a dreamy tempo. It’s a grower of a tune that if it were on the radio you’d turn the dial up and you’d be singing along with the roof down as you zip through the winding country lanes. It features Neil Frost and it is a 2022 reworking of the song which originally featured on the ‘Star Maps Of The Underworld’ album, check it out here

Slim Jim Phantom – ‘Speed Of Sound’ (Wicked Cool Records) Wow! Slim Jim Phantom of The Stray Cats has joined the Wicked Cool Records family.  ‘Speed of Sound’ is a digital single and what a banger it is.  The track packs a punch in under two minutes and doesn’t hang about – wham bang thank you man. I wasn’t expecting this and then when it hits you – man that was a rush. Rock n Roll royalty is in the house and this is excellent. Hopefully, it won’t be too long before we get an album and if it’s this strong then it’ll be a highlight make no mistake about that. Find it and turn It UP!!! Record of the week? Absolutely!!!

Ginger Wildheart & The Sinners – ‘Lately Always’ (Wicked Cool Records) A sidestep to the left for Ginger Wildheart but if his debut album for Wicked Cool was an indication of the quality we can expect and on the strength of this then the Sinners album promises to be a real contender come the end of the year. Check out the video below

Dead Men Walking – Freedom ‘It Ain’t On The Rise’ (Eastersnow Recordings)

Dead Men Walking – Freedom ‘It Ain’t On The Rise’ (Eastersnow Recordings)

Dead Men Walking is the long-time side project of Theatre Of Hate & Spear Of Destiny founder Kirk Brandon; an evolving collective of friends from the punk scene that over the years has seen its numbers swelled by the likes of Glen Matlock, Slim Jim Phantom, Mike Peters, Capt. Sensible, through to Pete Wylie, and Billy Duffy; the current and seemingly stable line up consists of Brandon, Jake Burns from Stiff Little Fingers and both Segs and Dave Ruffy from Ruts DC.


From 2001’s debut album, A few live recordings have been released, whilst ‘Graveyard Smashes Volume 1’ was the first studio recording, this was followed up in 2015 with ‘Easy Piracy’ coming out as the Jacktars minus Brandon – both releases being something of a rare find. ‘Freedom – It Ain’t On The Rise’ is Brandon at the wheel and Peters being dropped off a few stops back.

On this new release, we get thirteen tracks which include four new Brandon and Segs compositions specifically written for Dead Men Walking during the recent lockdown. With lockdown seeing bands have to take a new approach to recording and members having to phone in their parts or each individual recording their parts at Pat Collier’s Perry Vale Studio in South London and Jake Burns recording his contributions at his home studio in Chicago. The album was then mixed in Brixton by Greg ‘Wizard’ Fleming. This being the new way I guess.

Most people will be familiar with Ruts DC doing the acoustic thing after their Rebellion sets are some of the highlights of the festival of the entire weekend, so that transition from loud electric to a more subtle acoustic band not being such a stretch.

Both the mournful ‘Man Down’ and ‘Blame’ are new tracks, the former, a slower, brooding song but with the beating heart of their punk attitude as Brandon tells the guys story of being the Man Down. ‘Blame’ has Segs providing the vocal on this more bluesy number. The interaction of both guitar players Burns and Brandon is excellent throughout playing for the song and not interacting for the sake of it.

Brandon heads back to 1988’s ‘The Price You Pay’ album to revisit The Price. Arguably one of Brandon’s best songs and to have it interpreted by such talented musicians all looking from different angles pay dividends with Brandon’s howls never sounding so good.

‘Golden Boy’ was the Ruts DC ode to Malcolm Owen and was released on the bands ‘Music Must Destroy’ album, apparently a favourite of Kirk Brandon who insisted that it be included here; somehow this partnership has added extra emotion and a haunting string arrangement that compliments the vocals that sound like they could be a beat away from heartbreak the classical guitar break only adds to the heartbreak and drama making it such a monumental track. A beautiful highlight for sure.

‘Slave’ taken from Theatre Of Hate’s 2016 ‘Kinshi’ album, Is stripped back with an acoustic lick and minimal shaker and percussion before the backing vocals usher in a thicker arrangement. The whole album is given a kiss-off with each artist offering up a classic from their respected catalogues. The Ruts ‘Staring At The Rude Boys’ was almost a skiffle take but captivating and I found myself nodding in appreciation. Spear Of Destiny’s ‘Never Take Me Alive’ always one of the highlights at the countless DMW shows I’ve seen over the years. SLF’s ‘Wasted Life’ being something of a country-tinged vibe with the lyrics being poignant and the hushed tones of Burns vocal being spot on. Expect the unexpected being my advice on these classics. It’s like they’ve been given a lick of paint from the original owners but using different shades and tones. Of course you recognise them but shifting the focus a little is interesting. Not meant to upstage the originals (how could they) but they stand as a talking point and stand alone as worthy soundwaves.

A real melting pot of old and new borrowed and blue this Dead Men Walking is exceptional labour of love from four supremely talented artists. I love these collaborations and ‘Freedom It Ain’t On The Rise’ is a wonderful collection of songs that are arranged really well with thought , love and respect and that shines through.

Not sure if we have Covid and lockdowns to thank for this seeing the light of day but I’m glad these guys took the time and patience to work it out. Don’t be daft and pass this by you won’t regret investigating this release, not for a minute. It’s like a ray of sunshine streaming through a crisp morning haze.

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

Stiv – A fantastic new Documentary get screening date – ticket details

Stiv – A fantastic new Documentary get screening date – ticket details

A new documentary on legendary DEAD BOYS frontman STIV BATORS is to get its UK premiere next month.

Born 70 years ago, the charismatic singer was the original embodiment of the self-destructive punk frontman with Cleveland, Ohio’s DEAD BOYS before embarking on a solo career. He went on to team up with members of SHAM 69 in THE WANDERERS. His greatest success came in the mid-80s with THE LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH alongside The Damned founder Brian James, Dave Tregunna from Sham 69 and ex-Barracudas drummer Nicky Turner.

The succinctly-titled Stiv, which features heaps of rare and unseen footage, as well as new interviews with all the major players in the singer’s life, is to receive its UK premiere on 24 March at the Regent Street Cinema, London as part of the Soundscreen Festival, presented in conjunction with Vive Le Rock! The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the film’s director Danny Garcia.

Tickets are available here.

Glen Matlock – ‘Good To Go’ (Peppermint Records)

Glen Matlock – ‘Good To Go’ (Peppermint Records)

Johnny Hayward.

It seems like only yesterday that RPM top boy Dom Daley and myself were watching Glen Matlock, Earl Slick and Slim Jim Phantom deliver a very promising headlining set on one of the side stages at the annual Rebellion Festival in Blackpool. It was, however, four years ago…so that’s how long I’ve been waiting to finally get to hear what this trio actually sound like on record.

 

That live appearance was certainly a tough one to try to pigeonhole, largely because whilst it was an infectious blend of all three musicians’ previous bands along with elements of some of their key influences, it also included their take on Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’, an audacious curveball for any reviewer to try and get to grips with if ever there was one. Thankfully Glen Matlock decided well ahead of the release of ‘Good To Go’ to come out and badge the dozen tracks he’s recorded here with Slick and Phantom as “loud skiffle”, a genre he has apparently wanted to try since seeing Bob Dylan at the Albert Hall a few years back.

 

Dropping the CD into my player the opening 1-2 of ‘Won’t Put The Brakes On Me’ and ‘Wanderlust’ get an immediate thumbs up from me with the former a track that has a real 60s strut to it whilst the latter chugs along on a top-notch Slick lick chock full of lip curling attitude. However just as when I saw them live it’s Matlock’s vocal similarity to his Pistol-packing chum Steve Jones that really seals the deal for yours truly. Whilst we are talking of fat cockneys who like to sit around in swimming trunks ‘Sexy Beast’ is the first out and out rock and roller containing some trademark Slim Jim stick work and it’s a track that really wouldn’t look out of place on an Urban Voodoo Machine album with one hell of a catchy call and response chorus.

 

Elsewhere for your entry money, we get ‘Speak Too Soon’ which contains a wonderful Bowie-esque vibe whilst ‘Hook In You’ swaggers and sways on a dirty way past midnight 12 bar refrain. It’s at the midway point of the album though that I have to admit starting to feel a little bit of déjà vu creeping into ‘Good To Go’, but then up pops ‘Montague Terrace (In Blue)’ totally out of the blue (ouch) and yeah that’s the sound of me picking up my jaw back up off the floor. Tracks as sumptuous as this are exactly why the album format will always live long with serious music fans as this brooding bastard of a torch song is the main reason this record has been on constant loop on my stereo of the last few weeks. You really must listen to it all in sequence to get it though, okay?

 

As ‘Good To Go’ reaches the home straight ‘Strange Kinda Taste’ and album closer ‘Keep On Pushing’, both bring to mind the kind of thing Ian Hunter does these days, in so much that this is music that the musicians have grown into over their long and varied careers, and they sound very comfortable in their skin. Yes, it’s ultimately rock ‘n’ roll music (which I guess is what “loud skiffle really is anyway) but with ‘Good To Go’ Glen Matlock is certainly not trying to swindle you into thinking it’s anything else. Great stuff!

Buy Here

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