2025 was shaping up to be a pretty damn cool year for new records getting released and then a short few months ago it go raised a notch or two with news that Wyldlife had their brand new album in the can and being melted onto wax with immediate effect and then the promo landed on the virtual doormat of RPM HQ and the party started. Holy Moly, this band were always rockin’ and the first on the invite to any out of control house party, but with ‘Sorted’ I believe they’ve just raised the bar a little further and 2025 just got even better.
Ten tracks bristling with energy and the Joie de vivre needed to sort the wood from the chaff. proceedings kick off with the bone rattling ‘Bystander’ harnessing their cheeky chappies persona with an open bottle cigarette in the corner of the mouth and collar turned up on the leather jacket, these cats are bringing the edge to the party and kicking over the amps, this party just got out of hand. What a banger to open your record with. Fist punching, head shaking, like a cat on the proverbial hot tin roof this is the shit right here!
Now, not wanting to blow your stack early doors, ‘Fast Dreams’, the first glimpse into what was on this record, was released, and a ball of energy and super cool swagger it is too. Snotty, cocksure, punked up Power Pop is the bubble gum blowing name of the game, and Wyldlife have the whole shooting match sewn up.
Imagine the danger of The Libertines mixed with the cool of early Strokes, teamed up with The best of The Hives, and you’re not a million miles away from what’s going on here. The Bass guitar holds the beat steady as the drums shuffle in on ‘Little Headcase’ with its big chorus dripping in harmony, it’s one hell of an opening few tracks, and this one has a teeth-rattling guitar break for good measure.
To be fair, it’s ten tracks of perfect single length, no padding or deviating from their MO it’s Rock n Roll baby, and they’ve not got long to deliver their sermon, so it’s get on with it. The songwriting is spot on, with every track sounding like it could be their finest moment, and they know it.
OH hang on, side one closes with ‘Dizzy’ reaching a staggering five minutes, but it ebbs and flows like a dream. Slower in tempo but could and should be a hit on the radio from one continent to the other.
If it’s boundless energy you want, flip it over ‘Generate 2 Terminate’ is off like a racing snake with its arse on fire. This record is right up there with their first two albums, the self-titled and ‘The Time Has Come To Rock and Roll’, maybe given time, this will be their finest hour. Hang o,n ‘Goes Without Saying’ opens with a picked acoustic guitar. Have Wyldlife crashed and burned? pfew, its a false start and the chords are big strummed fuckers offering a different texture like rolling through town at dusk with the top down looking for the party.
When I reached the end of ‘Terminal Blue’ I felt a bit sad that there was only ‘Shotgun’ left but what a way to sign off. A stunning album. Whilst the world is heading to Hell in a handcart with no breaks we need records that offer hope and sunshine, and Wyldlife have got that ‘Sorted’. This one might well take some beating for the coolest and most upbeat album of the year and we’re not even halfway through. Now, Can someone bring these guys to Shit Island UK on a package tour with Poison Boys and Ravagers pretty Please. Sorted, go get a copy and thank me later.
Toronto punk heroes PUP – comprised of Stefan Babcock, Nestor Chumak, Zack Mykula, and Steve Sladkowski – released their fourth album, THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND, in 2022.
The album earned PUP universal acclaim, countless Top 10 Billboard chart positions including #1 Heatseekers, Top New Artists Albums and Alternative New Artist Albums, and a slew of sold-out shows across the globe. They’re keeping it going with an arena tour on home turf in support of Sum 41 that kicks off tomorrow night, so to celebrate they return today with a new single. The explosive, John Congleton-produced track “Paranoid” is out now, and marks PUP’s first new release in two years.
Stefan Babcock says of the new single: “My favourite part of this song is the breakdown 1:45 in. Whenever we try and do a heavy breakdown with catchy vocals we end up sounding like the world’s worst melodic hardcore band. But somehow it worked on this song. I think because it’s so intense in that moment that it’s actually kind of funny and a bit hard to take seriously. There’s some humour in that and how it plays against what I’m yelling about in a way I really like. Plus Nestor plays the melody from ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ on the bass at the heaviest moment in the song which really cracks me up every time I hear it.”
“Paranoid” is accompanied by an ingenious, whipsmart music video by long-time PUP collaborator Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux, who said: “What started out as a way to keep the bruising and heartbreaking lyrics to ‘Paranoid’ front and centre turned into a little love letter for rock band merchandise and the unsung heroes who run the merch table. Special thanks to co-director Clem Hoeney and all the real PUP fans who came out and went so hard for a hundred takes!”
The band are also launching their MORE BAD STUFF – A PUPTHEBAND Substack. A reincarnation of the band’s zine series PUPTHEZINE, this Substack will be an ongoing digital version or, as they like to call it, “PUPTHEBAND’S brand new digital hellscape.” They will use it to post unreleased songs, discuss the writing process, play-through tracks, and to share comics, old photos, live recordings, tour stories and more. The first two posts, featuring the original 4-song EP of pre-PUP band Topanga and some Built To Spill covers by Stefan, are out now.
SIGN UP FOR “MORE BAD STUFF – APUPTHEBAND SUBSTACK” HERE
And to follow on from their sold-out dates with Jimmy Eat World here at the tail-end of last year, PUP also announce their return to UK and EU shores for a headline tour in May with full dates listed below.
For the EU/UK dates, the band will take Illuminati Hotties along as their main support (all shows excluding Spain) and Goo will additionally join for the UK run.
10/01/2025 – Victoria, BC @ Save On Foods Memorial Centre 11/01/2025 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena 13/01/2025 – Kelowna, BC @ Prospera Place 16/01/2025 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome 17/01/2025 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place 18/01/2025 – Saskatoon, SK @ Sasktel Centre 20/01/2025 – Winnipeg, MB @ Canada Life Place 23/01/2025 – St. Catharines, ON @ Meridian Centre 24/01/2025 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre 25/01/2025 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell 27/01/2025 – London, ON @ Budweiser Gardens 28/01/2025 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena 30/01/2025 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
UK and EU:
07/05/2025 – Birmingham, UK @ XOYO Birmingham 08/05/2025 – Leeds, UK @ Project House 10/05/2025 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Ritz 11/05/2025 – Glasgow, UK @ SWG3 (TV Studio) 12/05/2025 – Newcastle, UK @ Newcastle University 13/05/2025 – Bristol, UK @ Marble Factory 15/05/2025 – Southampton, UK @ Engine Rooms 16/05/2025 – London, UK @ O2 Forum Kentish Town 18/05/2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg 20/05/2025 – Cologne, Germany @ Club Volta 21/05/2025 – Hamburg, Germany @ Logo 22/05/2025 – Berlin, Germany @ Hole44 23/05/2025 – Munich, Germany @ Strom 25/05/2025 – Paris, France @ Bellevilloise 27/05/2025 – Madrid, Spain @ Sala Mon 28/05/2025 – Barcelona, Spain @ Upload 29/05/2025 – València, Spain @ Loco Club 30/05/2025 – San Sebastian, Spain @ Dabadaba
Episode 51 mixes brand-new tracks with some older classics that might have been forgotten, as well as an overload of covers.
First up is the exciting news that Midlife Crisis have a date of Feb 25 for the release of the long-awaited album. Fans of Hellacopters and Backyard Babies might want to tune into this bad boy. We play the opening track off the album ‘Silver Son Johnnie’ ’45 to 33′ is the name of the album and pre-orders to come along with a review of the LP.
Local South Wales noisemakers Bad Shout have an EP coming out in December on Repeat Records and its a banger. Six tracks of fizzing punk rock and we drop ‘Doublecross’ to get you excited and up for the preorder off Repeat.
Scandinavia features heavily on this week’s podcast with entries hitting Pumphouse HQ and the second offering from the North is Plastic Tears and their brand new single ‘Motorhome’. Hot on the heels is The Ratchets with the sound of Noo Jersey and ‘Holy Mother Of God’.
From the compilation album ‘Fucked By Rock’ Crazyhead should have been huge. Spearheading the Greebo scene they easily had the coolest single title ever committed to wax in ‘What Gives You The Idea Your So Amazing Baby’ but we entertain ‘Buy A Gun’ a forgotten classic. Probably not a song for the PC brigade but we love it and it would be nice fo the compilation to get a vinyl pressing doncha think?
David Delinquent and The IOUs are a new one on us and the Dundee pop n rollas have released this single ‘Nobody’s Else’ and what a banger it is. Looking forward to hearing more from David and his Delinquent mates if it’s even half as good as this. We need to get these bands into peoples ears folks and the only way to do that is to play the podcast and share the music.
Dharma Guns are a new one on us and rather impressed we were. ‘Ex-Generation Superstars’, the band’s debut, is all about high-octane rock ‘n’ roll with a side order of sleaze, don’t believe us well, give it a listen. Followed up by the king of catchy power pop Kurt Baker with his brand new single out on Wicked Cool Records (where else).
Front Kicks dish up some power pop before Heavy Medication Records newest release the Never Land Ranch Davidians rock up with ‘Cactus Cool Man’ and get on the groove from their forthcoming album due in Feb 25 it promises to be another top notch release to look forward to.
Laura Jane Grace has just toured England in support of the brand new album or mini-album ‘Give An Inch’ so it seems fair to drop ‘Karma Coming Close’ from the EP.
A Knife For An Eye are up next with a thumping track off their album ‘Damnation Rock N Roll’ again outta Sweden its fair to say they’ve really impressed us here at HQ. The album cover is very striking as well with the classic Chuck Berry pose really setting the tone for some attitude adjustment as ‘Getting Hooked’ is on point because we certainly did.
It’s cover time and this week we have the interesting take of the Dead Boys classic ‘Sonic Reducer’ from Sweden’s 69 Eyes followed up by a demo of The Dead Boys that’s on their recent new record out on Cleopatra Records. A previously unreleased Stiv led tune ‘Ya Really Don’t Love Me’.
For a little reminder of how good the genre of fuzzed-up Garage rock could sound we have Datsuns ‘Mother Fucker From Hell’ off their debut record. For another cover and we head to NYC and Electric Frankenstein who did a split with shit islands’ own still warm but sadly deceased The Hip Priests and took on their early banger ‘Young Savage’.
The penultimate offering this week sandwiched between some Garage rock n Metal we bring the excellent Steve Vincent with the title track off his solo album ‘The Best Kept Secret In Rock n Roll’ anyone who doesn’t know is myself and Steve still wears the finest pairs of Rock n Roll slippers also known as pixie boots or macho types refer to them as Chelsea boots but to give him credit Steve has quite the collection and hopefully we can see him wearing a pair live on stage sometime in 2025.
Finally, we’ve given in to Chris and his persistent nagging to get Therapy On the playlist as well as Judas Priest but I couldn’t possibly play anything by Halford and co so relented when he informed me that Therapy? had indeed paid their respects by covering ‘Breaking The Law’ so squeeze into your spandex, strap on your studded wrist bands and pull a wheelie on your chopper as we end with ‘Breaking The Law’. Catch you next week for more quality tunes from the Pumphouse here at RPM Online HQ.
‘SUBLIME DESTRUCTION’ IS OUT NOW VIA CADIZ MUSIC – ORDER THE ALBUM HERE:
“A level of skilled musicianship far exceeding the Fisher-Price punk of your average contemporary outfits.”Classic Rock 8/10
“Furious punk-infused rock ‘n’ roll with huge choruses. 12 tracks that prove the sulphate spirit never dies.” Daily Mirror Newspaper
Fresh from a UK tour with Australian punk legends the Cosmic Pyschos, and two sold out shows in Finland, New Zealand/London punk ‘n’ rollers Desperate Measures are primed to release a fifth single from their acclaimed ‘Sublime Destruction’ album, released via Cadiz Music earlier this year.
Titled ‘Untouchable’, the song finds Desperate Measures easing their feet a little off the accelerator pedals for a track that loses none of its intensity, despite its slower pace.
“‘Untouchable’ is a bit different for us. It was the last song we wrote for the album, and I guess it has shades of the Psychedelic Furs or Lords Of The New Church about it. Basically, it’s a ballsy, dark love song,” says singer Eugene.
Desperate Measures are busy working on new material for an EP release later this year and will be ripping up stages up and down the country for the rest of 2024. Look out!
Now Steve Conte really caught my attention when he was drafted in to play guitar alongside Sylvain Sylvain in the Dolls and following that the solo career he was forging was all killer and no filler and even when he played in Michael Monroe band and wrote songs for someone as talented as Monroe to sing he couldn’t put a foot wrong it would seem. ‘Bronx Cheer’ was his last offering and to be fair I loved it I thought he had written some of his best material on that album and his vocals seemed to have been elevated to the next level as well. Fast forward a couple of years and after much social media jibber jabber about writing new material for another solo album I thought Conte can’t possibly top the last album but after running through this album for a couple of months I truly believe he’s mixed up his Rock album formula with a new found new wave pop seam and mined it to the maximum and taking a side step into some new territory works well and drafting in someone he really admires and holds in high regards a certain Andy Partridge from XTC is both interesting and unexpected but ultimately a fine move from the evidence of the co written tunes that make up the opening side of this album.
Clever clogs album title aside this might well prove to be Conte’s finest work to date which is no small feat for someone who has quite an impressive output over the last decade or so. Ian Hunter, Danko Jones, Steve Lillywhite, Nasty Suicide and Glen Matlock raise an eyebrow alongside several other impressive talents on show. The Melodies are constant and at every turn and the pop songs wear many outfits from bluesy rockers or more punky-edged songs Conte has covered all bases yet made a cohesive and truly wonderful album.
Ultimately Conte has evolved his repertoire and moved in another direction and quite possibly turned in his finest album thus far in an ever-impressive collection of mightily fine albums. Don’t just take my word for it check it out for yourself and immerse yourself in a fantastic album brimming with glorious songs where he goes from here, who knows, at this point, the world is his oyster and I’m happy to spend the next couple of years marvelling at ‘The Concrete Jangle’ my only complaint is it could have gone on and on, no should have gone on and on. Buy IT!
First up this cold and wet UK morning is Autogramm, a synth-driven power-pop band from Seattle, Chicago and Vancouver. They have just announced their latest LP ‘Music That Humans Can Play’ with an advance single and video for the track “Plastic Punx”.
Their first album in over two years will be released on vinyl and digital formats world-wide on November 17th via Stomp Records and Beluga Records EU.
New York City guitarist, singer-songwriter Steve Conte has released the music video for his latest single “Girl With No Name.”
The clip was shot on the streets of NYC & in studio by Natborn Productions’ Peter Perenyi & son Orion Perenyi, with motion graphics, lyrics & final touches by David Provan at 12 Inch Media.
The song follows the summer release of his single “Fourth Of July” (co-written with Andy Partridge of XTC).
Conte says, “This is a song of regret…about missed opportunity and lack of skills in meeting someone you’re attracted to.
When putting my new album together, I was looking for songs that would fit nicely alongside the songs that Andy Partridge and I had written for it and I kept thinking of this one. I wrote it back in 1984 and never forgot it – which was a good sign.
Because it came to me so long ago I can’t exactly remember my process for writing it, except that since I was young & single at that time I was probably experiencing these kinds of situations & feelings on a daily basis!
Musically, I can hear what was influencing me back then; mid 60s Beatles, mid 80s XTC, and that beloved Motown groove from a certain Diana Ross & The Supremes song…”
A follow-up LP to Conte’s acclaimed 2021 solo album Bronx Cheer, is expected in Spring 2024 via Steven Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records.
Marc Valentine, the unmistakably British singer-songwriter whose powerpop-fueled debut album was released last year to critical acclaim, returns with ‘Jinx Of Finchley Road’ – a digital single scheduled for release through Little Steven’sWicked Cool Records.
Produced by Dave Draper (The Wildhearts, Ryan Hamilton, The Professionals), the song hints at nefarious and uncanny happenings in North London. Nostalgia and mystery meet in a basement full of hooks to create a single that sounds as if it was plucked from the charts during the glory days of Britpop.
Having honed his craft over four albums with cult pop-rockers Last Great Dreamers, Valentine launched a solo career in 2022, his album ‘Future Obscure’ delighting fans and picking up praise from an array of publications.
‘Jinx Of Finchley Road’ marks his return to the spotlight, which looks set to grow even brighter through 2024.
Available on vinyl for the first time this early naughties release is having its vinyl debut but with four additional songs.
Don’t bother tryign to work out which one is Len because none of these three are called Len (obviously). This trio (luckily they aren’t a four piece or five and there is actually only three of em. Bare-bones guitar, bass and drums; classicly British. they get by on great hooks and vocal harmonies; fifteen songs in total and all done and dusted in half an hour.
Chinese Burn’ is the 2007 debut album from The Len Price 3, of course it is being rereleased by Wicked Cool Records, for the first time ever on vinyl, because Wicked Cool know a good LP when they hear it.
Raw, passionate, two-minute tunes of the Who, the Kinks, and the Clash, is pretty much the MO for The LenPrice 3 and they deliver a high-energy garage rock n roll.
Imagine in the swinging 60s a band like this rolled up to play the Marquee with the melodies and swing but added the punch that this record has it would have been devastating. It’s got the snot of punk and the barroom boogie of Dr Feelgood. It’s not an easy sound to perfect and many have tried and failed along the way. Let’s face it these guys didn’t cross my path for some reason back in the day but one thing fo sure I’m so glad I’ve had the chance to acquaint my ears with these tunes now thanks to Wicked Cool and their pursuit of excellent rock n roll.
Fifteen songs are present here and everyone is an explosion of great songwriting and a fantastic retro yet modern sound that has guts, power and subtlety, not a combination many bands can achieve. It’s like the Kinks and The Who made a supergroup using the Jams equipment from the rapid chops of the title track its got swing and a masterclass in songwriting.
They nail the harmonies like on ‘Viva Viva’ but it’s the cheeky rock that gives it edge kicking and screaming but always being quality. What a great album from top to bottom – ‘Swine Fever’ is a proper earworm but then ‘Amsterdam’ is as well Daltry and Townsend must be cursing these guys for having the chops at a time when Roger is more concerned with shouting his tory bollocks whilst the Len Price 3 are cutting the mustard back home writing top-notch records like this. ‘Chatham Town Spawns Devils’ – I bet it does but they’ll be pleased it’s wrapped up in such a rockin’ tune. Writing a song about ‘Big Daddy’ isn’t something you expected to hear. Cheeky boys. Before they’re done I love ‘Medway Eye’.
Quintessentially a record that could only ever have come out of England and that’s part of its charm and beauty. It’s happy and avin’ it large at the same time. The Len Price 3 dish up a tasty treat now go get yourself some it’s worth it and so are you.
Texan singer-songwriter Ryan Hamilton is tired of the Bad Breaks, ‘Bad Breaks’ is most definitely available digitally on all platforms from May 16.
“Dear music business executives. I have some things to get off my chest. Are you listening?…” So begins Ryan Hamilton’s latest single release, pissed-off and squaring-up firmly against a self-serving music industry.
Spin magazine has hailed Hamilton as one of the ‘35 Best Lesser Known Artists of The Last 35 years’, but owing to a calamitous series of events around the release of his latest album, it appears the gods of rock want it to stay that way.
Hamilton entered 2023 full of optimism, stating back in January, “I’ve been on the verge of tipping the proverbial scales for several years now. I’ve had some incredible people supporting and championing me. Now that all the pandemic-related road blocks are out of the way, it’s time.”
Nominated every year for the past fourteen for some kind of ‘Best New’ artist award, it felt like the elusive ‘next-level’ was finally within reach.
Originally slated for a March 10 release, ‘Haunted By The Holy Ghost’, Hamilton’s fourth record for Stevie Van Zandt’s ‘Wicked Cool’ label, had all the hallmarks of a career high. Advance reviews were uniformly giddy, Classic Rock magazine for one calling it ‘genius – one for the ages’. Then, days before the album’s release, it all turned to shit. A completely random check discovered that CDs of the album had entirely the wrong audio. A worldwide recall was hastily ordered.
Initially pushed back by over a month, in the week of its new release date, certain retailers inexplicably reported the album was delayed by a further week. And then by another. Completely in the dark, Hamilton was powerless to keep his loyal fan base appraised of the unraveling situation. Reports kept coming in of various pre-orders arriving in homes early and the album being displayed for sale in stores, such a stuttered release totally destroying Hamilton’s chances of emulating or eclipsing his previous multiple Top 10 Official UK Chart placings.
His response in the face of such adversity?…
To immediately write, record and schedule a stand-alone single directly addressing the music industry that has failed him so spectacularly. A brand new track/ single just weeks after releasing the latest album. It’s a bold move.
After the new album delays, manufacturing errors, the album leaking early… then getting delayed – and AGAIN! etc… I decided it was time to draw a line. Do something new, something completely different. Something that I had total control over. One suspects the opening guitar twang on the single doesn’t evoke Beck’s ‘Loser’ by accident, as Hamilton rails unto his audience, spoken word: “I am not a person to you. I am NOT a person to you. You are the Dealer and we are the addicts. You don’t need me. You have Harry Styles and Taylor Swift!” What do you think will be the industry response to the message behind the new single – (or should you even care?) I don’t know and I don’t care. Which is new territory for me. I think because I’ve been through so much shit with the “Industry” over the past several months – and years… and it’s gotten me nowhere… I really don’t care what they think. Truth is, they’ll probably just ignore me. Both Taylor Swift and Harry Styles get name-checked on the new single, what do you think they’ll make of it? They will never hear it. They live in the “super famous” bubble. They don’t visit us down here in Struggling Artist Land. The video for Bad Breaks looks like you’re taking a real beating… Yeah. Nothing like getting slapped in the face repeatedly! Especially when you have to do several takes. But it’s an accurate representation of the song, and how I’m feeling. Hamilton continues the song by championing the cause for better treatment and remuneration of “paycheck to paycheck” artists like himself (“your critical acclaim doesn’t fill my fridge, your awards don’t pay my bills”), positing: “Imagine movies – without music. Imagine television – without music. Imagine theatre… without music.”
Once finally out in the world ‘Haunted By The Holy Ghost’ was embraced by a hugely supportive audience (despite many CDs still carrying the wrong audio). Aware of at least a fraction of the lows (and lows) befalling Hamilton, several fans fighting on behalf of the underdog bought extra copies and gifted forward to friends. But with such a fractured release the album eventually staggered into the lower reaches of the Official UK Charts across several weeks, rather than have one big victorious birth.
For months you seemed to be on a roll promoting this album with hilarious videos highlighting the pitfalls you’ve struggled against in the music industry. Then a devastating cluster of cock-ups with your album led to it being delayed by nearly two months. Does it ever feel like someone’s playing a sick cosmic joke on you? I must have really pissed off the Music gods, because… DAMN! We had so many incredible things on the horizon. I turned in “Haunted By The Holy Ghost” over a year ago. We had been planning and promoting for a year. So, for it all to go to shit the way it has is pretty devastating as far as the hopes we had for the album. So, is this the way forward for you – writing, recording and self-releasing as often as you want, without ‘Industry’ interference/hindrance? Absolutely, 100%! I’ve been so beaten down by all the recent insanity, the only thing that makes me feel excited, or inspired, is escaping and doing things on my own. Does this mean plenty of new music on the horizon? It means an ABUNDANCE of it. I already have another album’s worth of material. You announced a ‘Farewell Tour – Part 1’, which was subsequently cancelled. More bad breaks?…
Yeah. You can’t make this shit up. Album delayed, Tour(s) cancelled. None of it within my control… but I’m the one paying the price for other people’s screw-ups. It’s inspired me to do things differently moving forward. It’s gonna be better. I believe it. Previous single ‘Asshole’, brilliantly released on Valentine’s Day, got the attention of the Darkness’ Justin Hawkins, humorously branding it as ‘career self-sabotage’. It must feel good to get recognition from your peers… Absolutely! Love that guy, and I love the way he operates. To have his support and hear someone I look up to praise a song like “Asshole” is amazing. On even cheerier news, you recently announced that your wife is expecting and that you’ll soon be first-time parents. Congratulations! Thank you. I didn’t think being a dad was in the cards for me. I’ve surprised myself by how excited I am about it. Hopefully no saccharine lullabies for the newborn – there’s been some real stinkers from rock-Dad’s over the years… Haha. ZERO chance of that happening from me. I think it will have a really interesting effect on my songwriting. But I guess we’ll find out soon enough. And presumably you’ll be advising your offspring AGAINST a career in the music business?… Haha. Nah, if they want to get into the Music Business, I’ll just be their Manager and use my wealth of knowledge on what NOT TO DO. And what of touring? Is it ‘farewell’?…
I just confirmed a House Party Tour for early next year. Yes, really. I’m headed to the UK to play in people’s living rooms. I’m tired of doing the same old thing that everyone else is doing. Time to mix it up, and reconnect with the incredible people who support me and my music. Finally, if you could give any advice to independent artists from your own experience, what would it be? Don’t worry about “big” shows or “big” tours. I’ve made that mistake, and been let down too many times. Focus on your craft, promote yourself online, or with a Newsletter (something I just started, and LOVE) … and really focus on becoming a better songwriter, or guitar player, or singer etc. Here’s to Bad Breaks ushering in a run of better luck for Hamilton
We’ve been banging on about Texas singer/songwriter Ryan Hamilton since before RPM was even a thing, and for good reason. Ryan is an artist who always seems to be on the verge of breaking through with every new album, before some personal tragedy scuppers his plans and he’s back to square one.
They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, well that all depends on what is trying to kill you, I guess. In Ryan’s case it could be a cheating first wife, addiction, divorce, online abuse, the record business, cancelled tours and most recently…a delayed album due to manufacturing errors. All the above have happened in the last decade and you really couldn’t make it up, but Ryan is still soldiering on, and thank your lucky stars he is.
‘Haunted By the Holy Ghost’ follows his 2020 break up album ‘Nowhere To Go But Everywhere’ and the following lockdown album ‘1221’. Produced by go-to-guy Dave Draper who also plays bass, along with Ben Marsden on guitar and Carol Hodge and Emily Ewing on backing vocals. It was recorded at Draper’s studio The Old Cider Press and Ryan’s home studio in Texas, making the whole album a transatlantic power pop affair.
The opening song ‘Asshole’ shows Ryan’s current attitude towards the music business. It was released on Valentine’s Day as an act of self-sabotage guaranteeing zero radio airplay, which is maybe a silly idea if you are a struggling artist wanting airplay, but I’m sure he knows what he’s doing…. but its ok, because this album is choc-a-bloc with singles!
The title track is classic Ryan power pop, a radio-friendly earworm inspired by his Catholic upbringing. With an infectious hook and a euphoric feel, it is an early highlight. ‘Paper Planes’ again, is the sort of song Ryan first showed promise with on ‘Hell Of A Day’, full of quirky, power pop goodness and a euphoric middle section that takes it up a notch.
Ryan is never shy to pen an 80’s style power ballad or two, and for this album he has outdone himself. There are two ‘lighter in the air’ moments that could end up on future teen lovers’ mixtapes. The first ‘Overdose’ is not about drug addiction, but about falling madly and deeply, like ‘first love’ deep or ‘marriage material’ deep. You know, right? We’ve all been there. Elsewhere the emotive ‘Absence Of Love’, lyrically is the complete opposite to the aforementioned ‘Overdose, while full of heartbreak and yearning, it is still as emotive though.
A cover of Splender’s ‘Yeah, Whatever’ is given a lick of aural magic by Ryan and Dave Draper. Indie beats and those quirky vocals give the turn of the century alternative hit a new lease of life, as they do with George Strait’s ‘All My Exes Live In Texas’. This fun run through was a past single but shows its face here as a hidden track (it’s a homage to the CD era, kids!) after the closing song of the album.
‘Sad Bastard Song’ officially closes the 12-track album, and it is the best song here for several reasons. For one, I just love the countrified acoustics and pedal steel guitar vibes, and secondly the tongue-in-cheek lyrics may on the surface make it seem like a throwaway, comedic song for losers, but the stark reality is that these lyrics are from the heart and probably ring truer than you would think, and it’s probably my favourite song on the goddamn record.
It’s a sad fact that some of my favourite artist from the last 30 years will never get the commercial success or the critical acclaim they so rightly deserve. Times are tougher than ever for the underdog, but only one thing can make a difference…you, the music buying public. It would be a tragedy for an album this good to slip under the radar when it should be up there with the Adele’s and the Tayor Swift’s of the world, but how can Ryan compete with those big guns? Who knows, but maybe if when you finish reading these words, you were to click a link and buy this album, that would help just a little. I mean, c’mon, it’s worth it just for that cover art of Jesus in shades, right?
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