Shux are an experimental punk band from Missouri who I first became aware of last year when I came across their song I Don't Wanna Indoor Toilet on the Horrendous New Wave album. It was released by Fish Records (a sub label of Lumpy Records, the label started up by Martin Meyer who's featured in a number of great bands including Lumpy And The Dumpers, BB Eye, Cal And The Calories etc...).
Earlier this month they released a 5 track demo. As well as I Don't Wanna Indoor Toilet, there's 3 more original compositions plus a cover of Devo's Goo Goo Itch. You can, and should, snap up the demo name your price.... https://shuxshuxshux.bandcamp.com/releases
If you have a liking for slightly off kilter, female fronted post punk/new wave then you should enjoy Shux. There's a definite Devo influence to their sound whilst the vocals remind me of so many great innovative bands from punk's history. Definitely best played loud, definitely a grower. This is Not A Not Nazi....
It's Friday, it's guest review day and it's the return of Enemies Of Promise frontman and Revolution Rock presenter Ade Bailey who's going to review the latest album by The Defects. Over to you Mr Bailey.....
The Defects – ‘Feed The Good Dog’
It’s often the case that the bands we remember from the early days of punk attempt to make come-backs, reunions and nostalgic tours, and when they do, it’s with very mixed results. Belfast boys The Defects however never really went away – constantly making music and ever active in the wonderful scene the city has.
So here we are with ‘Feed The Good Dog’ hot on the heels of 2015’s (patchy at best) ’45 Minutes’ and straight from the off it’s clear where this album’s roots and message lie, targeting a new set of injustices, Buck and the boys launch into ‘Another Broken Promise’ and it’s huge! Politicians seem to be the main villains on this record (and rightly so) with absolutely everything cranked up to maximum – Roy McAllister’s guitar sound across the whole record is incredible. Coupled with Buck Defect’s trademark staccato delivery, it’s a thrill packed 30 mins of an album with choruses that instantly get stuck in your head and are destined to be shouted back at the band from pits across the country this year.
The majority of the subject matter is the current state of the world but there are the odd little diversions like ‘Gate Crash’ which is the natural companion to 2013’s ‘Hill Street’ with its tale of party nights past. Another stand out is ’30 Billion Dollar Swindle’ which delves into moon-landing conspiracies and has a very clever Neil Armstrong sample woven into the chorus – it’s terrific listening.
I always rated ‘Politicophobia’ as their best work until this little gem landed. It’s rarely been off my playlist over the past few weeks and I can honestly say it’s made a early bid for my album of 2018. Check it out, you won’t regret it.
Royal Brat are "queer femme punk lizards straight outta Minneapolis and sort of Missouri too..." Their line up features Alex Uhrich (vocals), Clara Salyer (guitar), Shannon Boyer (bass) and Conor Burke (drums). In 2015 hey released the 5 track Negative Bone cassette on No Problem Records and last year ended with them teasing their new material with a demo version of Virgin. You can check those out here : https://royalbratmpls.bandcamp.com/
Stiff Love are a 4 piece garage punk band from Olympia, Washington who feature members of a number of other cool bands such as Beta Boys, Lysol, Freak Vibe, Lowest Priority, Mutant Cross, Very Mental and The Vitamens. They formed last year and the line up is Xtine (Christine Lundberg) (guitar/vocals), Elysa Pfeiffer (bass), Dahlia Shapiro (guitar) and Claudia Dambra (drums).
They announced themselves last summer with the cassette For The Whole Family and returned earlier this year with excellent ep, Trouble. You can find both releases here : https://stifflove.bandcamp.com/
4 tracks, all great. Definitely a band to watch. Reminding me a little of Wild Billy Childish and his all female associates Thee Headcoatees, this is Up In Your Room....
Muscle Barbie are from Vienna and play "rough and ready UK79 snot punk." They're a trio featuring Soletti Gator, Todd Midge Tutti and Danny Cochs. In December 2016 they released the All Your Stuff tape (2016) and are preparing to follow it up in June of this year with a s/t 12" which will be available from Harbinger Sound. The digital d/l of All Your Stuff and a teaser track from the upcoming 12" can be found here : https://musclebarbie.bandcamp.com/
When London feminist punk witches Dream Nails recently released their new single I was going to feature it on here but hung on hoping they'd put flip side Fascism Is Coming (Get Out Of Bed) on Youtube so I could share it with you guys. After waiting a while I decided to ask if I could stick it on Youtube myself, unfortunately they said no. There is however a video already on there for the other song on the single so even though many of you will already have seen it, that's what you're getting today. For Fascism Is Coming you'll have to visit Bandcamp : https://dreamnails.bandcamp.com/album/vagina-police-fascism-is-coming-get-out-of-bed-double-a-side
All proceeds from the single (as well as the digital release it's also out on red vinyl) will go to Abortion Support Network (ASN) so not only do you get 2 great songs, a good cause benefits too. The band will be playing plenty of gigs over the next few months and you can get details on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/yourdreamnails/
Railing against those who feel that women shouldn't have control over their own bodies, this is Vagina Police....
Your body is not your own You have no autonomy Your body is not your own You are public property
Your body is not your own You have no autonomy Your body is not your own You are public property
From the first drop of blood They already want to split us open For the world to dip into
They want to know What comes in What goes out What it looks like Whether you have one
Your body is not your own You have no autonomy Your body is not your own You are public property
Your body is not your own You have no autonomy Your body is not your own You are public property
Parisienne punk-rock-garage-electro-big beat-pop-anarcho saviours of the two and a half minute pop song are back with a new ep. They haven't hung around as their album, Favela Ninja has only just been released on limited edition blue vinyl (http://www.rockufo.fr/product/favela-ninja-vinyle). The new ep is titled Kiiroichurippu : Hopeless Love In The Age Of The Glitch. It's not what you'd call your typical punk record, it is very good (think J-Rock meets Euro Dance!) and you can check it out here : https://louislinggandthebombs.bandcamp.com/album/kiiroichurippu-hopeless-love-in-the-age-of-the-glitch-2 Snap it up, it's name your price.
This is the lead track and it's one of the best things the band have done. Way back when the kids were all hopped up and ready to go, Sheena was a vibrant young thing ready to break away. The Sheena in this song is feeling her age.
This is Sheena Is Too Old...
Alternative - alternative facts abound
around the world - she’s caught up in a storm of lies She feels her a-age, computer noise, no help at all
She cries alo-one, Coping with a loss of hope.
Verse 2
rasping bre-eath - of a wild and twisted world
She can’t acce-ept, prozac pulsing through her viens
Scared on stre-eet - but she knows it’s all a lie
feels obsole-ete - as if her friends all think she died.
Oh oh oh
Prechorus the truth is always one step behind.
You think you understand how fucked up this world is? or The truth slowly slips away as we drown in chaos!
Chorus Sheena is too old! dumpster diving got her down
Kenny Kenny Oh Oh are a 4 piece punk band with members (Olaf, Kutte, Fritte & Made) from both Leipzig and Berlin. Various reviews I've seen compare them with such luminaries as The Avengers, Vice Squad, Soviettes, Vanna and White Lung. Think rocking, female fronted '77 punk meets riot grrrl (are we still allowed to say female fronted?) and you won't be far off. You can get more info here : https://www.facebook.com/kennykennyohoh/
Last year they released debut album I Will Not Negotiate. It's a short blast of aggression that should get you bouncing. You can find it "name your price" here : https://kennykennyohoh.bandcamp.com/
This is the opening song, it's called Why Can't We Say....
I don‘t wanna care you don‘t wanna care about that fucking appreciation I have to be best you have to be tough all tired of that competition so why can‘t we say no why don‘t we say fuck that damn appraisal no I can‘t say no though it nearly broke me down though it‘s making us all sick though it nearly broke me down though it‘s breaking us all down you don‘t need to pay your credit anymore
Chris Levesque is a member of Calgary punk outfit The Difficult Brown (https://www.facebook.com/difficultbrown/) and despite never having written anything like this before he's taken up the challenge of reviewing an album that was released last year by one of his favourite home town bands, Potato Rocket. The album is titled Grown Ass Adults and you can find it here : https://potatorocket.bandcamp.com/album/grown-ass-adults
Over to you Chris....
I have an obsession with three chord power pop so anytime I come across a new band in this regard I get all giddy like a school girl. Needless to say I was more than stoked when I discovered Potato Rocket playing one of their first shows here at Dickens in Calgary. Their sound wasn't completely there but I could see the potential and thought finally more bands to my liking right here in my backyard. So when they finally released a record I was excited as I knew most of their songs from going to many of their shows and they got better every time out. I needed those songs at home to listen to it whenever I pleased.
Simple 4 or 5 chord song structure, combined with lyrical themes which include feeling young while getting older, it might seem like a pop punk cliche, but they make an effort not to sound like anyone else. So comparisons to other bands have been few and far between. Influences including Rancid, Screeching Weasel, The Ergs! and several other bands that sound nothing like each other. This debut album is definitely in my forever catalogue.
“This record is the result of 3 years of writing, playing, lineup changes, life changes, breakups, new jobs and bitter exes. We aim to be introspective and sarcastic, or maybe sarcastically introspective. Grown ass adults who should know better, or adolescents in disguise? You be the judge.”
This is Fucked Up Generation....
they tell me that I'm the fucked up generation co dependent pessimistic they tell me I’m entitled not grateful for what I’m given self important that's an endorsement
now i know you don't believe when i say that i don’t care its just another phase i'm in, just trying to be fair I don't need you telling me its just a phase I’ve been stuck in this phase since seventh grade
well I’m still here i'm not going anywhere I could just disappear there's a whole world out there I know i'm a grown up adolescent but i still haven't learned my lesson
I guess I'm treading water and I don't know what I want To have everything, to move on Told me to go to college and then get a job That's what I did, its no fun
I know I don't have any plans for my future Right now it seems so far away how am i supposed to think about tomorrow I still haven't figured out today
I don't know what I'm talking about Don't listen to my advice I don't know what I'm talking about When I'm older I might think twice
Last Sunday's show (available here : https://www.mixcloud.com/mick-fletcher/just-some-punk-songs-180318/) saw a song called Latch Key Kids by Kickback Generation go down very well with the chatroom listeners. It's taken from their excellent new Fending For Ourselves ep so for today's update I'll post the video for another song from that release.
There's some very good blogs and shows/podcasts around at the moment promoting new punk music (feel free to name your favourites in the comments as I'm always keen to check them out) but I can't help but think we're a band of modern day Sisyphus' eternally rolling punk rock boulders up never ending hills of indifference. No matter how good the music is that we promote, the vast majority of the music loving public prefers naff tv karaoke. But we plough on as we enjoy it, we love discovering a new band and shouting about it in the hope others will feel the same. Manchester band Autonomads aren't a new band, they've been together since 2007, but boy are they good.
Mixing elements of dub, reggae, ska, punk & folk, they're a 5 piece featuring Jay (guitar/vocals), Porl (drums/vocals), Ehliot (bass), Perkie (keys/melodica/vocals) and Eeyun (guitar/vocals). With round 500 gigs and several European tours under their belts they're a finely honed outfit who get stronger with every release. The latest of those releases, All Quiet On The Western Front, came out last month and is the sort of record that deserves to be heard : https://autonomads.bandcamp.com/album/all-quiet-on-the-western-front
Dealing with topics such as the gentrification of Manchester (including the chopping down of the 100+ year old Birley Tree in the city centre to provide student accomodation), border controls/small island mentality and the under privilaged sleeping rough or under lock and key on both sides of the channel, the exploitation of the many by the few.
And there's the song I'm featuring today. IT'S NOT AN INSULT! This is Run Like A Girl.......
I got more unwanted male attention when I was twelve years old I still have my keys between my fingers when I'm walking home Humans only love you when your smiling I'm told So look happy, look happy, keep smiling, keep smiling
Chorus
You run like a girl, not an insult You cry like a girl, not an insult
Gotta be the man they say don't show how you feel But its all constructed and you know it just ain't real When I was young they said you know that boys don't cry Keep it down and grit your teeth until they day you die
Laugh and feel and cry and scream Yeah I'll laugh and feel and try and scream Laugh and feel and cry and scream Yeah I'll try and scream yeah I'll cry and scream
Now that I'm finally getting on top of the back log of songs I've had to post I can get round to one of my favourite releases of the year so far. The Lab Rats are a folk punk duo based in Manchester featuring Molly Yates (who's also a member of Liverpool ska punk band Bolshy) and Adam Mckeon (who's also a member of Manchester ska punk band Wadeye). I've played them on the Just Some Punk Songs show a couple of times and they've gone down a storm both times. One of the chatroom listeners described their mandolin led sound as being akin to a punky Fairport Convention.
Ricky, Rookie, Rocky & Ray Jay are The Young Rochelles. They're from Long Beach, New York and they're a kick ass old school pop punk band. But if you're a regular visitor to Just Some Punk Songs you know all that. You probably also know they released a fun self titled debut album last December..... https://theyoungrochelles.bandcamp.com/album/the-young-rochelles
What you may have missed is the release of a new video for one of the songs from that album. Filmed by Bambi Guthrie it's a Pepto Bismaltastic tale of over long bathroom visits, Tum snorting and projectile vomit. It even has a tacked on blooper reel. The song's pretty darn catchy too.
London scratch rockers Brain Ape are back with a new single. The trio that is Minky Tres-Vain (vocals/guitar), Sol Alex Albret (bass/vocals) and Jacob Powell (drums/vocals) have been melding together elements of punk, stoner rock and grunge since 2012 and are improving with every release. Debut album Dara O came out in 2014 and was followed last year by Auslander. The latter of those was described as an album that you want to hurt your neck to and you can check it out here : https://brainape.bandcamp.com/releases
A slightly condensed version of a track from Auslander has been given a single release. It's a more considered track than much of their other output. Less shouty, more moody ominous rumbling...loudQUIETloud. The spirit of late 80's/early 90's Seattle runs through it. It's still nearly 6 minutes long but will keep your attention throughout.
I tried to decipher the lyrics and discover what the song is about and I got David Bowie's alienation from society and his obsessive impulse to write. No doubt I'm completely wrong so decide for yourselves. This is Graphomania.....
Their first release was a live demo which they released last October, 30 copies which they sold at their first 2 shows. Another limited release was January's VHS single which appears to have been limited to 8 copies! Now They're preparing to release a special lathe cut 7" of their new Black Nylons ep. There'll be 50 copies of this and it'll ship the first week in May. No idea if any are still available but if you like what you hear from them and you want a super limited edition slab of vinyl (plus isue 1 of their Chromosome Damage zine) then hurry over to Bandcamp (where the ep is already streaming) https://cromdam.bandcamp.com/album/black-nylons-ep
Bug Central are the long running 3 piece anarcho punk band from London who recently released a new ep on the excellent Grow Your Own Records. I've played a couple of songs from it on the show so I was pleased when Bamboo Vipers (https://www.facebook.com/BambooVipers/) frontman Shaun Morris asked if he could select it when I collared him to do one of the guest reviews. Before I hand over to him I'll just give a couple of links for Bug Central...
Bug Central's new 7" There's More of Us. This London band have been cranking it out now for over 20 years. Blending the sound of Cock Sparrer style streetpunk with an anarco/protest vibe, their new single gets straight to the point and doesn't mince it's words. Like this alot and will check out their other stuff.
Yep, short but sweet and but hopefully enough to get you to want to check out the ep. This is my favourite track from it, it's called Without....
Dirty Cheetah are a rockin' n rollin' 4 piece from Montreal who recently released their debut single. It's titled I Need It and it's available digitally now on Bandcamp : https://dirtycheetah.bandcamp.com/track/i-need-it
The band line up with Pat Panic (lead vocals/guitar), Frank Letourneau (guitar/vocals), Don Lucas (bass/vocals) and Lynn Poulin (drums). Not always easy to tell on the evidence of one song but they sound to me as though they'll soon be registering on the radar of fans of budget rock and garage punk everywhere. Rumour has it there's more songs they're looking to release and future plans hopefully include a debut 7" on a UK label. Give them a like and keep up to date with any news.... https://www.facebook.com/DirtyCheetah/
Don't talk to me, don't look at me, when you stay away from me, I'm not gonna be the one that'll make you feel alright.... I need you outta my head!
Diamond In The Dirt are a 4 piece hardcore grunge-punk band from London who formed in 2015 and line up with Sunny (guitar/vocals), Sam Tids (guitar/ backing vocals), Aden Maine (bass/ backing vocals) and Billy Fuller (drums). They list amongst their influences the likes of Nirvana, Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes, CKY, Pulled Apart By Horses, Queens Of The Stone Age etc.
2017 proved to be a quiet year for them but they promise this year we'll be seeing a lot more of them. They've recently got a new website if you want to check for latest updates.... https://www.diamondinthedirtofficial.com/
This is the title track of the ep, it's energetic, it's catchy and it'll make you want to smash things! I played it on last night's show and it went down a storm so I'll share it to a wider audience today. It's called Hopeless....
I think it's fair to say that one of the hottest new bands on the punk scene are Melbourne 4 piece Amyl And The Sniffers. I may be a little biased as I chose their song 70's Street Munchies as the Just Some Punk Songs' song of the year for 2017 but since then I've noticed numerous people who's judgement I trust on these things liberally tossing round all number of superlatives (for example only 3 days ago Prostitutes frontman Kevin McGovern declared that they were the best thing he's heard in a long time). You probably already know how great they are, but if you've missed them so far then head over to Bandcamp to check out their 2 eps.... https://amylandthesniffers.bandcamp.com/
2018 will be the year they come to the attention of plenty more people, not only are they visiting England in May, they'll also be going over to the US. Plus, their new record is almost completed and is pencilled in for the summer. You can check for updates here : https://www.facebook.com/amylandthesniffers/
As I like them so much I'm pretty chuffed to be able to share with you a Top 10 chosen by vocalist Amy Taylor. The eagle eyed amongst you may notice there's more than 10 songs but hell, it's Amy Taylor, she can choose as many as she wants!
"Tried to pick mostly local bands, it's in no order......"
1) NASHO - Land Kills
2) THE DREGGS - Tunnel
3) C.O.F.F.I.N. - Above The Law
4) GRAVEYARD LUST - On Patrol
5) PARSNIP - Health
6) COLOURED BALLS - Devils Disciple
7) HANK WOOD AND THE HAMMERHEADS - It's Hard On The Streets
A return to the blog today for London's Victorian steampunks The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing. In previous updates I've told you that they formed in 2008, took their name from chalked graffiti left by Jack The Ripper and given you their line up so if there's anymore info you want check their Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/blamedfornothing/
They reappear here today (emerging like spectres from a thick, swirling Victorian smog) due to the release of their new album. It's titled Double Negative and it's out now on Leather Apron Records on vinyl, cd and download.... https://blamedfornothing.bandcamp.com/album/double-negative
The album is similar to a collection of penny dreadful short stories with topics covered including the likes of serial killer Jack The Ripper, grave robbers Burke and Hare, the sexual proclivities of Queen Victoria's son Bertie, Polish physicist & chemist Marie Curie etc. Definitely a must listen for those who like their music with a dash of ghoulish relish.
The album I've played most over the last couple of weeks is the latest one by Leeds "Queer Pop Punk" band Jesus And His Judgemental Father. Titled It Might Get Better and available from Specialist Subject it was released last September (which means I'm somewhat late to the ball but now I've arrived I'm making up for lost time by playing the hell out of it). Can I suggest you check it out.... https://jesusandhisjudgementalfather.bandcamp.com/album/it-might-get-better
The band features Danny Higgins (vocals, guitar), Sarah "Danger" Ward (guitar/vocals), Sofia Hicks (bass/vocals) and Flo Toch (drums). There's also guest appearances by Chrissy Barnacle, Beth Gibbins and (one of my favourite singers, having also graced the likes of Martha, No Ditching and ONSIND) Naomi Stephens. The songs are catchy and despite tackling important issues they're bloody good fun. The band have just completed a successful tour of New Zealand and have a bunch of gigs lined up on home soil. For more details see Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/jesusandhisjudgementalfather/
The song you're getting today is the one featuring Naomi Stephens on backing vocals (it was never going to be anything else!). It'd definitely have featured in my Best Of 2017 chart if I hadn't have been so slow on the uptake, it's the album's title track and it's called It Might Get Better....
I recently posted a song from the new album by Ilkeston band Rats From A Sinking Ship. It's titled Fight The Future and it's out on March 17th (and it's bloody good). You can get details here : https://www.facebook.com/RATSFROMASINKINGSHIP/
Today you're getting a top 10 chosen by guitarist Jamie Price.....
In no particular order :
1) NOFX - Linoleum
Someone lent me a c90 tape1995 with punk in drublic on one side and and out come the wolves on the other. This was the first song to come blasting out of the stereo and I've been hooked ever since.
2) RANCID - Hyena
So seeing as they've been mentioned already, Rancid. their first 5 albums were a massive part of my life. I could have picked any track from them but this was always a favourite.
3) AIRBOMB - Nihili
played my first ever gig supporting these guys and Screamer in Nottingham. This was the first track on one of the best demo tapes I've ever heard.
4) CHAOS U.K. - Ronnie 11
Some good old fashioned shouty punk. I prefer the later albums with chaos on vocals.
5) THERAPY? - Screamager
Best band on the planet. No arguments. I will fight you.
6) ROAD RAGE - Borderline
Everything you want from a punk song. Pete's a great frontman, if you get chance to see him and the boys in 3 stone monkey, do it.
7) BEASTIE BOYS - Sabotage
The perfect mix of rap and rock.
8) THE BUS STATION LOONIES - Hops And Barley
Does punk rock mix with politics? Of course it fucking does, However there's still plenty of room to just be silly.
9) GUNS N ROSES - You Could Be Mine
I got this on its day of release, it was the first single I ever bought.
10) THE VARUKERS - Genocide
Had the pleasure of playing a fair few gigs with these when I was a teenager. great band great guys, they really looked after us and the bass on this is killer.
Ashley Colman steps up to the plate today with an infectiously enthusiastic review of a new song by one of his favourite bands, The Anoraks. He'd mentioned the song to me a few times and I was going to feature it on here anyway but I've got so many songs waiting to post I took the opportunity provided by no one having sent me a guest review for today to tell him to write a few words himself. Thanks for helping me out Ashley.
For those that are unfamiliar with them, The Anoraks are an east London band who formed in the summer of 1996. I posted a song by them last year bemoaning the lack of info that I could find online but I did give the line up as well as the song and a bit of waffle http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/anoraks-kill-stupid.html
Well, well, well. A band who I'd virtually forgotten about, the rather wonderful Anoraks. Albeit, we have a little bit of history for all the punk historians out there lol! I interviewed The Anoraks for a zine in the early 2000's called Part Time Punk, anybody got a copy? Loving their infectious, 77 inspired vibes. However, although playing their cd's sporadically, it wasn't until their release of the live cd " Live, Loud and Snotty" last year that it reignited my interest in them, and with great pleasure I'm pleased to say that a new ep (London Town ep) is due out very shortly, in fact according to Gary Minall the guitarist of the band, they're due to put the final touches to it this weekend.
The track Kill Zombies was supposed to be a promo, however due to the extremely positive response, and no wonder, it's now going on the ep, along with 5 other tracks. Also, I hasten to add, on the ep is a track called " On The Wires" which is a old New Speakers song given the Anorak treatment. Regarding the New Speakers, they were a band who Gary was the guitarist for in the 90's, who released a fantastic ep called Casualty Street. They had a lp which they were due to release which unfortunately never saw the light of day. Anyways, you can hear the New Speakers, as well as the Anoraks as they have an abundance of songs on You Tube. Highly recommended. Thus, if you like timeless, snotty, 77 style punk, with big Attitude and tunes, along the lines of the Dead Boys, X- Ray Spex, The Saints, et al, yes there really that good! Then this is the band, the real deal, I kid you not.
The Grizzly Adams Band are from Munster, Germany and have been playing garage pop-punk music since 1998. They list amongst their influences the likes of The Humpers, New Bomb Turks and Turbonegro. The don't appear to have been overly prolific down the years though 2003 saw the release of the Inflight Entertainment album (google translate informs me that the Ox fanzine ended their review of the album thus : "if you do not have fun, then rock'n'roll is just not your bag of snow"). Follow up album, 2006's Discocheisse, Mon Amour is now available on Bandcamp (link below).
Get The Net appeared on here just over a year ago with a song from their debut album Breakers. They're back today with the title track from new ep Runaway Train and I think it's fair to say that whilst it's still a pleasingly diy sounding pop punk record, it's a step up from the album. You can get both releases "name your price" here : https://getthenet.bandcamp.com/
From New Jersey, they're the brainchild of Bright & Barrow Records founder Ryan Raichilson (he writes, sings, plays all the instruments except drums on the odd track, produces and even designs the record cover!). Straight out of the basement pop punk aimed at fans of Teenage Bottlerocket or pretty much any other band that writes catchy, melodic tunes about girls.
I'm posting a song today that went down a storm on the latest Just Some Punk Songs show, it's saved here if anyone wants to listen to an hour of great new punk music (and if you read this blog why wouldn't you?) https://www.mixcloud.com/mick-fletcher/just-some-punk-songs-040318/ . Most of you probably won't be familiar with the band yet (their Facebook page has less than 100 likes but hopefully you guys can improve that https://www.facebook.com/LeagueofPity/ ). They're called League Of Pity and they're a 3 piece from New York who combine classic 70's & 80's style punk rock with the pop sensibilities of the 60's to make a fresh sound of their own. The song I'm posting today is one that's got the classic early 80's punk influence running right through it.
In December they released their debut album, it's titled Outrage! Welcome To Your New Happy Life and it features 10 tracks which rattle by in less than half an hour and you can find it on Knuckle Down Records or Bandcamp :
KRANG are a skate punk band from the Czech Republic which began life in December 2014 when 4 friends who played in other bands decided to start a fun side project. Inspired by the 90's skatepunk scene (Millencolin, Descendents, Bad Religion etc), they soon released debut ep OK USA! and followed it with an album called Baddest Brain. After honing their sound with tours of such far flung places as Mexico, Central America, Israel and Japan they've recently released sophomore album Singalong.
Dan Rola, Tomas Gabko, Stanislav Holis and Tomas Hennel are the band members, the new album is available from both Bird Attack Records and Melodic Punk Style. The songs are fast and fun with titles such as Indiana Jones Hates Snakes And Nazis, Zombies Should Be Slow and Kick Ass Or Chew Bubble Gum. You can check it out here : https://krangpunkrock.bandcamp.com/album/singalong-2
Today you're getting a song that went down a storm on a recent Just Some Punk Songs show. I've been hanging on to post it on here as I was promised an early listen to the new album that it's taken from. Now that I've heard the album I can shout from the rooftops why you should all be excited about what will surely be one of 2018's best releases.
Rats From A Sinking Ship are Lusty (vocals), Jamie Price (guitars), Steveo (bass) and DMT (beats). They're from Ilkeston in Derbyshire and appeared on here in 2016 with a great song that called for Tony Blair to get his just desserts (http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/rats-from-sinking-ship-hang-him.html). What do they sound like? They mix punk with elements of rap and metal, I can see hints of Rage Against The Machine in there. It's more modern sounding than the typical old school '77 style punk so should appeal to a broader canvas but will still be equally beloved of traditionalists.
Fast forward to 2018 and they're preparing to release their 3rd album. Titled Fight The Future, it'll be available on March 17th. Topics covered include the special relationship between the US and UK, The Sun, standing together to get rid of the monarchy and Katie Fucking Hopkins. As you will notice, whilst their songs deal with serious issues, they aren't afraid to add humour into the mix. You can get more info here : https://www.facebook.com/RATSFROMASINKINGSHIP/
One of the songs on Fight The Future is a cover, I won't say what it is but the original is a classic that pretty much all of you will know and love and it mixes humour with riotous activity. It's a must hear and it'll be getting it's first play on tonight's Just Some Punk Songs show (8pm gmt, details here : https://www.facebook.com/events/195932727665149/)
This was the video they released to whet your appetites for the album, bloody good it is too. This is Cursory Rhymes....
The Hangups are a melodic punk rock 3 piece from Malmo, Sweden who formed in 2015 and who's line up consists of Ale Hangup (guitar/vocals), Hugo (bass/backing vocals) and Jimmy (drums). They released their debut S/T ep digitally in 2016 but it's only recently become available on 7" vinyl from Monster Zero Records. Influenced by the likes of The Ramones, The Queers, Screeching Weasel, Teenage Bottlerocket etc, I find that this is a genre where the good bands often get lost amongst a surfeit of mediocrity. Not on this occasion though as The Hangups seem to get pretty much everything spot on. The songs are catchy & fun and the production is bang on the mark.
Opener Addicted will rattle around in your head like the best ear worms do. I Don't Wanna Be With You ups the pace nicely and is about realising you want out of a shitty relationship, Alone is a bright and breezy Teenage Bottlerocket style tune and closing track It Is You keeps things at a high tempo leaving you wanting more. Luckily there's plans for another ep later this year.
