One thing I've noticed over the last few months on this blog is that a song that was guest reviewed by Jamie Bay back in August (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2020/08/gumiho-ing-guest-review-by-jamie-bay.html) has proved very popular, with people clicking on the link for it on a regular basis ever since. Not sure who's been sharing it about, or where to, but let's hope they do the same with today's update! The song in question was called -ing and it was by Seoul 4 piece Gumiho (https://www.facebook.com/gumihopunk/).
Named after a legendary 9 tailed fox and lining up with Caspin (vocals), Yujin (guitar), Matt (bass) and Stephen (drums), they've just released a new single. It's actually a 4 way split ep in collaboration with Original Son (USA), The Sino Hearts (China) and The Old Wives (Canada). Put together by World Domination, Inc (a diy label and booking agency in Seoul), the ep is titled World Domination Vol 3 and it's available on 7" coloured vinyl https://www.wdikorea.com/product-page/world-domination-vol-3-7-inch-record-mp3 (If you're in the US or Canada you will probably be better ordering from the other bands).
The Gumiho track comes with an accompanying video and is a powerful rocker which reminds me of bands like Petrol Girls & In Evil Hour etc. It's called Kill Kode...
You've more than likely heard of Neil 'Mackie' McLennen. He was the original bassist with New Mills street punk/oi legends Blitz and featured on the classic All Out Attack ep and equally as good debut album Voice Of A Generation. He also played more recently in Epic Problem (who I sung the praises of in several updates like this https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2019/12/epic-problem-bleeding-out.html).
One of the Blitz releases he didn't feature on as he'd left the band just before it got recorded was one of their best late period singles, New Age. But fast forward 38 years and he's just brought out his own version of the track in which he sings and plays guitar and bass. Drafted in on drums is Greg Boulton (ex Violators). It's a blistering cover which retains the energy of the original.
You already know this is a classic so no more words are needed. Just hit play. New Age...
When I hear.... the sound of concrete and steel I sense a rhythm, that science can't feel I feel the beat.... of our hearts as one I hold your colour, when my vision is gone This power is something but the force is blind Transmitted through a network, of your own kind As minutes tick away.... and days become years I know this old feeling, it's a substance in my tears
And the kids on the street And the kids everywhere And all I gotta say is the kids don't care
When i hear................... I sense a rhythm............... I feel the beat............... I hold your colour............ When you've got me running and you stop my machine You try to tell me something, that has never been When you stop me running, with my own pack You know you've got me swearing that I'll get my own back
There's times when I'll check out a new hardcore punk album and think that's not for me, it's just a bit too relentlessly heavy and I can't find a way in. I like my hardcore to have a few hooks to hang my hat on. One band that certainly doesn't have me thinking that way is South Korean 5 piece Slant. From Seoul, and featuring a line up of Yeji, Yuying, Candy, Gunny & Garrett, they've just released their debut album. It's titled, rather aptly, 1집 (1st album), and it's probably the best of the year so far.
We first heard from them in 2018 when they released a splendid Demo and they followed it up a year later with an ep titled Vain Attempt. We've had to wait a while for the album (I mentioned it when I featured opening track Enemy last June https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2020/06/slant-enemy.html) but it's certainly been worthwhile. It's 10 heavy as hell (but still accessible to milksops like myself) prime cuts that are trimmed of all fat. Only the closing song, Casualty, drifts past the 2 minute mark. The remainder are short, sharp stabs dealing with subjects such as terminal illness, ennui, shameless sadists and army life etc. The pace never slows and your senses are pummelled but it's not a chore to get through it. It's a blast!
how did it feel when you lied through your teeth?
when you lied through your finger?
your choices have been made
you decided to kill yourself with it
how did it feel?
drowning in your own lies
rotting in your own mess
you can hide, but you can't run
you can't run (from your fucking lie)
Has anyone not heard the latest track to be released by Middlesbrough collective Benefits (https://www.facebook.com/benefitstheband/) yet? It's a song that's getting plenty of attention (and attracting comments such as "...this years Bob Vylan") and as such it's tempting not to bother adding my voice to the crescendo and to post something more obscure instead. But they're important. They're fresh and have something to say. So here's another blog that's recommending you give them a listen.
Formed in 2019 and featuring a line up of Kingsley Chapman (Guitar/Vocal), Jonny Snowball (Drums), Robbie Major (Synth/Noise) and Hugh Major (Bass), they play noisy songs about the state of the country we live in. They deal with subjects such as xenophobia, repression and the Rule Britannia ethos that's beginning to leave a foul stench drifting up from our green and pleasant land. You can find their music here : https://benefitstheband.bandcamp.com/
Don't expect typical cookie cutter punk rock. It's a sound that hops genres, it's inventive, topical and angry. It says what needs saying. And therefore it's more punk than pretty much any of the bands that you like.
This is Flag
And this is what they say about it; "Flag" is about trying to understand Great Britain's place in the world today behind its shambolic and angry appearance. It's a reaction against British politicians using nationalism as a red, white and blue seducer to drag the country's eyes and brains away from the calamity they live in. The weird obsession the country has with war; the arrogance of how illustrious it thinks it is perceived to be by the rest of the world; and the misguided view that by simply waving a flag you somehow paper over the crack of simultaneously despising millions of your countrymen, presumably including fellow patriots.
This place stinks of old wars, Subservience, semi-final defeats God and flags Pulling your mask down for a fag. You’re a musty relic, Hiding behind that tatty sheet, shouting, screaming, getting pulled back by your mates. Stamping on cans, raw neck in the sun. Dog water on tap. What even are you? You’ve been had mate The Italian job is on, sit down, shut up, quote the funnies, laugh at the foreigns, drink yer tea, tell the kids everything is shit these days, wave yer fucking flag, wave yer fucking flag, WAVE YER FUCKING FLAG Feel powerful, feel proud, Subjects oh subjects, we used to be this, we used to be that, and we want it back, but no one is jealous, no one cares, so wheel it all out Break that emergency glass, parade forever, make it meaningless, Bow down to that tatty flag. But what does it mean? What does it mean? WAVE YER FUCKING FLAG You still hate your fucking neighbour, the clothes you wear are foreign anyway, expensive or cheap and your car is German and its nice, good runner, decent milage, reliable… The other town down the road are all inbred you said, they all talk funny don’t they - fucking weirdos - Oh and That London eh, don’t get me started, what a shithole ey ey ey?! You’re fucking broken, your heads gone, Imagine some good old days you think existed, we deserve better than this… BLUE BLOOD STILL RUNS RED
Privilege won’t save you. Eton won’t save you. People who speak Latin WILL NOT save you. That stiff upper lip will crumble, THAT silver spoon will be sold, you’ll be forgotten. You’re nothing to them, NOTHING. Stop falling for their bullshit, Throw those plastic chairs, puff out your chest, rule Bri-fucking-tannia, rule those foreign fucking waves, you can’t even swim straight - armbands on - yer getting dragged down, yer drowing in it all, DROWING IN IT ALL That flag won’t protect you forever, it’ll sink, it looks worn, the colours are running, wasn’t even made here It’s all a lie. This isn’t politics, you’re just holding a flag, you’re just a fucking pole. Wave yer fucking flag Wave your flag WAVE. YOUR. FLAG.
Yesterday I posted a song that featured on an impressive compilation album showcasing loads of great punk bands and today you're getting more of the same. This time around the compilation in question is the 3rd instalment in Grow Your Own Records' impressive Birds Of A Feather series. It's a treasure trove of top notch acts including Rabies Babies, Slow Faction, Drunken Marksman, Dogma, Riviera Kid and many more and it's available on cd (with free A5 booklet) here : https://anthraxuk.bandcamp.com/merch/birds-of-a-feather-vol-3
The song I'm highlighting is by English garage/punk 4 piece The Throttles (https://www.facebook.com/TheThrottles.Band). They feature Mick Wooding from Terminal Heads on vocals and guitar alongside Ronnie (backing vocals/guitar), Tex (bass) and Ash (drums). As well as the track you'll find below, I've heard a couple of songs off their Bandcamp page, (Love & Poison), (https://thethrottles.bandcamp.com/music) and I'm rather impressed.
Asking the question isn't it freedom and equality for all that makes this country great, this is called Hate...
Dalzell, South Carolina, label River Monster Records have just released Monster Compster Vol. 8, the latest in a series of mammoth comps featuring bands from all around the globe. There's a fair few that have featured on Just Some Punk Songs previously (such as Dirt Byrds, God Mode, Kicked In The Teeth, Pete Bentham And The Dinner Ladies, Spam Javelin, The Asteroids, The Lost Riots etc) but there's many more I've never heard of before. And that's the fun of it, scroll down the list, pick a band at random and click play. I can't pretend to have listened to all of it yet as it really is a beast of a release but what I have heard confirms what I already knew; there's so many really good punk bands out there deserving of your attention. Including the band I'm highlighting today.
A New Jersey Staple for Almost a Decade Vengents has played ALL over the Garden State! Bringing Their Own touch to a Pop Punk / Thrash Metal Hybrid! This Trio of Complete Chaotic Riff Shredding and Double Bass Kicking Combined The Punk Rock Melodys of Screeching Weasel with the Sheer Drive of Megadeath! They'll Have You Banging Your Head for Hrs after Their Set!
More importantly, they sound like this...
A short, sharp blast of dumb fun, this is Stuck Up Front At A Dickies Show...
New South Wales punk upstarts The Owen Guns (https://www.facebook.com/theowenguns/) return with more aggressive punk outpourings in the form of a new single which is blazing a trail for their upcoming Ep 2 : Electric Boogaloo (which will be out late May on Riot Records/Golden Robot Records https://goldenrobotrecords.com/).
Co written by Adam Check from Toe To Toe & One Dollar Short, it's a short sharp stream of vitriol aimed at the selfish morons who decided to start stockpiling toilet roll during a pandemic. I think you'll like it but if you don't, worry not, it's all over in a minute so there's no reason not to check it out.
Poole punks The Mistakes (https://www.facebook.com/themistakesuk) are back with a new album on NBQ Records. 13 storming tracks "brimming over with love and hate, wit and spite and their trademark incendiary style." It's titled A Head Full Of Damage and it's available on vinyl (150 blue & black splatter and 150 transparent) and cd and you can get it here : https://www.themistakes.net/shop
Today you're getting the video to a blistering track that showcases the band at their best. Fast paced, hard hitting and topical, this is One Way Ticket...
Hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, Tizzi played their first ever gig in October 2019 and began to make waves in their local area playing an exciting brand of hard hitting UK82 inspired punk rock. And then the pandemic locked everything down and pretty much scuppered that building momentum.
But in March last year they managed to get together long enough to record half a dozen songs and these have just been released in the form of an explosive introductory demo tape which allows the rest of the world to hear why they were gaining a reputation as one of Raleigh's hottest new bands.
Straight from the off, the fat free blast of opening track No Shit let's us know what we're in for. Comparisons have been made with Vice Squad but "delivered mean as fuck with troglodyte-like force."
It's an impressive debut and you can get it on cassette or digital download from Bunker Punks (although it looks as though they're not taking international orders).
Since 2014 St.Louis Missouri's Horror Section (https://www.facebook.com/horrorsectionband) have been putting out some of the best "Horror-Themed" Pop Punk you'll ever hear. I've been a fan of these guys since their very beginning. Mixing the best elements of the Misfits with later period Lillingtons this band are perfect for those of us that like things a little "darker".
You can check their Bandcamp page for all the past stuff but this is about the brand new EP they dropped on "Valentine's Day". It's called "My Bloody Valentine" and features 4 more classic HS classics! I love how they mixed up the themes on this EP! Half "Horror Punk"/ half let's just have fun! If anything this new EP just made me realize why I LOVE this band so much!
I've been thinking about easing off on the blog updates a bit. When I started posting a song a day at the end of 2013 there weren't too many similar outlets showcasing new music but nowadays there seems to be more cool blogs and shows popping up all the time pointing you towards new punk music. Today was going to be one of those days when I decided "sod it, I can't be arsed." But then I heard something that forced me to start typing and the day off was put on hold...
There's 5 of them and they'll make up the A side of their debut album Estamos fracasando (it translates as We Are Failing). The B side will comprise of the tracks from the demo. The album will be available soon in physical form but for now you can enjoy it as a name your price download : https://rotura-punk.bandcamp.com/album/estamos-fracasando
Recorded last October, the new songs build on the great promise shown by the earlier tracks and confirm that they're a trio well worth keeping an eye on. If you like your punk to have a social conscience AND killer melodies then this is gonna be right up your street.
This track comes with the following comment : Disappointments we have with close people sour our day-to-day. Generally speaking, we live very fast and we don´t dedicate enough time to each other. We miss the feeling of community, doing things all together and for all and not just by and for one´s self, sharing, the mutual, not to want to be more than the others. This is why this lyrics came out, because sometimes (not always, luckily) we feel we don´t belong to the place where we are and we feel alone.
It's called Siluetas Vacias (Empty Silhouettes)...
Estás buscando un lugar que es imposible encontrar
Miras por todos lados
y ves que ya no existe
Esa sensación de soledad que ya no puedes controlar
Y no encuentras tu lugar, estás perdida
Siluetas vacías caminando por la ciudad
Construyendo relaciones que carecen de afectos.
Estás buscando un refugio para protegerte
Pero los cuidados son, son solo una palabra más
Esa sensación de soledad, que ya no sabes si es real
Y no encuentras tu lugar,
sigues perdida.
Siluetas vacías caminando por la ciudad
Construyendo relaciones que carecen de afectos.
You are looking for a place that is impossible to find
You look everywhere
and see it doesn´t exist anymore
This feeling of loneliness you can not control
And you can´t find your place, you are lost.
Empty silhouettes walking through the city
Building relationships lacking affections.
You are looking for a shelter to protect yourself
But carings are just one word more
This feeling of loneliness you don´t know if it´s real
And you can´t find your place,
You keep lost.
Empty shapes walking through the city
Building relationships lacking affections.
I've no idea who Sick Set are, never heard of them before and it's quite possible they'll be just one of the numerous bands with the egg punk tag on their Bandcamp page who release something weird and wonderful before disappearing again. Or maybe they'll be more famous than AC/DC. I suppose time will tell.
Either way they've recently unloaded a name your price digital ep featuring 5 tracks in around 6 minutes. Joint male/female vocals almost robotically "sing" about party going nazi punks, sexual practices with televisions and the queen of obscure video. Musically it sounds like a pretty one dimensional budget priced drum machine but damn, it works. Snap it up : https://sickset.bandcamp.com/album/sick-set
The album picked up some rave reviews and helped swell their fanbase but as with most bands at the moment, the closing of live venues due to the pandemic is leaving them itching to return to the stage sometime this year. No doubt one of the songs they'll be playing when that happens is the new single which you'll find below.
There might only be the two of them but they still kick up a racket, I've not had the pleasure of watching them live but the footage on this new video suggests that as well as being noisy they bring plenty of energy and attitude to the party. The single's called You'll See and it's damn good so check it out...
Le Reste (https://www.facebook.com/noussommeslereste/) are a punk rock power trio from Mont De Marsan in the south west of France who formed last year and released a Self Titled tape (featuring 3 originals plus covers of classics by Anti Nowhere League and Devo). They've a bunch of new songs on the way with the first of them being the new single which you'll find below.
The line up of the band is Mathieu Saunier (guitar), Robin Jourdan (vocals/bass) and Yano Corbiot (drums), the single is called Hédoniste and you can download it "name your price" here : https://lereste.bandcamp.com/album/h-doniste
I've seen comparisons being made with early 80's US bands such as Circle Jerks, Teen Idles, Black Flag and Minor Threat but to my grizzled old ears I'm hearing maybe hints of Magazine's Shot By Both Sides style guitar work with melodic oi vocals???
Austrian punk legends DeeCRACKS (https://www.facebook.com/deecracks) are gearing up to release a new album, it'll be a follow up to 2017's Sonic Delusions and it'll be titled Serious Issues. It's set for release on 12th March by Pirates Press Records (http://piratespressrecords.com/).
Blazing a trail for it comes a new single titled We Can't Help It of which lead singer Matt says "The song's basically about life and love. How we can direct ourselves in a certain direction. Make things better or worse for us every day. But we can't help to fall in love with someone. It just happens."
With the current Corvid pandemic keeping the band off the road they've been staying active working on several videos and studio sessions which will be released to support the album. This is one of those videos. Featuring sock puppets, a no expense spared travel budget and a guest appearance from Kathy Bates, this is a catchy little number. We Can't Help It...
Tired of that heartache
Tired of a broken heart
It never seemed to happen
It never played a minor part
You traded my love
I'm tired of a fool's game
I'm tired of this game called love
It never seemed to happen to Annie Wilkes
So brave so tough
She never traded her love
Yeah you went on and then you took off
You and I can't help it after all
God Mode (https://www.facebook.com/GodModeHC) are a new diy band with members from Scotland, Canada and Germany. They line up something like this; Jeremy Mogk (vocals), CJ Taylor (guitars & bass) and Mark Watts (guitars). Contributions have also been made by Knakk Panzer, Michael Thorne, Schrekk Panzer and Jeremy Butler.
They've just released a debut single which features a lead track that was actually written way back in 1982 for a different band but was never used. Dusted down and resurrected it's about a leather jacketed girl with dyed pink hair who hung around the scene for a while before disappearing into the night. The single also includes an acoustic version of the track, performed by Jeremy Mogk from Toronto hardcore band ASOP (https://asop.bandcamp.com/) plus a "surprise bonus track."
With a dark vibe reminding me a little bit of TSOL or The Misfits, this is Punk Rock Girlfriend...
ONCE I MET A GIRL
A LONG, LONG TIME AGO
BUT ALL SHE DID WAS HANG AROUND
AND SAID THAT SHE'D OUTGROWN
ALL THE LONG-HAIRED ROCKER FUCKS
WHO USED TO CALL HER NAMES
NOW THE LAST LAUGH IS ON THEM
JUST LOOK WHAT SHE'S BECOME
IN HER BRAND NEW LEATHER JACKET
COVERED IN STUDS, CHAINS AND PATCHES
THOSE ROCKERS ARE JUST FUCKING LOSERS NOW
THEY’RE ALL JUST FUCKING LOSERS NOW
BETTER BEWARE… IT'S TIME TO PREPARE
DON'T FUCK WITH THE GIRL WITH THE PINK DYED HAIR
SHE'S A PUNK ROCK GIRLFRIEND
IT'S NOT HARD TO SEE
A PUNK ROCK GIRLFRIEND
SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO TRY TO BE – YEAH
A PUNK ROCK GIRLFRIEND
THERE'S NO POINT YOU CAN'T DISAGREE – NO
A PUNK ROCK GIRLFRIEND
SHE LOOKS THE PART THAT'S CLEAR... CRYSTAL CLEAR
NOW SHE'S GONE, SHE DISAPPEARED
ONE NIGHT BECAME A GHOST
HANGING OUT WITH THE BANDS
WITH NO DEMANDS IMPOSED
WE ALL HOPED THAT SHE'D RETURN
BUT NOW WE UNDERSTAND
SHE FOUND A LIFE TO MAKE A STAND
WITH THE TICKET IN HER HAND
IN HER TATTERED OLD LEATHER JACKET
MISSING SOME STUDS, CHAINS AND PATCHES
FORGET THOSE FUCKERS, THEY’RE A DISTANT MEMORY
THOSE FUCKERS ARE A DISTANT MEMORY
ALWAYS REMEMBER… WHAT DID WE SAY
DON'T FUCK WITH THE GIRL WITH THE PINK DYED HAIR
SHE'S A PUNK ROCK GIRLFRIEND
IT'S NOT HARD TO SEE
A PUNK ROCK GIRLFRIEND
SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO TRY TO BE – YEAH
A PUNK ROCK GIRLFRIEND
THERE'S NO POINT YOU CAN'T DISAGREE – NO
A PUNK ROCK GIRLFRIEND
SHE LOOKS THE PART THAT'S CLEAR... CRYSTAL CLEAR
Trash Ferraris are a garage punk band from Los Angeles featuring Vinnie Earley (from Vaguess and Fernando & The Teenage Narcs) on bass, Billy Schmidt (from Kill Helmet) on vocals & guitar and Miles Luttrell (from Useless Eaters) on drums.
They've just released a debut Self Titled 8 track mini album (maxi ep?) on cool diy label Refry Records and I can see it being one of those very good releases which receive little fanfare and go under the radar somewhat unfairly but if you're a fan of short and snappy budget rock n roll it'll be right up your street. It's available as a name your price download so go snap it up : https://refryrecords.bandcamp.com/album/trash-ferraris
There's plenty to enjoy during the 15 minutes or so run time, including the primitive grooves of Beat Me Up and the catchy Adrenaline. And there's this one, it's called Motorbikin...
As a punk rocker, some days I want to smash the state. I want to put the world to rights and deliver crushing justice to the greedy, the corrupt and the discriminators. But there's also days that I can't be arsed and I just want someone to put a smile on my face. The 99ers (https://www.facebook.com/The99ers/) do just that.
Hailing from St Paul, Minnesota and lining up with Stephen Brookfield (Guitar & vocals), Emily Bee (Guitar & vocals), Doug Heeschen (Bass & vocals) and Chris Schoonover (Drums & percussion), they're no strangers to Just Some Punk Songs having featured with songs about pop punk girls, girls who don't like The Lillingtons and wanting to surf like the apeman. Today they return with a new song that's a pop punk delight. It's catchy and fun and it name checks punk's most famous guitarist. You can get it here : https://the99ers.bandcamp.com/track/kissing-johnny-ramone
Punk doesn't always have to be a serious business, sometimes all you need is a love of life and a tune to sing along with. This is Kissing Johnny Ramone...
Not much info on today's song but that's not necessarily a bad thing as it means you can start listening to it quicker. Canal Irreal are from Chicago and feature Martin Sorrondeguy (Limp Wrist, Los Crudos etc) on vocals with backing more than ably provided by members of Chicago hardcore band Sin Orden. They released a debut single in 2019 called Si Somos and they've recently followed it up with a teaser from their forthcoming debut album. It'll be out in the spring and you can whet your appetites by grabbing the preview track "name your price" https://canalirreal.bandcamp.com/track/pestes
It's a fast and furious collision of hardcore and post punk that received plenty of love from the folk in the chatroom on this week's Just Some Punk Songs show and it's called Pestes...
Old City (https://www.facebook.com/oldcityphl) are from Philadelphia and may be a band that you'll enjoy if you're looking for more music in the vein of current UK faves Bob Vylan. Blurring the boundaries between hip hop and punk rock, they rather splendidly line up thus; Billy Joel Armstrong (guitar), Tre Coolio (vocals), Flea Ving (bass), Madonna Summer (vocals), Alanis Morrissey (drums), Chuck Berry White (vegan noise) & Marky Mark Ronson (turntables).
They released an ep in 2017 titled Black Bastards and returned late last year with a new 5 track Self Titled offering. You can get both here : https://oldcityphl.bandcamp.com/album/old-city
This is the track which is getting most attention, not only does it feature a guest appearance from West Coast rapper Murs (who tells us the story of his life on the punk rock scene), it also samples from Black Flag's classic Six Pack (and listen out for a tip of the hat to Cockney Reject's Police Car). It's called Sixers...
Snotty Tulsa trio The Wheelz (https://www.facebook.com/TheWheelz) are back with a new 7". It's their third appearance on here (following their cover of The Partisan's So Neat and I'm So Tired Of Living In The USA). The latter of those songs featured on their fantastic Top 10 Super Hits! album which you hopefully all know and love https://wandarecords.bandcamp.com/album/top-10-super-hits
With influences including the likes of '77 era punk, Toy Dolls, The Briefs etc we're served up a fun four tracks of irreverent old school punk including a spirited cover of Splodgenessabounds/Rolf Harris' Two Little Boys. Elsewhere we get Washed Away, a catchy singalong with a Clash style guitar riff, the short and punchy Generation Turncoat and a lead track (see below) which anthemically rails against those in positions of power who just want control to serve their own ends.
Now they're back with the blistering title track from a new 3 song ep titled Home Wrecked. Unsurprisingly, given the title, and the picture on the cover, the song deals with the subject of the gentrification of the Bay Area and how it splits up communities and forces the less well off to relocate. Also on the ep is another original composition titled Weightless and a cover of a 1982 song by Washington band The Faith called You're X'd.
Meaningless lives
In the sea of the city
No empathy in sight
Just self-pity
Salt in the wounds of the people
of this town
Never questioning
If we need you around
These streets existed before
Progress isn’t for anyone, it benefits you
Benefits you
Benefits you
Wrecked everything in your path
Histories you'll never understand
Never questioning
If we need you around
These streets existed before
Progress isn’t for anyone, it benefits you
Benefits you
Benefits you
You're presence
Turns everything stale
Never questioning
If we need you around
These streets existed before
Progress isn’t for anyone, it benefits you
Benefits you
Les Hatepinks formed in Marseilles back in 2004 and released 3 studio albums (Sehr Gut Rock Und Roll, Parasites Like Me, Plastic Bag Ambitions) during their first couple of years in existence. Since then we've had a Live At The Stork Club album plus a couple of comps and a bunch of singles but it's taken them 16 years to get round to studio album number 4 (splitting up in 2009 obviously being a reason for this!).
Released by Wanda Records, it's titled Sauerkrank / Opupo 4 and it features a dozen tracks of playful electro punk. The vinyl seems to be flying off the shelves but you can check if there's any of the various versions left here : https://mailorder.wandarecords.de/
This song namechecks the likes of Johnny Rotten and Richard Hell. Mark E Smith once sang "This is the three R's The three R's: Repetition, Repetition, Repetition" and this track uses repetition to create an aural earworm. It's called How Could Punk Be Dead When I'm Still Alive...
Do you remember Blondie? Of course you do. And so do Vancouver garage pop rockers Pill Squad (https://www.facebook.com/pillsquadband). Since I last featured them on here (their cover of Big Audio Dynamite's I Turned Out A Punk https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2016/08/pill-squad-i-turned-out-punk.html) they've got a new bassist, Kelly Hood (The Burnettes/Cora & The Moon) but otherwise still feature Tracy Brooks (vocals), Tim Chan (guitar) and Scott Beadle (drums).
They recently released a 5 track ep titled Kissan Silmä, the title of which I'm pretty sure is something to do with cat's eyes (my hasty spot of googling is backed up by the picture of a cat's eye on the ep cover). As for the music, we get 2 covers (Hurricane was a 1983 single by Chatham band The Prisoners and I Didn't Have The Nerve To Say No featured on Blondie's Plastic Letters album) and 3 originals. Happily the originals are every bit as good as the covers. You can snap it up as a name your price download here : https://pillsquad.bandcamp.com/album/kissan-silma
This could also easily be mistaken as being a track taken from Plastic Letters, it's called Crawlspace...
He's back now though with a couple of upcoming releases on Goodbye Boozy Records. Both will be out on Feb 10th. There's an album released under the pseudonym DD Deth which comes with the warning "FITLHY SOUND. NOT FOR WIMPS." Ltd to 200 copies on vinyl, it's a lo-fi thrash metal/punk hybrid. https://goodbyeboozydigital.bandcamp.com/album/dd-deth
And then there's a new Sick Thoughts single which is a little more polished (though no less raucous). The A side is a classy garage stomper with an insistent (presumably keyboard?) riff that has me thinking Jerry Lee Lewis on acid. The flip side, Drug Rock, is another high energy rock n roller and is equally as impressive. The single's limited to 300 copies of which 69 will be in a pink cover. Check it out... https://sick-thoughts.bandcamp.com/album/poor-boys-drug-rock
Now this is a pleasant surprise, a previously unreleased track by my favourite oi band from the last few years, City Miles (https://www.facebook.com/citymilesoi).
I first featured their debut song Skinhead Till The End back in April 2017 and commented that "as of writing they've 13 likes on Facebook, let's see if we can get that number up." Some of the catchiest oi anthems around ensured they managed to do so. They also took the time to submit a Top 10 list of their favourite songs which featured some of the bands that influenced their sound (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2017/05/top-10-songs-chosen-by-city-miles.html).
2019's debut album, Social Upheaval (https://www.rebellionshop.com/catalogsearch/result/?cat=0&q=city+miles), was a genre classic and earned them lots of praise and plenty of new fans but the release was overshadowed by the tragic passing of their lead singer/drummer Marc 'Mates' Maitland.
And so a brilliant band was no more.
But just to remind us how good they were comes this nostalgic look back at late night radio shows, home taping and the music that shaped our lives. It's called Songs Of The Truth...
