Rik and the Pigs were the 80's hardcore influenced lazy punk slobs from Olympia, Washington, who were active between 2015 and 2018 and who previously featured on here in 2017 with the title track from the Blue Jean Queen ep (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2017/12/rik-pigs-blue-jean-queen.html). Also on that ep was a reworking of an earlier fan favourite titled TV Bloopers and that's one of the songs that have resurfaced on a new album titled The Last Laugh.
It's been released on Lumpy Records and features 9 tracks, 4 recorded in February 2018 by Mike Kriebel in Los Angeles and 5 in February/September 2018 by Tony Santos in Fullerton. The centrepiece of the album is the sprawling 7 plus minutes of Life's A Bust but that's complimented by a supporting cast of very fine slacker punk anthems. There's 500 copies available on black vinyl and a digital download. Check it out.., https://lrdisk.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-laugh
Reminding me a little of Night Birds and bands of that ilk, this is TV Bloopers...
London's power pop kings Los Pepes are back today with a song from a new album that seems to have sneaked out with little fanfare. Maybe all the much deserved praise will begin at the end of this week as that's when it's down for release on the labels Bandcamp page but as it's streaming already I'm going to post one of the tracks today.
The band line up with Ben Perrier (Vocals/Guitar), Seisuke Nakagawa (Bass/Vocals), Guilherme Rujao (Guitar/Vocals) & Kris "Killer" Kowalski (Drums) and it's fair to say that any new release from them comes with a guarantee it'll be catchy as hell. The new album is no exception.
It's titled The Happiness Programme, it features both tracks from the excellent single they released earlier this year (Want You Back/Never Get It Right) plus 10 new compositions that are equally as good. Their best release yet? I'll need a few more listens before I can decide but it's certainly up there with their very best. It's available through Spanish label Snap Records on double mint vinyl and digital download : https://snaprecordsspain.bandcamp.com/album/los-pepes-the-happines-program-funlp-039
I could have pretty much picked any of the songs to highlight but I'm going with Sick And Bored...
Hopefully you've all heard of Anthrax (https://www.facebook.com/anthrarx). As in Anthrax the UK anarcho punk band, not Anthrax the US heavy metal band. They formed in Gravesend, Kent, back in 1980 during the time that Crass were sniffing out bullshit and Maggie Thatcher was breeding a generation of voracious capitalists. They were a band that we needed back then and we still need them today.
They've just released a new album. It's their first for almost a decade, it's titled Serfs Out, and it's available from the band's Grow Your Own Records. As you might expect, they aren't happy with the state of the nation. They attack leaders ("care and compassion are no longer in fashion"), the media ("dumb it down dumb it down, vilify, throw it out there, repeat the lie") and those that enable this current shit show ("I'm so fuckin' proud of my country, I love to watch it fall from grace"). It's an album about the rich conning the poor with the help of a complicit media and it's simultaneously a great listen and a saddening one. It's about food banks, Brexit, greed and dumbing down. It's modern day life, maybe it's life as it's always been and sadly always will be.
A few of the songs are re recorded versions of tracks that have appeared in recent years, a few are new, all fit together nicely to make up one of the best albums of 2021. You can get it here on cd and digital download (the vinyl version will be out on Friday) : https://anthraxuk.bandcamp.com/album/serfs-out
I'll play a different track on the Just Some Punk Songs show later today (https://www.facebook.com/events/627462865369573) but the one I'm highlighting here is the one that concerns itself with little Englanders yearning for a glorious past that didn't actually exist. It's called Island Mentality...
Teenage Bigfoot (https://www.facebook.com/teenagebigfoot/) are a trio from Philadelphia featuring Tiffany Tavella (bass/vocals), Joe Gdowik (guitar/vocals) & Jake Wunderlich (drums). They've been plying their fun, 90's pop punk influenced wares since 2013 and have built up a solid back catalogue of music (https://teenagebigfoot.bandcamp.com/). Their latest release is a new album titled Weapons Against Darkness and it's pretty damn impressive.
Pop punk influenced it may be but it's the powerful, punchy brand of pop punk, not the anodyne kind. I played I Can't See on the show a few week's ago and the rest of the album lives up to that teaser track. It's pacy, bounce around party music for punks who want to go to a show and get all sweaty.
This is another highlight, it's titled The CIA Killed Bill Hicks...
"It's just a ride; life's but a dream--"
said the preacher man from Georgia, of no faith.
He spoke of love and corporate greed,
they put a bullet 'tween his eyes for irony.
Drowning in ads and dim lit screens,
there was no need for convincing.
He just wanted to tell the truth.
Young in years, but miles ahead,
they didn't like the things he said.
The CIA killed Bill Hicks.
They blamed it on a life unclean,
traded a coke habit for nights of desert trips.
He met with gods and UFOs,
but they knew his mind was just another threat.
Drowning in ads and dim lit screens,
there was no need for convincing.
He just wanted to tell the truth.
Young in years, but miles ahead,
they didn't like the things he said.
The CIA killed Bill Hicks.
Mr. and the Mrs. are a garage psych punk duo from Kansas comprising of married couple Ben and Michele Hughes. Their music is described as The Gories meets MC5 and they've been around for a decade.
They've a new album coming out on Christmas Day titled Gasoline Ice Cream which has a few tracks streaming on Bandcamp which merit the garage psych tag.
There's also going to be a single released a week later which features the track Gasoline Ice Cream but also boasts a track that is deserving of that punk tag. It barely passes the 1 minute mark, it's gloriously scrappy, sweary and in your face. You'll love it. It's available on ltd edition 7" vinyl (50 clear/50 black) and on digital download : https://mrandthemrs.bandcamp.com/album/fukkkops-gasoline-ice-cream
Ok, I admit it. I've kinda fallen out of love with pop punk a little. Is it pop punks fault or is it me? It's probably me as there still seems to be plenty of well received releases coming out but my tastes seemed to have veered in the direction of a more rough and ready sound. There are still some pop punk releases that I'm enjoying though, a couple of days ago I was recommending the Prozacs retrospective and today I'm bring you a song by Covert Flops (https://www.facebook.com/COVERTFLOPS).
The Indiana 3 piece (Chad (guitar vox), Adam (drums), Billy (Bass vox)) are no strangers to Just Some Punk Songs as I've thought them one of the genres best new bands since I featured Spy Code 492 in March 2019. I wrote "They're one of the kind of pop punk bands I like, ie they sing about fun stuff with horror & sci fi themes. If you like The Lillingtons, Ramones, Queers etc then you'll like these guys." Fast forward to November 2021 and the release of new album Mission: Implausible and nothing much has changed.
December is almost upon us and it's time to start thinking about the end of year charts. I was looking back at a few of the Just Some Punk Songs' best ofs and noticed that in 2019, Melbourne 4 piece Pinch Points (https://www.facebook.com/pinchpoints) were sitting pretty in the number 39 spot in the Top 100 list (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2019/12/top-50-songs-of-2019.html). Whilst never an exact science, these charts are always fun to compile and to look back upon. Will Pinch Points feature again this year? I've no idea yet but they do have a new single out which puts them in the running.
Lining up with Acacia Coates (vocals/bass), Adam Smith (vocals/guitar), Isabella Orsini (drums) & Jordan Oakley (guitar), they're an inventive and fun post punk outfit who've been getting plenty of good press and touring with the likes of Amyl And The Sniffers, Tropical Fuck Storm, Viagra Boys etc.
A side Reasons To Be Anxious has back and forth female/male vocals telling us it's better to stay at home curled up under the duvet with the wi fi for company, it's far too stressful an experience venturing outdoors. On the flip side and clocking in at almost 4 minutes, Boy "dives deep into the cesspool of toxic masculinity and the repressed emotions that boys are socialised to deny, with disastrous outcomes for everyone." It's another good release by one of Aus' many great bands and it's going to be followed by a new album next March.
"The Prozacs ARE the Flagship band of American Pop Punk."
So says Ralph J Rivera and I'm not going to argue with him.
He also says "They've been doing it since 2003 and I can guarantee you Jay Gauvin will have some variation of his band going until his fingers fall off! There's many under-rated songwriters in the Pop Punk "bubble" but it's time to acknowledge Mr. Jay Gauvin as the undisputed "Head Of The Table"!"
The Westfield, Massachusetts, band actually started coming together in September 2001 after Jay had decided he wasn't having fun playing with his previous band The GrandPrixx. Their first 3 shows were in October/November of 2001 with the original line up....then 4th in early 2002 with line up #2...then Nov 2002 was the first with the first album line up; a fabulous collection of pop punk anthems was to follow. It's been a long, and at times difficult road for Jay keeping things going with many line up changes and the challenges of family life and a full time job ("Yeah it sucks! I have no clue how I'm still doing it to be honest. If I could only get rid of the job....") but 20 years later he's still at it and still getting a buzz from it ("as much as I love getting on stage...it's writing, recording and releasing music that is the big "high" for me").
To celebrate the band's 20th anniversary they've released a retrospective album titled Fan Favs And Wannabe Hits! It's a lengthy 33 track compilation bursting at the seams with many of their most popular songs. It's a great jumping in point for anyone unfamiliar with the band and a source of nostalgic joy for the rest of us. It's an impossible task to include everyone's favourite. Where's Let's Sniff Glue? (and an even more outrageous omission must be the Just Some Punk Songs theme song!), but overall Jay's put together a killer pop punk album that won't disappoint anyone.
I don't think I'd come across New Orleans band Schizos (https://www.facebook.com/Schizos-101430011221398) until a few weeks ago when I played a track by them called Ugly on the Just Some Punk Songs show (https://www.mixcloud.com/mick-fletcher/just-some-punk-songs-101021/). It was a very enjoyable and rather noisy song that slotted in well in the 2nd half of the show alongside music by the likes of White Stains, Quarantine, Loose Nukes etc. It was taken from their ep Come Back With A Warrant and promised we'd be getting something pretty damn special. The ep is now out and that promise has been fulfilled.
Before pointing you in the direction of the ep, I'll quickly mention that the band line up with Dale Schizo (Lead Vocals), Sammy Schizo (Lead Guitar), Hotdog (Lead Guitar), Los (Drums) & Mr. Hand (Bass) and that they've got a very interesting looking bunch of releases dating back to 2016's Fuck Iggy Pop ep which I'll certainly be checking out and suggest you do to : https://schizosal.bandcamp.com/music
Side one features 3 lean, mean cuts of bruising hardcore punk that barge down the door before getting outta there quick sharp. The flip side is the title track and it's a more drawn out affair lasting as long as the preceding side but which is no less intense. A wall of noise guitar barrage and splendidly hollered vocal delivery, this is Come Back With A Warrant...
Has he quit as Rum Lad? Is he going to recruit a full band for gigging or carry on as a solo act? Is he going to keep changing his mind on a near daily basis?
Who knows? Probably not even Richie Tyler-Young is 100% sure!
Happily he appears to have stopped dithering about whether or not to carry on (it's not as though there's a lack of things to shine an acerbic spotlight on) and he's giving away 2 new songs free : https://rumladuk.com/store
Both bangers (as a certain punk dj would say), both topical, both accompanied by videos.
This one's probably my favourite at the moment, the title's fairly self explanatory, it's called Gullible Cunts Abound...
Earlier this year I played a couple of songs on the show by a band from Cleveland, Ohio, called Woodstock '99. Pitched as Poison Idea meets The Germs, they released a rather abrasive Self Titled ep on north east of England label Serial Bowl Records (you can check it out here : https://serialbowlrecords.bandcamp.com/album/woodstock-99).
Now members of Woodstock '99 return in a new band called Spike Pit and they've just released an album titled Bastard Of No Future. Once again it's on Serial Bowl and the label describe it thus, "intense and 'in your face'. With venomous vocals and ear splitting guitars, there's no let up from first song to last, Bastard Son Of No Future is an album of sheer intensity and anger..."
They ain't kidding. We're served up a dozen scorching cuts of all out hardcore mayhem. The recording is rough and ready, the pace is fast and furious, it hits hard. It's available on ltd edition cassette (only 30 copies) and digital download : https://serialbowlrecords.bandcamp.com/album/bastard-of-no-future
There's a few copies on vinyl on their way from the USA so I guess if you're interested you might be best contacting the label https://www.facebook.com/serialbowlrecords
I think this is my favourite track. Play loud. It's called Pretty Girls...
They formed in 1986 and they play "hi-speed-boogie-fuzz-garage-trash-rock-n-roll songs." They've just released their 8th album. It's titled You're Class, I'm Trash and it's a trash masterpiece. It's a feast of budget garage punk n roll which sounds as though it was a lot of fun to make and is certainly a lot of fun to listen to. 13 shouty, deceptively simplistic and very effective tracks. Mark E Smith once sung about the three R's (Repitition, Repitition, Repitition) and that's what you get with many of the lyrics. But it works, All you daughters and sons who are sick of fancy music, you're gonna dig it.
B-L-A-SP
yea Blasphemy
wow Yes that’s me
Blasphemy that’s me
solo
You - look - at me - and smile
yea Blasphemy
Yes that’s me
Blasphemy baby, that's meeeee
Blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy
Klobber (https://takethecityrecords.bandcamp.com/album/clap-time) are from Madrid and have recently released an excellent album titled Clap Time! from which I've played a couple of tracks on recent Just Some Punk Songs shows. The album is available from local label Take The City Records and the label describes them as Madrid's best punk band. Admittedly I'm not an expert on Madrid punk music and I'd suggest that maybe Accidente would be contenders for that crown but I'd certainly advise you to have a listen and make up your own minds. It's available on black or red vinyl and digital download : https://takethecityrecords.bandcamp.com/album/clap-time
The Bandcamp page throws up comparisons with the likes of Zero Boys, Adolescents, The Clash & Circle Jerks. Classic punk rock influenced by some of the genre's greats. Subjects covered include white privilege, the power of the media, addiction and life during the pandemic. They're not just in it for the beer, they're a band with plenty to say. They've got some damn good tunes too.
My favourite track on the album is the Clash influenced Easy Life but this is the new video, the song's called Only In It For The Beer...
Hello, and welcome to Just Some Punk Songs. The blog that attempts to shine a light on a few of the many great new releases that come under the all encompassing punk rock umbrella. Special treatment is usually given to lesser known bands but occasionally the big hitters get acknowledged, even though bigger and better publications will be hyping them to death.
This is a blog that doesn't do reviews (though it may seem that way at times). It's a blog that basically says "here's a great song, it's by this band or artist, you should check it out and here's where you can do just that..."). And then tries to get away with repeating that templated non review 365 days a year (and hopefully does just about get away with it by featuring great music).
And the reason for the opening 2 paragraphs of waffle? It's because you all already know of Idles (https://www.facebook.com/idlesband). You've already formed your own opinions (when I play them on the Just Some Punk Songs show, the chatroom is always split down the middle between the lovers and haters). You know they've a new album out called Crawler (https://idlesband.bandcamp.com/album/crawler). Most of you seem to think it's very good indeed, something of a slow burner which worms it's way into your brain and lodges itself there. You seem to prefer it to last year's Ultra Mono (an album which I enjoyed and which I thought had more "hits" than Crawler but agree that as an overall experience was maybe a little less cohesive).
For a proper review, go look elsewhere at a proper review site. My job is done, you know it's a great album, you know where to get it, you've reached the bottom of the page. Here's the highlighted song.
When I was sent the new single by Shropshire trio MC16 (https://www.facebook.com/MC16band) I replied to bassist/co vocalist Andy Quinn that I was thinking of describing it as "a brooding social commentary about cookie cutter gentrification and the creeping death of social identity in favour of identikit modernisation" but couldn't decide as to whether that was a well written summation of a very impressive song or whether it was total bollox. For me, it's a snappy and pretty accurate one liner to which he replied "Well that put a smile on my face, clearly comedy if the writing falls down!"
It's the way I tell 'em.
The band's take on the single is that it "bemoans the process and solution of ‘Saving our High Streets’ which seems to condense down to ‘If we can help rich developers and rich brands become even richer then we will save it." Andy comments that “High streets have just become memories now. I remember some of the great characters of our high street like the man who was always dressed as a cowboy shopping with his Mum, and the busker with only one string on his guitar. Now its just a middle ground of mediocrity!”
Guitarist and co-vocalist Carson chips in with “You can’t just blame the death of the high street on the internet. High streets are very product focused but me personally, I don’t buy a new brand label t- shirt every week but I would be more of a user if they were more service or experience focused and built on need not gain.” Drummer Duffy tells how “I used to think I was psychic. I could be in any city centre for the very first time and know where all the shops were. But then I realised that all the city centres are all just generic. I am not psychic Pah!”.
I think my one line description was pretty accurate all things considered guys. I'll just add that it's a great single and a worthy addition to an impressive back catalogue of single releases (most, if not all, are featured elsewhere on this blog and can be found on Bandcamp https://mc16band.bandcamp.com/). Debut album next chaps???
Since then they released a very enjoyable debut album titled It's Sooooo Boring before drip feeding us a triumvirate of singles which have led up to lp number 2, Pre Menstrual Attitude.
Boasting a dozen songs which mix anger and humour, it's the sound of a band that are pissed off but not po faced. It's not for the faint of heart but let's face it, if you were faint of heart you wouldn't be a Just Some Punk Songs visitor. It's available on vinyl and cd here https://www.valverecords.com.au/shop/ and digital here : https://dicklord.bandcamp.com/album/pre-menstrual-attitude
They return today having just released a new album titled A Album. It was recorded in 2018 but is just being unleashed, it's another winner from down under and it's available from Bargain Bin Records (Aus), Under The Gun Records (US) or Bachelor Records (Europe). You can get it on vinyl (black or yellow) and digital download : https://abortedtortoise.bandcamp.com/album/a-album
It's hectic garage influenced punk with songs about about "bees, the Goosebumps book series, Coles Minis, getting blasted into the sun and being born." It's a fun listen and a worthy companion on your record shelves to some of the other great recent Aussie releases by bands such as Stiff Richards, Alien Nosejob, The Chats, Private Function, Disco Junk, Civic etc...
This is my favourite track at the moment, it's called Stage Banter...
They return today with an equally enjoyable selection from a new long player titled Black Gold. They started up as a side project of The Oppressed and feature a line up of Paul Cobley (guitar/vocals), Nidge Downs (guitar), Wayne Bending (bass) & Antal Kizmus (drums). To help promote the album, they'll be supporting Booze & Glory at The Moon in Cardiff on November 17th.
Black Gold is a worthy follow up to Generals And Soldiers with 13 "working class hymns" that will get attendees at that Booze & Glory gig singing along. Politically astute songs of solidarity, fighting side by side and lost love, it even features a top notch cover of the Tom Robinson Band's Up Against The Wall. You can get it on cd and digital download here : https://thefatalblow.bandcamp.com/album/black-gold
Knowing that regular Just Some Punk Songs show listener Atti Emecz was going to snap up the cd I asked him to choose a favourite song for me to play on Sunday and I'll also post his choice here. This is One Voice...
Brighton punks The Ramonas (https://www.facebook.com/ramonasuk) have just released a video for their song Last Punk In The Village. It's very good and no doubt it'll be getting shared around by plenty of people which is why I'm not featuring it on here today (though I'll post the link as you should check it out : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJmDLjexZPc).
The song is a highlight from their new album, Haphazard, but it's by no means the only "hit." The band (Lisa Lathwell (lead vocals), Maxine Cahill (guitar), Victoria Smith (bass/backing vocals) & Camille Phillips (drums)) are on top form throughout. The lyrics touch on subjects such as the demise of Donald Trump, corruption, sexism, the environment, mental health and Dee Dee Ramone's Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame Speech. Musically, they manage to hit hard but pack in plenty of catchy tunes too. The album's available on cd and digital download whilst a limited edition vinyl release will be available in 2022 on ProRawk records USA.
The YeAsTieS are from St Louis, Missouri. Discogs gives the line up of the band as Bethany Lumsdaine, Olivia Gibb, Shannon Boyer & Shawn Durham but also says they disbanded in October 2021. Sad if true but at least they signed off with a very fine ep.
Titled Here For Flesh and available on a cool looking blue cassette, it's a worthy follow up to their Dum Dum Rock ep. 4 tracks of budget gabba gabba gay punk rock including a cover of a track that was released in 1979 by obscure St Louis 4 piece The Welders (check that version out here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTjAlSlt7pg).
51st State (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063360543123) are a duo from Exeter. They describe their music as Bass & beat punk/dub/industrial. Louder Than War's Nathan Brown, whilst reviewing previous ep Plastic (listen here : https://anthraxuk.bandcamp.com/album/51st-state-plastic) called their sound a hippy-punk mashup of anarcho punk, ska, dub, thrash and space rock. I think it's fair to say the band like to experiment and that you never quite know what to expect.
On their new single however (or at least on the song they've just released a video for), they've gone for a more traditional anarcho punk sound. And very good it is too.
The single will be out soon on Grow Your Own Records (as is the case globally, the single is at the mercy of the vinyl pressing plants which are all logjammed at the moment).
Pretty sure the wait will be worthwhile. This is Great British Public...
Shatterproof is an excellent debut album which builds on the promise of 2 very fine singles (you can check them out here : https://gritdublin.bandcamp.com/releases). 10 tracks of gritty, oi infused punk rock with catchy tunes and well written lyrics. Topics covered include Irish revolutionary military commander police commissioner and fascist asshole Eoin O'Duffy, struggling to make it through the day, women fearing for their safety if they go out alone, living in poverty etc. It's a release that I didn't know was coming and it's a very welcome surprise. It's available on vinyl via A.U. Vinyles (https://www.uvpr.fr/produit/grit-shatterproof-lp/)
This is the opening track, it's a song of which the band say "the subject matter seems to be escalating every day. The same story of property vultures and destroyed neighborhoods all over the world. Don't let them kill our city! Dublin still has a soul!" It's called Parazone...
They suck the youth out of the youth
Bleach the streets to hide the truth
Carve up the map with a scalpel blade
And throw the ghost estates to the birds of prey
They've sterilized our bricks
to wash us away
Blitzed all of our buildings
Exported the problems overseas
Parazone
Dust and bones
Bulldozed homes
No Go Zones
This concrete has a soul
This town still has heart
These streets will never forgive
the time they tried to tear us all apart
Postage (https://www.facebook.com/postagepunks) are a "mid tempo loud abrasive melodic pop punk" band from Albany, New York, who's line up is Mike Moak (guitars/vocals), Tyler Paige (guitar), Chris Millington (drums) and Eric Pressman (bass). The members are genre veterans having served their time playing in bands such as Signal Lost, Male Patterns, Mystery Girl and After the Fall.
A little bit of Googling reveals that they released the 4 track Flexi ep in 2019 and then a split single the following year with Mikey Erg (https://postagepunk.bandcamp.com/album/flexi-ep) and whilst I have a very vague recollection of that split, it wasn't till recently and the release of a song titled 80-85 (still probably my favourite by them) that the band properly registered. Both it and follow up teaser track Smitten impressed me a lot and made me make a mental note to watch out for the album's release.
The Self Titled album is now available to check out in it's entirety and a very enjoyable listen it is. Long term fans of the bands will recognise several of the tracks which were originally on those earlier releases and have been given a loving polish. If, like me, you're late to the party then you've 10 gems to unearth. It's available from Dirt Cult Records on vinyl (300 copies) and digital download : https://dirtcultrecords.bandcamp.com/album/postage
Coming in at a lean, mean 72 seconds, Paranoia kicks things off in style and things continue in a similar fashion throughout. All the tracks are catchy and worthy of multiple plays. This is one of them, it's called Return To Sender...
If, like me, you're old enough to have been buying records back in the late '80's then it's quite possible you had a few indie tunes in your collection. Much beloved of the legendary John Peel, Talulah Gosh, Heavenly and Pooh Sticks were just a few of those exponents of jangly indie pop that I had vinyl releases by. Today I'm featuring a song from an upcoming album by a band that features members of all three of them.
Swansea Sound (https://www.facebook.com/swanseasound) are based in Swansea (unsurprisingly). They line up with Hue Williams (Pooh Sticks), Amelia Fletcher (Talulah Gosh, Heavenly & many more), Rob Pursey (Heavenly & many more) and Ian Button (who's also been in lots of other bands and is maybe best known as Wreckless Eric's live collaborator).
In recent times Amelia, Rob and Ian have been performing in The Catenary Wires (https://catenarywires.bandcamp.com/) but teamed up with Hue during lockdown and decided to produce some fast, loud, political indiepop. They've been drip feeding us a few singles over recent months which will lead up to the November 19th release of debut album Live At The Rum Puncheon. It'll be available on vinyl, cd and digital download and you can pre order here : https://swanseasound.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-the-rum-puncheon-2
I've been lucky enough to get an early listen to the album and it's definitely got some of my favourite songs by the band members since they were releasing classics such as Atta Girl, Bringing Up Baby and On Tape (to name just a few). Highlights include I Sold My Soul On eBay, The Pooh Sticks (a particular favourite which I'll play on next week's Just Some Punk Songs show) and Indies Of The World. It's an album that proves that not only is punk not dead, indie isn't dead too!
As well as the album, there's also a number of gigs planned :
Friday 10th December - London, Rough Trade East
Friday 4th February - Bristol, Zed Alley
Saturday 5th February - Newport, Le Pub
Friday 18th February - St Leonards, The Piper
Saturday 19th February - London, Hope and Anchor
Friday 4th March - The Talleyrand, Manchester
Saturday 5th March - UK, venue TBC
The song I'm posting is the one that was recently accompanied by a video. It's "a two minute revision session to make sure you haven’t forgotten The Kinks, The Ramones and the brief explosion of noise pollution that was C86 pop." It's called Rock N Roll Void...
There's occasions when you like a band and you'll enjoy their music but then all of a sudden they tweak their sound, maybe undergo a personnel change and then all of a sudden they put out a new record that surpasses all that has gone before and knocks your socks off.
They're a 3 piece from Bangor (Northern Ireland, not Wales as I once mistakenly said on the show) who line up thus; Keith Farr, John McLachlan & Chipper Robinson. To be fair to them, they were already blowing Ralph's socks off last year when he enthused about them on here (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2020/12/dirt-byrds-blame-guest-review-by-ralph.html). Now, in my opinion, they've made a great leap forward. You can check out their earlier releases here : https://dirtbyrds.bandcamp.com/
The new release is an album titled Dirt. It's a dozen tracks and the band's intention was to make a record that "sounds like a banging demo rather than a polished studio track, it’s a street punk song after all." They succeeded.
Dirt sounds great and the songs, written by Keith Farr who wrote songs for Belfast legends Runnin Riot, are timeless classics. There's times when listening to it that you could swear you were listening to outtakes from the sessions for Inflammable Material. Topics covered include refusing to be downtrodden, seaside riots, elections being a waste of time, the battle of Cable Street and parasitic politicians. Definitely an album of the year contender, it's available via Dammit Records on cd and digital download : https://dammitrecords.bandcamp.com/album/dirt
This is the opening track and sets us up nicely for the rest of a barnstorming listen. It's called This Country...
At home you’re told to grow up, don’t talk back do as you’re told,
When you leave school we’ll work you until your dead,
But I don’t really see these things that way
I don’t want to hate and I don’t wanna kill
Mama I don’t want your fears put into me.
Come on people who’ve had enough
Fuck your governments and fuck your laws!
This country this country, this country has failed us
This country, this country has failed you and me.
Just take a look around your own street,
The defeated faces of those who’ve give in,
Give em Prozac or just give us death!!
And if you you think about it we aint got no rights
I can’t refuse a job if I don’t want to
There’s no freedom for people like you and me!!
I’m waiting for the people to shout” we want governments out
And the head of politicians put on a spike!!
So I was checking out the playlist for Wayne Elliott's next Pulsebeat show (it's an excellent listen and all the shows get saved here if you want to check them out https://www.mixcloud.com/Wayne_Elliott/) and I noticed a band that I'd not previously heard of called The Pulsebeats (https://www.facebook.com/thepulsebeats).
My first thought was that they were the perfect band to play on a show called Pulsebeat. My second thought was any song titled (She Sings Like) Joey Ramone deserves checking out. I'm glad I did.
The band are from Santander and they play a catchy mix of power pop and garage rock. They feature vocalist/guitarist Nathan Whittle (a contributor for Louder Than War (https://louderthanwar.com/) who moved from England to Spain 12 years ago and has hooked up with 3 Spaniards (Luis Ibáñez: Guitar, Alejandro Santos: Bass, Raúl García: Drums) in a band that are preparing to release their first album since 2016's Fiction Non-Fiction.
