Grit - Shoulder high

  

  Is it possible to be both happy and sad at the same time? I'm guessing it is as that's how I feel now. Happy as I noticed a new ep by Dublin band Grit (https://www.facebook.com/GRITDUBLINOIPUNK). Sad because it's a final posthumous release. 

  The band first featured on Just Some Punk Songs in 2016 when I admitted to knowing nothing about them other than that they were a female fronted punk band from Dublin who'd recently released a demo ep titled Ghost Estates.  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2016/08/grit-pauline.html

  A couple of years later Byrne Os from the band chose his 10 favourite songs :   https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/01/top-10-songs-chosen-by-byrne-os-grit.html

  And then Rebel Time Records' head honcho Randy Smith chipped in naming Nowhere else as one of his favourite recent political/protest songs... https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2020/09/randy-smith-selects-his-favourite_24.html

  The band released an album in 2021 titled Shatterproof and this was covered here :  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2021/11/grit-parazone.html

  And then sadly the final release. It's a 4 track ep titled Perfect Storm and it's a fitting farewell from a fine band. It's the melodic street punk/oi sound we've come to expect and it's available on 7" vinyl   https://www.juno.co.uk/products/the-grit-perfect-storm-vinyl/1072895-01/ and as a name your price download : https://auvinyles.bandcamp.com/album/grit-perfect-storm-ep

  Farewell Grit, you'll be missed. 

  This is Shoulder High... 

Ravagers - Razor Love

    

  So, what was the most popular song on last night's Just Some Punk Songs show? Probably this...

  Ravagers (https://www.facebook.com/ravagersgang) are the Baltimore rock n rollers comprising of Alex Hagen (Vocals/Guitar), Matt Gabs (Guitar/Backing Vocals), Sam Hariss (Bass/Backing Vocals) & Ray Peters (Drums). They've been around for over a decade and previously featured on here a couple of times  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2021/04/ravagers-down-that-road.html

https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2022/02/ravagers-shake-reaper-guest-review-by.html

  They've a new album on the way via Spaghetty Town Records (USA) and Wanda Records (Europe). It'll be titled On The Loose and it's out on April 5th. They recently released a first single from it called Dogs and you can find that here : https://ravagers.bandcamp.com/track/dogs

  They'll also be touring Europe to promote the album 

  The 2nd single from the album is a double A sided affair. It features both "a snotty, high-octane anti-love anthem that cuts through the noise with a jagged, Motorhead-style riff and walking bass lines" and a flip side that "taps into a darker, more sinister energy with a riff that could have come straight off the Damned's first album." 

  This one's an anthemic stomper called Razor Love... 

Street Sweeper - Just Don't Work

  

    Street Sweeper are the Melbourne band who's debut single was featured on here a couple of years ago :  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2023/02/street-sweeper-mama-i-cant-do-no-time.html

  Since then they've slimmed down to a trio; Allan Stacey (Guitar/Vocals), Ethan Stahl (Bass/Backing Vocals) & Abe Pedroza (Drums). If I've got this right The Doze and Joe Steele leaving after that debut release and former Chubby And The Gang bassist Ethan Stahl joining up in time for last year's Don't Wait ep.

  A couple of tracks from the Don't Wait sessions, recorded at C Block by Jack Knife, have just surfaced on the Twin Turbo single. The band say they're "clearing the cache" in preparation for them to get back in the studio to record a debut album.  The single's available as a name your price download :  https://streetsweeperruleok.bandcamp.com/album/twin-turbo

  This song is called Just Don't Work... 

Amusement - Budge

    

  Amusement are a melodic punk band from Portland, Oregon who's members have previously played in bands such as From Ashes Rise, North Lincoln, Bothers, Deathreat, Young Livers & Arctic Flowers. Influenced by the likes of Hüsker Dü, Leatherface, Seaweed, Superchunk, Dinosaur Jr, Samiam, Pegboy etc, they've been together for 4 years and have released 3 eps. 

  Those eps have now been collected together and are now available on one handy 12" record from Brassneck Records (UK) and Shield Recordings (Netherlands). You can find it on coloured vinyl (ltd to 300 copies) here https://brassneckrecords.bigcartel.com/product/amusement-first-3-eps or here   https://distro.shieldrecordings.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=2979

  It's also on Bandcamp : https://brassneckrecords.bandcamp.com/album/amusement

  https://amusement2.bandcamp.com/

  I played Standing on Top of the A Bomb on a recent show so today I'll highlight the bonus track that wasn't on the eps. It's a version of a song originally released by Dinosaur Jr on their 1988 album Bug. It's called Budge...

Grab a ride
See the wings, most fly
Try to picture me with you
Let's stop
We can crush at high speed
Hope we can feel enough for two
Yeah I gave you a nudge
Not sure what to touch
Hey, made my last nudge
Why won't you just budge
Grab a ride
See the wings, most fly
Try to picture me with you
We can gaze
Then trade to space plane
Tons of rubble to sift through
Yeah I need a bug
Not sure what to touch
Hey, made my last nudge
Why won't you just budge
Grab a ride See the wings, most fly
Try to picture me with you
We can gaze
Then trade to space plane
Tons of rubble to sift through
Let's stop
We can crush at high speed
Hope we can feel enough for two

Armoured Flu Unit - Nothing Sticks

  

  Armoured Flu Unit (https://www.facebook.com/ArmouredFluUnitOfficial) are no strangers to Just Some Punk Sings. They've featured several times with this song being a particular favourite  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2017/12/armoured-flu-unit-this-machine-kills.html

  They're big advocates of animal rights but aren't as keen on fascists and capitalists. Many of their songs deal with these topics and you can always rely on them to combine heavy, pounding riffs with intelligent lyrics. 

  Their new album is no exception to this rule. The album's titled Carnyx which led me to check out what Carnyx means. Google reveals "The Celtic Carnyx, an ancient wind instrument used between 300 B.C. and 200 A.D., produced eerie, resonant sounds that echoed across battlefields. Historian Polybius noted its ability to rally Celtic warriors and instill terror in Roman soldiers who heard its haunting tones before combat." Hopefully this album has a similar effect on those huntsmen, fascists, capitalists and general wrong 'uns that the band are rallying against. 

  The album's out now (vinyl, cd, digital) on the ever reliable Grow Your Own Records :  https://growyourownrecords.bandcamp.com/album/carnyx 

https://armouredfluunit.bandcamp.com/album/carnyx

  I should really be highlighting Hidden Face as the band have gone to the trouble of releasing a very classy video for it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBg91oKvOLY) but being somewhat of a contrarian, I'm going with something different. This is about how corporate power can bring about Teflon coats. You can get away with pretty much anything if you grease enough palms. It's called Nothing Sticks... 

Panic Shack - Gok Wan

  

  Panic Shack (https://www.facebook.com/panicshack) are the Cardiff band who made a first Just Some Punk Songs appearance almost exactly two years ago with a track from their debut ep (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2022/03/panic-shack-ick.html).

  They return today with a new single on Brace Yourself Records and happily despite 2 years away they're still as infectious as ever. The single deals with body image and the need to get in shape to satisfy others ("my body is yours enjoy the view"). 

  They'll be touring the UK during May and the gigs are already selling out so get them tickets fast. 

 

  You can find the single here : https://panicshack.bandcamp.com/track/gok-wan

  It's called Gok Wan... 

I squat for 2 hours a day
Not enough to keep the red ring of shame away
If my stomach is flat and my arse is perky
Maybe I could get everybody to like me
Fingers for dinner, starving yourself
Trinny and Susannah stacked on the shelf
Vertical stripes and skipping meals
Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels

I look good this is all I do
My body is yours enjoy the view
I look good this is all I do
My body is yours enjoy the view

I squat for 5 hours a day
Fat or pregnant?
Thin or dying?
What would the tabloids say?
And I throw up everything I eat
Coz nothing tastes as good as skinny feels

I look good this is all I do
My body is yours enjoy the view
I look good this is all I do
My body is yours enjoy the view

I squat for 12 hours a day
I know best I do what people on the telly say
And all I count are pounds and calories
Don’t read books just glossy magazines
Who needs brains when you got hip bones like mine
I learnt this from you mum, I must be doing fine
Nothing really matters except numbers on the scales
Coz nothing ever tastes as good as skinny feels

I look good this is all I do
My body is yours enjoy the view
I look good this is all I do
My body is yours enjoy the view

I wanna be the smallest girl that’s ever lived
I wanna go down in history for being thin
I wanna be the smallest girl that’s ever lived
I wanna go down in history for being thin

I look good this is all I do
My body is yours enjoy the view
I look good this is all I do
My body is yours
It’s all for you

Abi Ooze - Tall King

  

(photo : msgarts) 

  I've said it before ("If you were to ask me who my favourite vocalists were at the moment I'd have to think long and hard and write you out a comprehensive list, but one name that would definitely be on there is Abi Ooze." https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2023/02/abi-ooze-alien.html) and I'll say it again, I'm a massive fan of Abi Ooze. 

  Aka as Jade Baisa, when you see there's new music by her you just know it's going to hit that sweet spot. Jangly garage/power pop, it's a joy. So when I crawled out of bed this morning and stumbled on a new song I knew I had to shout about it. 

  It's featured on a 40 track compilation album from the see/saw newsletter titled BATTLE FOR L.A.: a see/saw benefit. There's some great bands on there (Gee Tee, Neo Neos, Billiam...) and all the songs are previously unreleased. All proceeds go directly to individuals and families impacted by the Eaton and Palisades Fires in Los Angeles earlier this year.

  It's available as a ltd edition cassette : https://www.knucklesonstun.com/shop/p/vhwvgqelg7xvncj66d0hjnqkr6og9l

  And digital download : https://see-sawdotfun.bandcamp.com/album/battle-for-l-a-a-see-saw-benefit

  Without further ado, this is called Tall King... 

The Red Bastards - Life's A Trap

    

    We're all fucked

    Shit ain't funny... 

  Mid Wales punk quartet The Red Bastards (https://www.facebook.com/Theredbastards) return today with a new single. It's a teaser for the band's next (as yet untitled) album which is pencilled in for release late summer.

  They previously featured on here a couple of years ago with a track from their debut S/T album  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-red-bastards-kids-on-glue.html

  A very fine street punk tune about the vicious circle of life, it suggests the new album will be a definite winner. This is Life's A Trap... 

Punter - The Golden Hour

  

  I think it's fair to say that one of 2025's most raucous releases will be the new album by Naarm/Melbourne trio Punter. They first featured on here back in 2025 when I mentioned that I was unfamiliar with them but they'd knocked my socks off   https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2020/01/punter-minutes-silence.html. 

  Three years later I featured "a beast of a track that stomps all over anything else you might listen to today" https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2023/02/punter-years-silence.html

  And now they return, as good as ever. Lining up thus; Nathan Burns (guitar, lead vocals), Bella Steel (bass guitar, vocals) & Jake Revell (drums, vocals). They've unleashed an album titled Australienation. It's available in Europe via Drunken Sailor Records, Australia via Televised Suicide Records and Green Noise Records (USA).

  It takes no prisoners, it'll sweep you up in a maelstrom of noise. But it's not noise for noise's sake, they bring plenty of invention and melody to the party. I highly recommend you check it out : 

https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/australienation-lp

  It's an album packed with highlights so I'm spoilt for choice. Eeny meeny miny moe... strap in, I'm going with The Golden Hour...

Those blessed ringlets falling soft around her shoulders
her eyes were wild, impassioned, flashing like a flood
and her heart sent rage and empathy,
K Cider and some Ketamine
All coursing violently throughout her blood
Now have you ever met somebody so affectionate and genuine,
intelligent and mental all at once?
And you felt you'd never have 'em 'cause they'd seen some shit you
hadn't
but then suddenly you'd both fallen in love
in love
When he left England
Was a mess
Between eviction and that pregnancy test
Now when he bought her the ticket, said “come see me in
Melbourne”, the Department sealed their fate.
It was the same story that you heard before, now
of two lovers,
and the State.
(Love
Love
Love and the Border)
Met up in Asia 'cause they couldn't let go
(Young
Hearts
Shoulda' known better)
He crashed the moped, did the rest of the dough
(Love
Love
Love and the Border)
And every single time a goodbye was said
(Young
Hearts
Shoulda' known better)
He knew it surely can't be long 'til she's…

PUBLIC HOUSE - Death Van

  

  Last May, guest reviewer Paul Austin introduced you guys (and me) to a new band from Melbourne called Public House https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2024/05/public-house-rich-cunt-party-guest.html. 

  He said the song, Rich Cunt Party, was "a blistering relentless tirade of punk rock energy with a buzzsaw guitar riff complemented by pounding drums and ferocious vocals" and expressed his hope that it wasn't a one off release.

  Happily it wasn't.

  They've (they being Wolfy (aka Wolfgang Buckley, vocalist with Stiff Richards), Jimmy, Stringer, & Kalani) just released a follow up single. It's another winner. It details what could happen to you if you don't toe the line. You can find it here : https://publichousebanned.bandcamp.com/track/death-van

  It's called Death Van...

You’re talking shit, on your favourite page

You didn’t know that they detected your name

They got your address and they’re forming a plan

They’ve got a bed in the back of the van

All your family and friends, will never see you again

You told somebody ‘bout the things you don’t like

The man is coming, to take you tonight

All your family and friends, will never see you again

All your family and friends, will never see you again

You broke the rules, and now you must pay

The van is coming, to take you away

You say goodbye, to your kids and your wife

The needle’s ready, to kiss you goodnight

All your family and friends, will never see you again

All your family and friends, will never see you again

All your family and friends, will never see you again

All your family and friends, will never see you again

City Escape Artist - One Million Robots

  

  "They're like Pennywise."

  "Nah, more like Bad Religion... but faster."

  Was part of the conversation in the chatroom when I played today's song on this week's Just Some Punk Songs show. 

  The band in question are City Escape Artist (https://www.facebook.com/cityescapeartist). They're from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and they feature a line up of David Wince (Vocals/Guitar), Jon (Drums), Trevor (Guitar/Vocals) & Sean (Bass/Vocals). 

  They've been around for more or less a decade and have just released their 4th album. It's titled Modern Day Ghost and if you like your punk rock in the vein of the aforementioned bands you'll want to check it out. It's available on cd and digital download : 

https://cityescapeartist.bandcamp.com/album/modern-day-ghost

  This song's a definite highlight for me, it's called One Million Robots...

Damaged Life - If You Die Tomorrow

    

  As often happens on a Monday, today I'm featuring what was probably the most popular song on last night's Just Some Punk Songs show.

  It's by a trio from Leipzig in Germany called Damaged Life. They're a relatively new band who spent a couple of years in the rehearsal room before emerging fully formed into the daylight. The members have previously been in the likes of One Step Ahead, Resistenz '32, Bambi Shoots Back & Krachlabor. 

  They've just released a debut 5 track S/T ep that hits the street punk sweet spot. It's available on cassette and as a name your price digital download. The cover shows the bombing of the presidential palace “La Moneda” on September 11, 1973 in Santiago, Chile, an event covered on the 2nd track 9/11 '73.  They're definitely a band to keep an eye (and 2 ears) on.

  You can find it here : https://damagedlife.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-ep

  This is the opening track, it's one hell of an introduction. It's called If You Die Tomorrow...

 try to get your words out to the crowd

 I'm sick of your misleaded mouth

 condemning and despising seeds

 you're a creep that nobody needs

 if you die tomorrow

 i wouldn't remember your name

 if you die tomorrow

 it wouldn't be a shame

 if you die tomorrow

 i wouldn't remember your face

 someone else would take your place

 a world worth living for

 but not for me and just for you

 prevent the new and keep the old

 welcome to your horror show

Taste Testors - She Didn't Tell Me She Was A Dopehead

  

  Attention! TASTE TESTORS are not a pop-punk band!

  Or so the promo blurb goes for a new band from Seattle called Taste Testors (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558819749110). What they do admit to being are a Ramones influenced outfit that "will tickle the record nerds taste buds with hints of garage, bubblegum, early so-cal punk, and doo-wop."

  They may be a new band but they ain't no scene newcomers; they feature members from the likes of The Briefs, Rabid Dogs, The Piniellas, The Greatest Hits, Clean Lines and more. Their sound is timeless and with vocals by Steve E. Nix (The Briefs, The Cute Lepers) they're instantly familiar. The other band members are Nils Larson (guitar), Leif Larson (bass) & Vic Sanchez (drums).

  The album's available via Moodkiller Records on blue vinyl and digital download. It's Self Titled and you can find it here : https://tastetestors.bandcamp.com/album/taste-testors

  I've played a couple of songs from it already on the Just Some Punk Songs show and this week I'll play this one, it's called She Didn't Tell Me She Was A Dopehead... 

The Samples - Tears For Souvenirs (Beanie Mix feat. Hannah Beanie)

  

  One of my favourite albums from last year was Speak Truth To Power by Worcester punk veterans The Samples (https://www.facebook.com/TheSamplesPunkBand). I featured a track here :  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-samples-badgers-song.html

  The band included a free 'companion' CD bundled with the first 150 pre-orders of the album and they've now been kind enough to give it a wider release. It features 10 tracks made up of remixes, new songs, a cover version and a couple of demos of main album tracks and if you loved the album as much as I did then it's a must listen.

  It's titled Nothing But The Truth and you can find it here :  https://thesamples3.bandcamp.com/album/nothing-but-the-truth-speak-truth-to-power-bonus-tracks

  I'll play a different track on this week's Just Some Punk Songs show but on here I'll highlight the Beanie Mix of one of the tracks from the original album (the original version of the song also featured on a split 7" single collaboration with Rum Lad). It features vocals by Hannah Beanie and it's called Tears For Souvenirs... 

J Prozac - Take Me Away

 

  J Prozac (https://www.facebook.com/jprozac) is back today with a new single. The frontman with long running punk outfit The Prozacs is certainly no stranger to this blog, no surprise when he effortlessly keeps turning out catchy earworms. The full band line up is J Prozac (Vocals, Rhythm Guitars, Tambourines & egg shakers), Greg Russian (Bass), Mark Pena (Drums) & Angelo Quaglia (Guest lead guitars).

  If you get in quick, you can grab this single on yellow 7" vinyl (200 pressed on Lighthouse Records (Germany) with 100 made available in the USA). It's also available digitally :  https://jprozac.bandcamp.com/album/take-me-away

  The flip side of the single is a cover of a song originally released by The Bates back in 1996 on the album Kicks 'n' Chicks and there was a video for it a few months ago. It's great so check it out :   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18Be5BeWYkM

  The other song is equally impressive, it hits the sweet spot between pop punk and power pop and it features J wishing he could go to a place far away from here. It's called Take Me Away 

Cult Crime - Throwaway Kids

  

  Cult Crime are a garage punk n roll band from Toronto who've been together for a little over a year (from what I can gather they're now a trio after starting initially as a solo project, one of the members being Curtis Tone who's also graced the likes of Imploders, PlasticHeads & School Damage). They released a demo in December 2023 and have just released a 3rd single. 

  As with previous releases it's available as a name your price download on Bandcamp :  https://cultcrimeband.bandcamp.com/track/throwaway-kids

  There's a debut S/T album pencilled in for early next month via Ugly Pop Records ("featuring nine cuts of snarling, hard-nosed punk that recalls 1981 hardcore on both sides of the Atlantic, seasoning classic LA a la Adolescents/TSOL/pre-Henry Flag with a dash of primo Blitz").

  This song is called Throwaway Kids... 

Alex Hellcat - The World On Fire

    

  An obvious starting point to a blog update about Alex Hellcat (https://www.facebook.com/alexhellcatmusic) is that he's listened to more than his fair share of Rancid records. 

  He's from Regensburg, Germany and he's got that bass led punk rock sound down to a tee. 

  Below you'll find his latest song. It's about life in East Germany before reunification and the dismantling of the Berlin Wall. "It touches on oppression, rebellion, and the fight for freedom, expressing frustration, disillusionment, and perhaps lingering resentment about the past and the way history played out."

  https://alexhellcat.bandcamp.com/track/the-world-on-fire

  It's called The World On Fire...

Ever since this country was divided,
the Eastside skies are always grey.
The wall came down; we're reunited,
side by side but still not the same, no.
It was tough growing up in East Germany.
Run-down houses and few opportunities.
Anything but living the dream,
and we were watched by the state security.

We set the world on fire.
We set the world on fire.
We set the world on fire.
The system in flames was our desire.

Citizens attempting to defect to the golden west,
risked imprisonment and even death - what's left at best?
Dictatorship and state police on your back.
The system kept us numb with booze and cigarettes.
Now welcome to insanity.
And we were told the West is our enemy.
Now tell me, why the fuck is this supposed to be?
Huh, yeah well, whatever.

We set the world on fire.
We set the world on fire.
We set the world on fire.
The system in flames was our desire.

Scowl - B.A.B.E.

  

  Scowl (https://www.facebook.com/Scowl40831/) are a hardcore punk band from Santa Cruz, California who've featured plenty of times on the Just Some Punk Songs show but who don't seem to have featured on the blog. One of the main reasons for bands missing out on the blog is that when they release new music it's so popular that everyone jumps on it and features them so I give it a miss and look for something a little more obscure. I think Scowl really need to be shouted about though as they're a little bit special. 

  They're a quintet featuring Kat Moss (vocals), Malachi Greene (guitar), Mikey Bifolco (guitar), Cole Gilbert (drums) & Bailey Lupo (bass). They've been around since 2019 and have been very much in the ascendancy since. They're getting ready to release a new album, a follow up to their 2021 debut How Flowers Grow (https://flatspotrecords.bandcamp.com/album/fsr58-how-flowers-grow). 

  It's titled Are We All Angels and it's due out on April 4th on vinyl, cd and digital download :  https://scowl831.bandcamp.com/album/are-we-all-angels

  They'll be promoting it with a UK / European tour : 

  This is the 3rd single from it, it highlights Kat's impressive vocal range and it's called B.A.B.E. 

Everyone else just play along Everyone else just signing on a dotted line But you don’t even want to hear it You don’t really want to see No shaking hands, I’m shutting down I’m shutting down entirely Burned at both ends, yeah it just won’t let up I want to catch my breath Everyone here could you please just shut up? I gotta catch my breath Why does the good stuff never last? Everything sacred finds its way to filthy hands Make no mistake, I ain’t lacking in ambition I’m digging my heels I’m not taking your sour pills Burned at both ends, yeah it just won’t let up I want to catch my breath Everyone here could you please just shut up? I gotta catch my breath Don’t know any other way, comfort in the suffering Don’t know any other way, comfort in the suffering Got no feeling, seek the thrill, I’m only in this for the kill Got no feeling, just thrill seeking, in this for the- Take and you take and you just won’t let up But you’ve gotta catch your breath Everyone here could you please just shut up? But I’ll never catch my breath…

The Prostitutes - Hung By The Phone (Remastered)

  

  Punk legend Kevin McGovern has featured on this blog numerous times with his band The Prostitutes (https://www.facebook.com/tutespunk) and various other projects such as The Trouble Seekers, The Inversions & 12 Guage Pinup. He even did a few reviews back in the day and shared his Top 10 songs when I could be arsed asking people to do that  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2014/06/top-10-songs-chosen-by-kevin-patrick.html

  He's back today as I want to share a song from a new compilation album by The Prostitutes. It's titled Broken Ballads & Savage Beats and it features 16 tracks of "Unreleased, Compilation Tracks, Demos, Alternate Versions, Singles spanning 1991-2019." It's released by Sahlugg Records and it's available on limited edition vinyl (red or black) and as a digital download :  https://theprostitutes1.bandcamp.com/album/broken-ballads-savage-beats

  It's a great comp packed with classic Kill By Death style punk tunes. It's timeless stuff by a band that never disappoints. I'll play a different song on this week's Just Some Punk Songs show but on here I'll highlight the remastered version of a song that was originally released as a single in 2002 by The Inversions. They were a short lived trio formed after the Prostitutes split up (for the first time) and saw Kevin joined by Doug and Dave McKean. It's called Hung By The Phone... 

Ricky Rochelle - Imagine Being Eric (Guest Review By Ralph J Rivera)

  

Man after all the non-stop craziness of this past week this is just what I needed. One of the best songwriters in the "Pop Punk Bubble" Ricky Rochelle is dropping what will be the first in a series of new digital singles this Friday. They are gonna be available on his newly formed "Rochelle Records" but for now you can get all his previous releases at this site - https://rickyrochelle.storenvy.com/

So single number one is called "Imagine Being Eric" and I was kinda hoping it would be about Eric Trump but no it's about a lovable loner who lives with his cats. This sees another progression in Ricky's ever evolving sound. It takes us back to the days when Wreckless Eric, Elvis Costello and XTC were dropping amazing 45's weekly. As a product of the 80's I grew up listening to this kind of music so I'm 100% on board with this direction.

It's a quirky combination of intertwined guitar & keyboard melody with Ricky's beautiful vocal tone. I'm sorry my friend but if it was 1980 you'd be a Pop Star, all over UK & European TV. But I thank you for making music that needs to be heard today. All you have to do is look at our new President to see where being angry all the time gets you. All alone at 4 in the morning banging out tweets.

Here's the brand new Ricky Rochelle single "Imagine Being Eric". LISTEN! ENJOY!

Pardon Us - Che in Gold Lamé

  

  As I mentioned yesterday on Facebook, on last night's Just Some Punk Songs show I played a track from the latest album by Liverpool trio Pardon Us (https://www.facebook.com/wearepardonus) and amidst the widespread chatroom praise popped up the comment "best fucking band in UK by fucking miles!"

  Are they? Well I'm certainly not laughing that particular commentator out of town. It's a big claim but it's one certainly worthy of consideration. 

  They've featured on here numerous times previously, their first time being 10 years ago :  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2015/08/pardon-us-only-pain.html

  Since then they've raised their heads above the parapets at regular intervals to regale us with great, catchy protest songs that make our bodies move and our minds mull over social and political injustices. 

  The new album is titled Learning To Live with and it maintains their highest standards. It kicks into gear with a soundbite from the 1939 Laurel And Hardy movie The Flying Deuces : 

 Francois : Pardon me gentlemen, what seems to be the trouble?

 Stanley : Well, if you don't mind, we're going to jump in the river.

 Francois : But, why commit such a foolish action? Surely, your troubles can't be as bad as all that.   Stanley : Well, that's what I've been trying to tell him.

  This leads into an opening song about how it's easy in this bleak day and age to become an old cynic but it posits how surely things can only get better. 

  It's just the first of 14 pop punk nuggets of gold. The subject matter might often be depressing (divided nations, crap politicians on all sides, frothing racists and conspiracy nuts...) but the music shines. 

  It's available on vinyl and digital download and is already an album of the year contender :  https://pardonus.bandcamp.com/album/learning-to-live-with

  It's impossible to choose a favourite song to highlight (I've listened to the album several times and different tracks keep jumping out at me) so I'm going with one I've not seen other reviewers mention yet (just to show how strong overall the album is.) This is Che In Gold Lamé...

Can’t bear to vote for another red-tie Tory Well now my child Let me tell you a story Of comrade Phil, his vision so inspired When fascists rise He knew what was required A movement needs a figurehead to pick us off the ground A left wing Elvis wielding an AK A revolution needs a revolutionary sound Give the people Che in gold lamé Old Phil’s long gone But still we keep on writing these protest songs Dissolving in infighting So many years we’ve lost to fascist scheming But I hear that voice and I can’t help dreaming We can find a figurehead to pick us off the ground A left wing Elvis wielding an AK A revolution needs a revolutionary sound Will we ever have our Che in gold lamé?

Serial Pest - Serial Pest

  

  Serial Pest are Mal Come (Vocals), Rob Myers (Guitar), Mishu Bari (Bass) & Dave Bate (Drums), a "four piece punk band harnessing the chaotic sonic assault of hardcore."  They're from Sydney and a year ago they released an ep titled Hot Breath https://serialpesthc.bandcamp.com/album/hot-breath

  It passed me by at the time but I did catch up in October when I played a single by them on the show. It was called Vulnerable (https://serialpesthc.bandcamp.com/album/vulnerable) and it was a teaser for their 2nd ep which they mentioned was scheduled for release early in 2025 (so it should be imminent?). 

  Today however I was browsing the Noise Merchant Bandcamp page and noticed they'd just released the debut ep on cassette so I thought I'd highlight it on here. It's 11 tracks of short, aggressive punk that's well worth wrapping your ears around. 

  As I type this there's only 4 cassettes left so if you want one jump on it :  https://noisemerchantrecords.bandcamp.com/album/hot-breath

  This track is eponymously titled Serial Pest... 

Thee Mutilators - Thee Burning Planet

  

  Today I bring you a banging new track by "Jersey’s first & last egg punk band" Thee Mutilators. 

  They're a new band I know pretty much nothing about, from what I can gather they're a side project of a Jersey garage punk band called Dribbler (https://dribblertheband.bandcamp.com/) and they're bringing us a helping of "fast n raw drum machine & synth tinged stream of consciousness that contemplates frustration, futility & our impending doom."

  They'll be releasing a 6 track ep at the end of the month titled I Have Seen The Horror Of The Future and although I've only as yet heard the one song by them I was impressed enough to shout out about it. The ep's available on a limited edition cassette (as I type this there's only 9 left) with funds from it going towards the Palestine Children's Relief Fund - www.pcrf.net. It's also going to be available digitally :

  https://theemutilators.bandcamp.com/album/i-have-seen-the-horror-of-the-future

  This is Thee Burning Planet...

MY FRIEND CATASTROPHE
WE TAINTED SANCTUARY
I FEAR WE'VE BROKEN EDEN
WE WILL BURN AT THIS RATE
I WAS DOWN HERE IN THE DUNGEON WHEN YOU CRIED "EMERGENCY!"
DOWN HERE PLOTTING MY ESCAPE
DOWN HERE, I COULD FEEL THE HEAT

NEXT SUMMER WON'T BE SO COOL
THEE BURNING PLANET
WE'RE THE FUEL

NEXT SUMMER WON'T BE SO COOL
THEE BURNING PLANET
WE'RE THE FOOLS

I SAID "THIS CAME FROM GREED"
I SAID "NO EMPATHY"
ONLY OURSELVES TO BLAME
NO MORE APOLOGIES
WE HEARD THE PLANET PLEADING
WE HEARD THE FORESTS SCREAM
WE SAW THE WATER RISING
MOTHER GAIA'S CALLING ME

The Riptides - End of the World

  

  Hailing from Ottawa, The Riptides (https://www.facebook.com/TheRiptides) have been around since 1998 (check out their music here https://theriptides.bandcamp.com/) and first featured on this blog 10 years ago (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-riptides-shit-outta-luck.html). 

  They return today with a new song that they wrote “as a satirical commentary during the dark days of the pandemic.” 

  It's a teaser track for their upcoming album Burn After Listening. The album will be available on March 7th on 12" Aqua Blue Vinyl or 12" Tide Pod Marble Vinyl. Check out the Pirates Press store for pre orders : https://shop.piratespressrecords.com/pages/the-riptides

  Released on Inauguration Day in the USA, let's raise a toast to the end of it all. This is End Of The World...

Some said it would end in fire and some said ice We were warned but still ignored, and now we pay the price So let’s toast to the end of all we know what we held tight As long as there’s an open bar you know we’ll be alright We are the authors of our fall, ignored the writing on the wall Now it’s all over and we don’t even give a fuck at all The cannonballs still fly ‘cause they were never banned There’s no more seas to sail the doves are decaying in the sand We are the authors of our fall, ignored the writing on the wall Now it’s all over and we don’t even give a fuck at all It’s the end of the world, and I’m just glad it’s over It’s the end of the world, no way I’m staying sober Cause we went and messed it up and now we’re lost to history It’s the end of the world tonight, and that’s alright with me And now, we’ve had enough We’re calling your bluff Without you to contend, we’ll let it all just end And maybe we can start all over again… It’s the end of the world, and I’m just glad it’s over It’s the end of the world, no way I’m staying sober Cause we went and messed it up and now we’re lost to history It’s the end of the world tonight, and that’s alright with me.

First Attack - On The Other Side

  

  "Skinhead life

  A way of life we know..."

  I've got another new band for you today, they're called First Attack, they hail from Vancouver and they feature vocalist & guitarist Greg Huff (Bishops Green). He's accompanied by Noah Heath (bass), Matt Vogler (drums) & Robert Foster (guitar). 

  They've just released a very good debut single which will go down a storm with all those among you who love a bit of melodic oi. It'll be available via Longshot Records & Mendeku Diskak and it's on Bandcamp : https://firstattack.bandcamp.com/album/first-attack

  This track's called First Attack... 

Melter - Song For You

  

  Melter are a new band from Sheffield comprised of Ellis (Trust Fund), Sean (Consolation), Kev (The Winter Passing) and Haz. They've just released a debut ep. It's titled Holding Court and it's available via local label Delicious Clam Records. 

  It boasts a quartet of  jangly tunes that Mikey Young (who seems to mix and master pretty much every great new release nowadays!) compares with such luminaries as Royal Headache, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, UV Race & Pete Shelley. It's available on cassette and digital download :  https://deliciousclamrecords.bandcamp.com/album/holding-court

  They'll be making their live debut sharing a stage with Adults and Grazia on Saturday 1st February at The Birds Nest in Depford.

  This highlight is short and simple but really effective. It's called Song For You... 

Grassy Knoll - Who Killed Sharon

  

  Do a Google search for grassy knoll and you'll get a lot of search results pertaining to the "small green space marking the spot where John F. Kennedy was fatally shot in 1963."  Hopefully if today's band fulfil their undoubted potential they'll soon be also prominently featured in those search results.

  Grassy Knoll are a new punk band from Pittsburgh who've just released a cassette titled Hardcore '24 (10 punk songs. Yeah it's called Hardcore '24 even though it came out in '25, who cares?). They're a band that are reminding me of Night Birds (https://night-birds.bandcamp.com/) both for their energetic hardcore infused music and their lyrical content. 

  You can check out the ep here : https://grassyknollpunk.bandcamp.com/album/hardcore-24

  There's a couple of songs on the ep dealing with the JFK assassination but this one touches on another pivotal 60's event, the murder of Sharon Tate and her unborn son by members of the Manson Family cult. It's called Who Killed Sharon? 

There's a hippy murder cult living on death ranch The men don't surf at muscle beach, the girls are in a trance One night we sent a squad car out to see what they were up to What we saw was so disgusting that I fuckin threw up dude Who killed Sharon? Who? Who killed Sharon? Me and the hippy murder cult are living on death ranch Eating lots of acid, it puts us in a trance Society doesn't understand us, we're living on the fringe We're eating out of garbage cans but we're planning something big Who killed Sharon? Who? Who killed Sharon? Life is nice out in the canyon, Roman's shooting overseas Far away from the city's pain and the homeless in the streets Growing in my stomach now, a son or a daughter The sun reflects of the pools cool crystal water Who killed Sharon? Who? Who killed Sharon?