Haemers - Mansaf (Guest Review By Dirk Ceustermans)

    

(pic: kevienpictures)

  HAEMERS - Mansaf from "Sunny Side Up" digital album (at the moment)

  Well I wondered where they were but finally HAEMERS (https://www.facebook.com/haemersband) returned with new material after 4 years. I think with these new songs they show their audacity again to compose some complexity in the riffs and pace shifts, the way it was already showcased in their 2021 release "Onderwereld". The songs here sound more "lo-fi" compared to the previous record and this makes it sound even more aggressive as the rough kicks you right in the gut. 

  The vocals sound just as if it was done with a microphone straight into a cheap tape recorder. Brilliant! (I must say he does sound like a singer in one of my early 80's bands, being recorded using a tape recorder at rehearsals).

  After a first listen I decided to pick the second track Mansaf, that kicks in after a fantastic opener (Snap), which I leave for you to listen to yourself. Mansaf kicks in with with a fast pace and turns into a slower part allowing a bit of headroom for the bass to noodle around, before they return into the tempo and to end with a slop on the wrist.

  Then it even gets faster with "Dog Squeezer" that clocks in just under a minute. "Fuck this soup" might not be about disliking the soup of the day down the local bistro, 'In the Soup' is a dutch saying meaning being in trouble, maybe they played around with that? Who knows.

  "Geo Enginear Death Experience/Centipedes" changes pace all the time getting your braincells microwaves into all directions, "Slide" gives you a deserved break to regain your senses, but not long before the title track kicks in. Oh noooo what a killer track!

https://haemers.bandcamp.com/

  This is Mansaf... 

Fantasy Premier League

   

Congratulations to Andrew Plant who won the Just Some Punk Songs league with his team Plantys Squad. He beat Vinny Vincent's Dingo Ate My Baby (I think Vinny won the league for the last 3 seasons) by 45 points. 

  The cup final saw Just Some Punk Songs beating Big Bangers FC 66-52 in a close final that was decided by a late Mo Salah goal.

  Thanks to everyone who joined, the league will be back in August. 

 1 Plantys Squad  ANDREW PLANT 2436

 2 Dingo Ate My Baby  Vinny Vincent 2391

 3 BOVINE BANJO BASHERS Skot McGuffog 2359

 4 Wretched Rovers  Pete Marler 2347

 5 Just Some Punk Songs  Mick Fletcher 2345

 6 Big Bangers FC  Kandy Ramsey  2340

 7 Hello you counts  paul spice  2322

 8 El Loco Motives  Richard Howe  2322

 9 Better Red than Djed  James Coppard  2314

 10 JC 11  Jack Collinson 2311

 11 Rebel Express AFC  Tim Bray  2292

 12 Playing To The Crowd  Matthew Rayner  2264

 13 Inner City Sumo FC  Chris Collins 2242

 14 Stärkande Starköl  Anders Jacobsson 2207

 15 Rays Dreamers  RAYMOND PLANT 2191

 16 Change Name  Harrison Flint 2174

 17 Tesco McNeil  Deal Adam Rigby 2173

 18 Nilsatisnisioptimum Ian Riley 2167

 19 Sandra FC Miguel  Dale Houghton 2167

 20 World Beaters  James McIver 2135

 21 I 8️⃣ Peter Swann XI  Simon Poxon 2005

 22 Fat Latch XI  Ian Jay 2004

 23 Haggis's Heroes  Phil Harris 1997

 24 Elland back  Rob Wilkinson 1967

 25 Colin's Great Team  Colin Clark 1933

 26 Shotfrombothsides  Gary Hough 1917

 27 Not Going Downes  Gary Webb 1900

 28 Stenbungalowmuir  Alan Beningfield 1862

 29 villans  Glen Mohamed 1855

 30 Moosey's Reds  Graham Powell 1774

 31 SOTS UTD  Mark Jones 1682

 32 EzeLikeSundayMorning  D M 1540

 33 EVIE'S Dream team  Martin Holland 1524

THE MENSTRUAL CRAMPS - Make Girls Feel Good

  

  Today's song is an old one. It was released in 2017. But I've a few reasons for posting it. Firstly, I couldn't see it anywhere on Youtube so I thought that needed rectifying. Secondly, it's just been rereleased by Grow Your Own Records. Thirdly, it's a bloody great song. 

  The Menstrual Cramps (https://www.facebook.com/TheMenstrualCramps) are a punk band from Bristol who recorded their debut album at home in 2017 and self released it online. The album was called We're Not Overyacting and it was one hell of a way to announce yourself.

  They returned a year later with album number 2, Free Bleedin, which I covered here :  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-menstrual-cramps-boycott-lot.html

  Since then we've had to make do with a drip feed of single tracks which have left us punk fans crying out for album number 3. 

  Whilst we wait, let's reacquaint ourselves with the debut. It's been remastered and is available via Grow Your Own on vinyl and CD for the first time and comes with a 32 page lyric booklet. It's as fresh and relevant as ever : https://growyourownrecords.bandcamp.com/album/were-not-ovaryacting

  The song I'm highlighting is a call for women to love themselves. It's called Make Girls Feel Good...

I'm fed up with the women on the TV
I'm fed up with the women in the mags
You're giving all women such a complex
And I think you're all fucking scumbags

What the hell is a contour kit
Them things require a warning
You all look bloody great to me
Especially bare faced in the morning

Cus you always look like such perfection
That you don't even need to try
And you don't need no correction
For those bags under your eyes

Stop filling your lips with this unknown jelly
And please appreciate your belly
I'll always think you look okay
And I don't mind reminding you today

The average dress size is a 14
So if you're hungry grab some toast
All these beauty queens are our model teens
And their looks aren't obtainable to most

The worst thing you can do
Is compare yourself to her
You're a magical, beautiful creature dear
And babe you always were

Cus you always look like such perfection
That you don't even need to try
And you don't need no correction
For those bags under your eyes

Stop filling your lips with this unknown jelly
And please appreciate your belly
I'll always think you look okay
And I don't mind reminding you today

When are we gonna stop telling girls
That they need to look a certain way
And when are we gonna stop selling kids
Eye pallets and telling them to change

When are we gonna stop judging a girls worth
On how much they weigh
And when are we gonna start telling girls
That whatever the time of day
They always look okay
They always look okay

Cus you always look like such perfection
That you don't even need to try
And you don't need no correction
For those bags under your eyes

Stop filling your lips with this unknown jelly
And please appreciate your belly
I'll always think you look okay
And I don't mind reminding you today

Cus you always look like such perfection
That you don't even need to try
And you don't need no correction
For those bags under your eyes

Stop filling your lips with this unknown jelly
And please appreciate your belly
I'll always think you look okay
And I don't mind reminding you today

Skinhead - Jog Your Memory

  

  

  Skinhead are California-based and New England-bred. I first came across them at the end of 2023 when I was impressed by their album Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt. The title "is a well-known phrase from Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-Five. It's often interpreted as a wry, almost ironic, way of looking at the absurdity and pain of life, suggesting a detached acceptance of the unpredictable nature of existence." I mention that just to demonstrate that this is a band that aren't just catchy choruses with no substance... It is very catchy, it's just it seems a little more substantial than is sometimes the case.  

  Next month sees them returning with a new album titled It's a Beautiful Day, What a Beautiful Day. It'll be available on vinyl via Closed Casket Activities : 

https://closedcasketactivities.com/products/skinhead-its-a-beautiful-day-what-a-beautiful-day

There's 3 tracks streaming on Bandcamp : 

https://skinhead.bandcamp.com/album/its-a-beautiful-day-what-a-beautiful-day

  I played Ancient History on last week's show so today I'll highlight Jog Your Memory...

In the car Not a new occasion We’re here for a home invasion Got the mob Knuckles throb Nothing left but To finish the job And the last words You said to me Is it’s on now If you want it to be You lock your eyes on me While you scream How you can’t believe This is happening You lock your eyes on me While you scream How you can’t believe This is happening You had time to squash this You weren’t acting very modest Now with scary faces Ski-masks and boots with braces You can’t help but plea All of a sudden This isn’t what you mean Then why did you have to persist That we come here And give you this free facelift Hope we all can coexist? I think there’s something that you missed Do you remember the last worlds you said to me? I would be offended if you made me repeat You don’t remember the last words you said to me?? Maybe this will jog your memory You lock your eyes on me While you scream How you can’t believe This is happening You lock your eyes on me While you scream How you can’t believe This is happening You lock your eyes on me While you scream How you can’t believe This is happening You lock your eyes on me While you scream How you can’t believe This is happening

The Owen Guns - Had Enough

  

  Hailing from New South Wales, The Owen Guns (https://www.facebook.com/theowenguns) are an old school punk band with strong views and a sense of humour. They seem to have become Just Some Punk Songs regulars with half a dozen previous appearances (including this one  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2022/06/the-owen-guns-pulling-on-boots-racist.html). 

  They return today with a song from their new album. Featuring a line up of Sean The Bastard (Vox, Theramin, Synth, Otomatone, Cynicism), Mark (Guitar and raised eyebrows), Booker (Bass, ginseng and sarcasm) & Ma Tu (Drums, alto sax and liquid bread), the album is titled Songs About Fucking Idiots. It's a title (and album cover) inspired by Big Black's 1987 Songs About Fucking album. It's out today...  https://theowenguns.bandcamp.com/album/songs-about-fucking-idiots

  There's plenty of highlights on offer but I might as well go with the song they've just released a video for. This is a jaunty offering called Had Enough...

I've had enough I'm sick and tired of being used I've had enough I've had enough Of paying all the bills for you I've had enough I've had enough I know that you've been sneaking out I've had enough I've had enough Of how you always put me down I've had enough I've had enough I'm tired of always being wrong I've had enough I've had enough Of feeling like I dont belong I've had enough I've had enough Of being captive to your moods I've had enough I've had enough Of your self righteous attitude Not gonna take it anymore And now I'm walking out the door aint gonna take it anymore So now im walking out the door Ive had enough goodbye

Half Man Half Biscuit - Horror Clowns Are Dickheads

  

  Birkenhead's top beat combo Half Man Half Biscuit are back today with a typically rib tickling tune. They've been a Just Some Punk Songs favourite for decades before Just Some Punk Songs was even a thing and have brightened up these pages several times (including this classic  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2018/05/half-man-half-biscuit-knobheads-on-quiz.html).

  They've a new album on the way titled All Asimov And No Fresh Air. It'll be available on vinyl and cd  and you can get more info here :  https://hmhb.lnk.to/AllAsimovAndNoFreshAir

  They've just released a teaser track from it. It ruminates on the notion that the likes of Pennywise and Art aren't as scary as anything conjured up from the minds of M.R. James or Edgar Allan Poe ("get a decent mob together, they don't wanna know"). It's called Horror Clowns Are Dickheads... 

PLEASER - Hey Girl

  

  Pleaser (https://www.facebook.com/pleaserhey/) are Suo Fei (guitar/vocals), Annie Marie Nyvold (guitar/vocals), Olle Bergholz (bass) & Oliver Nehammer (drums), a "cute tough punk" band from Copenhagen. 

  They'll be releasing a new album later this week titled Begging Guitars. I recommend you check it out :  https://pleasercph.bandcamp.com/album/begging-guitars

    Going off the evidence provided by songs that are already available, this is a band that plays with joyful abandon. Just check out the vocals on my pick of the bunch. There's just that certain something that hits my sweet spot. This is Hey Girl... 

Anti-Everything - Crime Factory Model

  

  Trinidad and Tobago probably isn't the first place that comes to mind when you're thinking of great punk rock bands but that's where Anti-Everything (https://www.facebook.com/antieverythingtt) hail from. 

  They've been around for a decade and a half now. You may have caught them on their recent UK tour (which included an appearance at the Manchester Punk Festival of which Chris Oliver commented "My highlights include southern-Caribbean band Anti Everything, who communicate the anti-fascist and anti-globalisation message with an exceptional mix of laser-pointed rage, powerful music and thoughtful persuasion"). 

  They've also recently released a blistering new album titled True Love. It's 11 bursts of energetic hardcore that not only has something to say but brings steel drums to the punk rock party. You can check it out here : https://antieverything.bandcamp.com/album/true-love

  This is the opening track. It starts off in a restrained fashion before bursting in to glorious noise. It's called Crime Factory Model...

Now listen up my friends, sit down, together we go tell a story
Of how the nation came to be corrupted and modelled on a factory
It gets set up in communities, and fueled by political means
To produce money, violence, and power, in this colony

Keep people in destitution, no support or intervention
Contracts are exchanged for votes and mobilisation
The profit is an input into criminal operations
As gangs displace the role of community organisation

Mass produce human suffering
To commodify civil suffrage
There’s no space for human dignity
In the nationalised crime factory

It is in d party’s interest, to keep yuh in dependence
We can come into power on a platform of vengeance
Capitalise on retribution, rather than offer solution
Because solving this problem breaks the very market we rely on

Ba da da da da dam die die
We’re all gonna die die die die
Ba da da da da dam die die
Sans Humanité

W.O.M.B.A.T - Identity Crisis

  

  W.O.M.B.A.T (https://www.facebook.com/waste.of.money.brains.and.time) are from Melbourne and feature a line up of Harrison McGregor- Porcaro (Bass/Vocals), Zoe Hammond (Lead Guitar), Lachlan McGregor-Porcaro (Rhythm Guitar) & Micheal Haynes (Drums). Their name stands for  waste.of.money.brains.and.time

  They released a debut ep last November titled Inbrace

 (https://wombat-aus.bandcamp.com/album/inbrace) 

  Unfortunately I missed it at the time but happily French label Idiotape Records have just released a cassette version (which this time around I haven't missed).

https://idiotaperecords.bandcamp.com/album/w-o-m-b-a-t-inbrace

  Being a sucker for Philadelphia trio Dark Thoughts I had to highlight this cover of a track from their 2016 debut album. Dark Thought's version (https://dark-thoughts.bandcamp.com/track/identity-crisis) finishes abruptly as the band race straight into the next song. The W.O.M.B.A.T version is equally as impressive but has a proper fade out. This is Identity Crisis...

Foxy - Already Gone

  

  Foxy (https://www.facebook.com/foxybandusa) are a female fronted melodic punk band from Orange County who've just released a new album titled Tonight Tonight. The line up of the band is LP (Vocals), Greg Antista (Guitar), Stu West (Bass) & Richie Mendez (Drums).

  The album will bring to mind the likes of The Runaways and The Donnas. It's catchy as fuck and it rocks. I played a track on the show a few weeks ago (Rock And Roll Crime) and it pretty much brought the house down. Happily it's not the album's only "smash hit."

  It's out today on Rum Bar Records https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/tonight-tonight

  It's also worth noting that Greg Antista has an album on the way with his band The Lonely Streets which I'll play something from on the next show

 https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/bastards-broken-hearts

  Back to Foxy, this is the album's closing track and it's a definite modern day classic. It's called Already Gone... 

The Model Workers - Surf Song

    

  The Model Workers (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100039871304012) are a band I played on the latest Just Some Punk Songs show and I think I mentioned they were from the north east of England. Having researched a little more, I don't think that's the case, the band I was thinking of were called Model Workers and they released a 7" in 1981 titled Cry. 

  This trio (Dink vocals/guitar, Dazza B bass/backing vocals & Chris E drums/backing vocals) are also from the UK, I think from Leicester, Devon & Banbury, but despite being around for over a decade I think they're a different band (although as is often the case, I'm winging it a bit here!). 

  Anyway, the important bit. They recently released a 7 track debut album titled Disaster Punk. The opening track (the one I played on the show) is titled Look At The State and it pretty much sums up the band's raison d'être. They sing about what's going on around them, both politically and personally. The album's old school and honest and you can check it out here :  https://open.spotify.com/album/7v62N1XqJc9pTAkD0smgFk

  This song deals with climate change and the rising of the oceans, it's called Surf Song... 

KLOBBER - London

  

  KLOBBER (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100037550725654) are from Madrid and previously graced the pages of Just Some Punk Songs back in 2021 with a track from their album Clap Time! https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2021/11/klobber-only-in-it-for-beer.html

  They're back today with a taster for their upcoming album A Rope For You. It'll be available next month on vinyl (300 copies, 100 of them in orange) and digital via Take The City Records and you can pre order it here :  https://takethecityrecords.bandcamp.com/album/pre-order-a-rope-for-you-lp

  It's described as "10 new songs will delight fans of English punk like SLAUGHTER AND THE DOGS, THE DAMNED, THE RUTS, THE CLASH, COCKNEY REJECTS... and American punk bands like BLACK FLAG, GERMS, ZERO BOYS, or REAGAN YOUTH. Sweet ballads for punks, drunks, and dirty Cunts." 

  A throwback to the heady sounds of '77, this is London... 

The Bat Creeps - Comic Day

    

  The Bat Creeps (https://www.facebook.com/thebatcreeps) are a comic book punk rock outfit from Sheffield. My mate Simmo messaged me to say "fave new band mate" to which I replied "I was listening to them earlier and I'm playing them on this week's show (tonight, 8pm   https://gpr.mixlr.com/)."  It seemed rude not to get them on here too. 

  They've (they being Jim Connolly, Billy Sevens, Steve Yates and James McVeigh) just released a new album titled Flaccid Justice. It's "10 tracks covering hot topics such as vehicular mayhem, errant cyborgs and of course, unrequited love" and it's a whole bunch of fun. 

  You can get it on cd or digital here : https://thebatcreeps.bandcamp.com/album/flaccid-justice

  I was originally going to highlight the singalong opener Stay Puft but I'll bow to Simmo's superior knowledge and go with his favourite track instead. This is Comic Day... 

The Soda Poppers - Bad Girls Go To Hell

  

  The Soda Poppers (https://www.facebook.com/the.soda.poppers) are the latest band to come rolling off the Johny Skullknuckles punk n roll conveyor belt. I've featured a couple of those other bands previously  

https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-kopek-millionaires-it-could-happen.html

https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-dead-beats-monsters-prefer-blondes.html

  The Soda Poppers see Jonny on guitar, backing vocals and knob twiddling. He's taking a bit of a backseat this time around ably backing up Frida The Bleeder (Vocals, Guitar, Bass), Silent Sonia (Drums) and Sticky Vikki (Organ, backing vocals). 

  They released a festive track a few months ago titled 'Til Christmas and now they're back with an ep called Testing A Theory - The Shape Of Things To Come. It boasts 6 songs including sprightly covers of Suffragette City and I Think We're Alone Now. You can find it here :  https://johnymusic.bandcamp.com/album/testing-a-theory-the-shape-of-things-to-come

  This song's a definite highlight, it's called Bad Girls Go To Hell...

You don't like the things that we do - Too bad, oh well You don't like the things that we say - never mind, OK You don't like the drugs that we take - Too bad, oh well And you're always telling me that Bad Girls Go To Hell. You don't like the things that we do too bad, so fuck you You don't like how much we drink You don't like the way that we think We think, we think you suck You don't like the way that we live - Too bad, oh well You don't like the things that we say - never mind but OK You don't like anything And you're always telling me that Bad Girls Go To Hell So I'll see you in hell We're good, we're good at being bad

The Priceduifkes - Unemploy Me

  

"Good times here I come..."

  The Priceduifkes (https://www.facebook.com/thepriceduifkes) are the Belgian punk band who first featured on Just Some Punk Songs back in 2017 with a song from their album Goathorse  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-priceduifkes-its-raining-shit.html

  7 years later they released a more than worthy follow up titled Dirty Dancing which I covered here :  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-priceduifkes-water-balloons-to.html

  And now they're back again with a brand new single. It's a yearning to be let go from a shitty job, a feeling I think we've all had when we need work to pay the bills but we'd really rather be doing something better instead. 

  It's called Unemploy Me... 

 

xray xeroxx - Johnny Rotten Is A Fascist Pig

  

  xray xeroxx. New to me but maybe a one man project? Certainly a lofi garage punk project from Los Angeles and with what looks to be a debut release, a 4 track ep titled Bored And Loving It. 

https://xrayxeroxx.bandcamp.com/album/bored-and-loving-it-e-p

  This is the track with the eye catching title, fortunately it's a good tune too. It's called Johnny Rotten Is A Fascist Pig...

johnny rotten is a fascist pig
johnny rotten is a fascist pig

you used to sing about anarchy, but
you’re really pretty vacant

when you said
"god save the queen, the fascist regime"
you meant it

you did not invent punk rock
even if you think you did
you’re not an anarchist
you’re a prick
johnny rotten is a fascist pig

johnny rotten is a fascist pig
johnny rotten is a fascist pig
johnny rotten is a fascist pig
johnny rotten is a fascist pig

i just wanna be anarchy
yeah right

we're so pretty
oh so pretty
johnny rotten is a fascist pig

i just wanna be
johnny rotten is a fascist pig

we're so pretty
oh so pretty
johnny rotten is a fascist pig

you're vacant
you're vacant
johnny rotten is a fascist pig

Ricky Rochelle - Ghost of Dee Dee (Guest Review By Ralph J Rivera)

  

  Well my friend Ricky Rochelle has just dropped single #4 in his 2025 series. This one is called "Ghost Of Dee Dee" and it's his strongest song so far in this endeavor.  https://rickyrochelle.bandcamp.com/track/ghost-of-dee-dee 

  The music is a perfect blend of his new direction. The "Pop" sensibilities are there in the vocals and structure while also maintaining a fair amount of "Ramonescore". The lyrics are an amazing tribute to one of the best songwriters in the Ramones. Using his song titles to weave a heartfelt peon, you can tell how much Dee Dee meant to Ricky Rochelle. Stellar production as always by his writing partner Gregg Gavitt who also handles the bass duties on this one.

  Besides being my friend I'm also a huge fan Of Ricky's. His solo work is constantly evolving as to what can be done within the "Pop Punk" genre. I put him in the same category as Kurt Baker. Someone who started out playing in a straight up Pop Punk band but also had the ability to write songs & music that transcended that bubble. It's rare that an artist can leave an established band and carve out a successful solo career. Ricky Rochelle is on his way to stardom. 

  Here's the Youtube clip for "Ghost Of Dee Dee".