Home Front - For The Children (F*ck All)

 

  The older you get the faster time seems to fly by. Hard to believe we're already half way through November. I guess I better start thinking about the 100 songs that are going to feature in the Just Some Punk Songs end of year chart. There's going to be plenty to choose from. 

  One band that will definitely bother the upper reaches are Home Front (https://www.facebook.com/arewenothomefront). The Canadian synth punk outfit feature Graeme Mackinnon on vocal & guitars (he's been on here a decade ago with two of of his previous bands, Wednesday Night Heroes & No Problem https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2016/01/wednesday-night-heroes-all-on-outside.html & https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2015/06/no-problem-killing-game.html) and Clint Frazier on drums & synths. They featured on here a couple of years ago with a track from their excellent Games Of Power album (https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2023/03/home-front-nation.html). 

  Their new album, Watch It Die, is every bit as good. I've already played a couple of the singles from it on the show (Light Sleeper in particular being a firm favourite). I'm noticing plenty of glowing reviews popping up online. I don't really write reviews, I'd rather just recommend you listen for yourselves...  https://lavidaesunmus.bandcamp.com/album/watch-it-die

  I do however highlight a song. You will hopefully already be familiar with Light Sleeper so I'm going with a different one today. This is For The Children (F*ck All)... 

MSPAINT - Angel (Guest Review By Ralph J Rivera)

    

This is possibly the most important release to come out of the "Underground" this year so far. Once upon a time terms like "Post-Punk" and "New Wave" actually meant something important. It meant this was something NEW! Something you'd never heard before. A style of music that re-created itself with every new band and record. Over the years they've now become "genres". Very sad in my opinion. We rarely hear bands anymore that create their own "sound". Gone are the days of PIL, Magazine, Gang Of 4, Killing Joke or The Fall.

Well MSPAINT are here in 2025 to remind you just how important that is! With lyrics that stand up for the down-trodden & the beaten down. The undesirables of today. This is NOT pretty music for pretty people. This 5 song EP (No Separation) reaches it's nadir with the anthem "Angel". The first time I heard this song I put it on repeat and cried my eyes out! MSPAINT have done something no band has done in quite some time for me - Give Me Hope!

PRESSING INFO:

100 on Sky Blue with Forrest Green Splatter

250 on Cherry Red

150 on Clear with Red and Yellow Splatter

200 on Coke and Sky Blue Clash

300 on Black Vinyl

https://convulserecords.bandcamp.com/album/no-separation

WATCH! LISTEN! ENJOY! The video for "Angel" . THE Anthem for 2025!

I saw an angel last night
Doused in gasoline
Flowers grew from their skin
And withered in the fumes
Is this a dream or mirage
Manifestation of pain
Dive deep past the heat
Break down how I really feel

There’s no control
Just controlling yourself
There’s no control
Just controlling yourself
There’s no control
Just controlling yourself
There’s no control

I feel like the problem
I feel in the way
But I’m staying present
This is just today
Cannot feel direction
I feel like a stray
But I’m staying present
This is just today

You’re good enough
You’re good еnough
You’re good enough
You’re good еnough

There’s no control
Just controlling yourself
There’s no control
Just controlling yourself
There’s no control

There’s no control

I feel like the problem
I feel in the way
But I’m staying present
This is just today
I cannot feel direction
I feel like a stray
But I’m staying present
This is just today

There’s no control

I feel like the problem
I feel in the way
But I’m staying present
This is just today
Cannot feel direction
I feel like a stray
But I’m staying present
This is just today
I feel like the problem
I feel in the way
But I’m staying present
This is just today
Cannot feel direction
I feel like a stray
But I’m staying present
This is just today

Ponys auf Pump - Bullenschwein

  

  Ponys auf Pump (https://www.facebook.com/ponysaufpump) are a quartet from Berlin who've been around since 2015 and who convey a similar sense of post punk vibe imparted by a couple of other German bands that I've featured on here previously; Toylettes and Gym Tonic. 

  They've a new ep out on Phantom Records, it features four new songs "about entering wage labor, the helmet and stick brotherhood, stereotypes & shortage of seats in public transport." It's a joyful experience with catchy synth stylings and some killer female vocals that may bring to mind Swiss legends Kleenex (Liliput).  

  You can find it as a name your price download here : https://ponysaufpump.bandcamp.com/album/s-t

  This song is about police brutality, pepper spray and punches. It's called Bullenschwein...

Bist gedrillt, befolgst Befehle - Kopf aus
Machst schön Männchen und stehst stramm - Knüppel raus
Bist trainiert gehst an die Kehle
Funktionieren ist Programm.

Komm dir Leute in die Quere - Helm auf
Holst das Pfefferspray schnell raus
Quarzhandschuhe gegen Zähne
So schmeckt also deine Faust.

Bullenschwein

Bist bei jeder Nazidemo - Gleichlauf
Ob dienstlich oder ob privat - scheißdrauf
Rechte Parolen Null Problemo
Träumst vom neuen Führerstaat

Kiesewetter ein Verräter - Mörder
NSU 2.0 marschiert - war ja klar
Tausend Einzeltäter später
Ist noch immer nichts passiert

Bullenschwein

So viele Einzelfälle
So viele Einzelfälle

Blonde Revolver - Lipstick and Leather

  

  A brief update today as the song I'm posting has been available online for a few months now but it's so good (and the video is fun too) that it deserves logging on here. The update is equally as much about me saying how much I've been looking forward to hearing the debut album by Blonde Revolver and how it's as good as I'd hoped. 

  The band (Grace, Bec, Zoe, Emma, Iso & Kayley) are from Melbourne (yep, yet more Aussies, what a country!) and the album is titled Good Girls Go To Heaven, Bad Girls Go Everywhere. It's attitude fuelled punk rock with a healthy dose of synth and a top notch vocal performance by Zoe Mulcahy. Hopefully you've already become acquainted with the album but if not, check it out now. It's available via Rack Off Records and you can listen here : 

https://blonderevolver.bandcamp.com/album/good-girls-go-to-heaven-bad-girls-go-everywhere

  As I mentioned, this is a song that's probably already close to your heart but have another listen. It's called Lipstick And Leather... 

The Gobs - Get A Dog (That Can Kill Me If It Wants To)

    

  Another band I know nothing about today other than that they're from Olympia, Washington and they've released 3 very decent demo eps so far in 2021. They're called The Gobs and they play lo-fi synth punk which may remind you a little of The Spits. 

  With the first two demos being called demo 1 and demo 2, I'm not going to award any prizes to those of you who guess the title of the third ep. What I am going to do is point you in the direction of some rather cool music >>>>>>>>>>> https://thegobs.bandcamp.com/

  This time around proceedings kick off in enjoyably frantic fashion with a futuristically fantastic track titled 2083 AD. I've no idea what they're singing about but who cares, I'm just having fun jumping around to music that reminds me of Buck Biloxi and Kool & The Gang Bangers. 

  It's similar fare on the next 2 tracks with my highlight being this beauty. It's called Get A Dog (That Can Kill Me If It Wants To)... 

Cuir - Les Restes De La Veille

    

  Today I'm featuring a song by a band that graced the Top 20 of the Just Some Punk Songs Best Of 2020 chart (with this track : https://offsidetapes.bandcamp.com/track/synthpunk-attitude-2) and who've kicked off 2021 in great style. 

  Cuir are from Lorient, France and are the one man synth punk outfit featuring Doug from oi/hardcore bands Coupe-Gorge, Radical Failure and Sordid Ship. They're (he's?) a band that always go down a storm when I play them on the show and I'm certain the newly released debut album (snappily titled Album) will prove just as popular. 

  It's 11 tracks of catchy, "super melodic synth parts mixed with an angry Oi Punk and Roll sound." It's upbeat, driving and shouty and it'll have you jumping around your house. It'll soon be available on cool looking pink vinyl from German label Rockstar Records https://punkorder.com/items/music/lp/cuir-album and it's available now as a name your price download from Offside Records :  https://offsidetapes.bandcamp.com/album/cuir-lalbum 

  Hard to select a favourite as it's an album packed with premium cut bangers but this seems to keep reeling me in, it's called Les Restes De La Veille (it translates as "the leftovers from the day before")... 

Diode - Late Stage Solution

  

  Does anyone know anything about Diode? Then you probably know more than me. All I can find out is that they feature members of Freakees, Shark Toys, Rearranged Face, Wild Wing, Vaguess, Fernando and the Teenage Narcs etc and line up with Kiana (vocals), Theo (synth bass), Bill (guitar) and Vinny (drums/synth). 

  But most importantly, I know that they've a Self Titled ep out on Los Angeles diy label, Refry Records. You can, and should check it out. It's available name your price here :  https://refryrecords.bandcamp.com/album/diode 

  It's a fun listen, lo-fi garage warblings with plenty of synth thrown into the mix. If the listeners to the latest Just Some Punk Songs Show are anything to go by, I'm predicting you'll find it extremely palatable. 

  This is my favourite song, it's called Late Stage Solution...

Shrinkwrap Killers - It's Not A Dead Body Inside This Bag

 

  Shrinkwrap Killers are from Oakland and are the latest outlet to channel the talents of Earhammer Studio boss and Brainoil frontman Greg Wilkinson. They featured on here back in March with one of the year's best songs : https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2020/03/shrinkwrap-killers-stolen-electronics.html

  As well as that track, March also saw the release on Rockstar Records of the vinyl version (the cassette version came out in 2019) of a debut album titled Parents + FBI = Cahoots! You can grab it here :  https://punkorder.com/items/music/lp/shrinkwrap-killers-parents-_-fbi-_-cahoots

 Today I'm posting the lead track from a split 7" with Santa Cruz band Cosmic Reef Temple. There's 300 copies on black and 200 on semi transparent blue and it's available from Wave Guardian Records https://shrinkwrapkillers.bandcamp.com/album/split-w-cosmic-reef-temple

 

  A humorous warning to morgue attendants everywhere, this is a synth heavy post punk delight that will probably remind you of The Spits. It's called It's Not A Dead Body Inside This Bag...

It’s Not a dead body inside this bag.
He just blacked out last night. Unzip the bag and get this fool out of here. This morgue doesn’t process live humans. Please check for a pulse next time. It’s not a dead body inside this bag.

Dress Forms - Annette's Got The Hits

  Yep, it's a cover of the classic song released on their self titled ep in 1981 by Red Cross. It's by Portland, Oregon synth punks Dress Forms and it's taken from their recent mini lp (maxi ep?) Display. You can check it out on the Kennel Jitters Recordings Bandcamp page :   https://bestsupportingactress.bandcamp.com/album/display

  Dress Forms are a 3 piece; Jenny L (synth/vocals), Izzy D (synth) and Jacyn P (drums/vocals/synth). As you may have noticed, that's a lot of synths. Add the off kilter vocals and the playful song arrangements you get a release that's both brief and fun. As well as the Red Cross cover, there's also a reimagining of Swell Maps' Blam! The other 5 songs are originals.

  So, song of the day. I played this on last Sunday's Just Some Punk Songs show and I think it's fair to say the chatroom was a little divided in their opinion of it. Feedback was mostly positive though and if it's not your cup of tea it only lasts around a minute so you've nothing to lose by clicking play. This is Annette's Got The Hits.... 

WLMRT - C.U.T.V.

 

  Fellow Global Punk Network host Steven Milton always plays plenty of awesome bands on his weekly Richter Scale's Amateur Hour show (saved shows here :  https://www.mixcloud.com/Richter_Scale_Records/) and yesterday I saw him recommending a band from Toronto called WLMRT. Suitably impressed I'm basking in the reflective glow of his coolness and posting their latest video on here.

  Forming in 2015, WLMRT are described as sounding akin to "Teenage Jesus and the Jerks chugging cola with The Locust and Guerilla Toss. Think the rotting corpse of no-wave, all dolled up in neon, going pool-hopping in an ice storm." Or to simple souls like myself who are going off the evidence of the song you'll find at the bottom of this update they're a diy, synth heavy, off kilter riot of fun. If I was to chuck around a few comparisons I'd go with maybe Judy And The Jerks, Janitor Scum, Cold Meat etc.

  You can find previous releases mostly name your price here :  https://wlmrt.bandcamp.com/  and get more info from Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/myassmyassmyass/

  Their new ep, titled Lube 2, will be available digitally and on limited edition vinyl from Pleasence Records next month and you can preorder it here :                 https://wlmrt-pleasence.bandcamp.com/album/lube-2

  If all the new songs are as good as this it'll be one of the years best. This is C.U.T.V. 

 

Wonder Bread - I Hate Punk Rock

 

  Today's song is one I played last year on the Just Some Punk Songs show but it's resurfaced again on a new 7" titled Complete Solid Gold Hits and this time around it's made it onto the blog. The ep highlights some of the band's best songs (plus there's a new song on there too) so it's a great way to introduce you all to Wonder Bread. You can find the 7" here :  https://digitalregress.com/products/wonder-bread-complete-solid-gold-hits-7

  Wonder Bread is the brainchild of Matt Ferrera. Not your typical punk outfit, the music is budget price electronica with a snotty attitude. The lyrics riff along the lines of "I hate punk rock, I hate Buzzcocks, I hate Ramones...." Also on the list of hated bands are the likes of Discharge, Black Flag, Wire, Void etc. Matt's not looking to appear cool, he thinks your favourite bands suck. He loves prog rock, if you don't like Steely Dan, you can fuck off. He's taking no prisoners, you're all fucking posers!

  You can check out the ep in digital format here :  https://digitalregress.bandcamp.com/album/complete-solid-gold-hits-7

  This is I Hate Punk Rock.....
 

Sex Tourists - Guts

 

  A song today from a Self Titled album that when I first came across it I wasn't at all sure about but which has definitely grown on me and is now a firm favourite. I played a song from it on the recent Just Some Punk Songs Drunken Sailor Records special and it stuck out like a sore thumb but went down extremely well with the folk in the chatroom (The show got as high as number 4 in a Mixcloud punk chart that often sees shows playing golden era oldies clogging up it's upper echelons so thanks to those that have checked it out  https://www.mixcloud.com/mick-fletcher/just-some-punk-songs-drunken-sailor-special/).

  The song is by Sex Tourists, they're a "downer synth-pop" outfit from Sydney who's line up features members of bands such as Aloha Units, Natalia And Her Naptime and Houseband and they appear to have been influenced far more by early New Order and Vietnamese funeral music! than by any of the usual likely suspects. That line up is Darius Ottignon, Ewan Finlay and Nicola Babbage.

  The album was originally released last November by local diy label Paradise Daily Records but was quickly picked up by that bastion of good taste Juice who quickly added it to the impressive roster on his Drunken Sailor label. There were a limited number of copies available on vinyl and it's also here digitally :  https://drunkensailorrecords.bandcamp.com/album/st-lp-3

  You may also be interested in the "name your price" demo that came out 3 years ago on the band's own Trackside Records :  https://tracksiderecords.bandcamp.com/album/sex-tourists-demo

  If, after your first listen to Sex Tourists, you're like me and aren't sure, don't give up. They'll soon drill through that initial resistance and firmly implant their nagging earworms inside your head. If, like Juice and the majority of the JSPS chatroom you fall in love straight away then make sure you snap up the album. Damn this is good, it's called Guts....

 

The Scaners - UFO Crash

  The Scaners formed in 2016 in Lyon (France) and are a synth punk band who's members have also graced the likes of Savage Riposte, Sway, Les Barneurs, Cortona, Malone and Lads In Vertigo. Those members are Pav (lead vocals/organ), Dédé (guitar/backing vocals), Tama (bass) and Pierrick (drums/backing vocals).

  In August they released a 6 track name your price demo, they returned a couple of months later with a self titled ep which is available on vinyl from the ever reliable No Front Teeth Records ( http://www.nofrontteeth.co.uk/ ). The label describe it as "sounding like The Spits if they were on Rip Off."  You can also find it, along with the demo, on Bandcamp.... https://thescaners.bandcamp.com/

  UK fans can catch them over in London for gigs in December and January, details are here : https://www.facebook.com/thescaners/

  Short & sweet, bouncy and upbeat, this is U.F.O. Crash....

Kitchen People - Hologram

  Formed in 2014, Kitchen People are an Australian garage synth quintet from Perth featuring Jake Suriano (guitar/vocals), Charles Wickham (guitar), Vincent Buchanan-Simpson (synth/vocals), Tom Cahill (drums) and Alec Thomas (bass/vocals).

  They introduced themselves with a demo in 2014 whilst they were still a 3 piece. Over the course of the last 3 years they've expanded to their current line up and released an EP, a debut S/T album and then earlier this year a sophomore album, Trendoid. You can get Trendoid via Ooops Baby Records or digitally from Bandcamp : https://kitchenpeople.bandcamp.com/  

  The song I'm posting below is the final one on the album. From what I can make out it's about Stephen Hawking's desire to be a hologram? With a sound not a million miles away from fellow Aussies Ausmuteants, it's catchy and it's fun so give it a listen. This is Hologram.....

Komplikations - Stress

  I preiously featured Belgian elektrorockers Komplikations a couple of years ago when I posted one of their early songs (http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/komplikations-defect.html). Today they return with a track from their new 12" Humans.

  Scheduled for Febuary, Rockstar Records will be releasing a red vinyl version  or you can check out the name your price digital download here : https://rockstarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/komplikations-humans

  The band comprises Alen Micuglian (vocals), Synth Lio (synth) and Ben Plastic (drums). The song I'm posting is about something that effects many of us in these austere times. With no money to pay the bills, no idea of what to do and a world spinning too fast, this is Stress.....

Nachthexen - Ring Ring

"please leave your message after the tone......"  

  Nachthexen are a female fronted synth punk band from Sheffield featuring Emma Thacker (vocals), Donna (synth), Fiona (bass) and Olga Rienda (drums). They take their name from the German nickname for the women military aviators of the 558th Night Bomber Regiment (later known as the 46th "Taman" Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment) of the Soviet Air Forces. The English translation is Night Witches.

  Last year saw them release the name your price ep titled The Other. They followed it up last April with a s/t 7" ep on Kids Of The Lughole Records. (Just a quick note, Kids Of The Lughole have put out some of 2016's coolest music, this blog has already featured Sievehead, Clean Shirts and Detergents but there's others that are definitely worth checking out : https://kidsofthelughole.bandcamp.com/ ).

  You can find Nachthexen's music here : https://nachthexenpunx.bandcamp.com/

  Back when I was at school, the likes of Cabaret Voltaire and The Human League were pioneering synth punk and like Nachthexen, both were from Sheffield. Upholding that city's fine tradition of this kind of music, from the s/t ep, this is Ring Ring.....

Stalin Video - Kut Me Off

  Featuring members of  London's The Gaggers and Greenville, South Carolina's Now In 3D,  Stalin Video have previously released a single, Vivisektion, which came out on No Front Teeth Records and was bloody good so when I heard there was an album in the pipeline for next year I knew it would be worth watching out for. The Gaggers play straight forward '77 style punk rock and are inspired by the likes of "early GG / Jabbers, Dead Boys, Pagans, Eater.....", whilst Now In 3D "play scuzzy synth punk." Stalin Video merge these styles to great effect which leaves them sounding not a million miles away from The Spits. At least that's the impression you get from the video below, it's taken from the album which is called Animalistik and is scheduled for release in early 2015 on Wanda Records. Turn up your volume, this is Kut Me Off.....