The Prize - Static Love Affair

  

  In The Red, the debut album by Melbourne power pop n roll quintet The Prize (https://www.facebook.com/theprizemelbourne) has been out for a week now so I think it's time I highlighted a song from it. 

  It's not easy selecting just one, the album is a gold mine offering up copious tuneful nuggets. Ever since they released their debut ep, Wrong Side Of Town back in 2022 it's been obvious they've got that little bit of something that elevates them above their contemporaries. 

  They were formed from the ashes of Mr Teenage (who if you missed you should check out https://mrteenage.bandcamp.com/album/automatic-love) and when I first covered them I said "I really, really, really, really hope this band hangs around longer than Mr. Teenage."   https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2022/09/the-prize-fighting-my-way-back.html

  Happily they have. The album's available via Anti Fade Records in Australia and Goner Records in the USA. Check it out : https://theprizemelbourne.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-red  

  This is the song I've listened to most this week, it's called Static Love Affair... 

The Prize - One Day At A Time

  

  One of my favourite new bands are Melbourne quintet The Prize. A song from their debut ep topped the Just Some Punk Songs 2022 chart and they also featured in last years list. Will they reappear this year? I wouldn't be surprised. 

  They've a split single coming soon on Bargain Bin Records with The Unknowns (another great Aussie band who made last year's JSPS chart). 2 songs per band and definitely worth treating your ears to. 

  As you'd expect with The Prize, we get gloriously catchy melodies. It's power pop mixed with garage punk, it's 70's guitars and great vocals, it's a sure fire winner. This is One Day At A Time... 

The Prize - Fighting My Way Back

  

  I've been waiting for this beauty to drop.

  Some of you may remember that a couple of years ago I was mightily impressed by the debut ep by Melbourne 4 piece Mr. Teenage. I asked how does a new band get to be this good so quickly.  https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2020/11/mr-teenage-kids.html

 

  I suppose the answer is they had a very talented line up.

  Now 3 of that line up, Nadine Muller (vocals/drums), Carey Paterson (vocals/guitar) and Joseph Imfeld (guitar) are back with a new power pop/punk outfit called The Prize and they're every bit as promising as Mr. Teenage (probably even more so). Again from Melbourne and rounded out with Austin Haire (guitar) and Jack Kong (bass), they've also released a killer ep (which is a certainty to feature in the best of 2022 charts).

 

  The ep is titled Wrong Side Of Town and it sees the Bandcamp write up throwing around comparisons with the likes of The Nerves, Thin Lizzy, Flamin' Groovies, Ramones, Face To Face & The Divinyls. We'd already been treated to the title track and Easy Way out. Both modern day power pop classics that have had me recommending them to as many people as I can. Now the full ep is available from Anti Fade Records on 7" vinyl and digital download :  https://theprizemelbourne.bandcamp.com/album/wrong-side-of-town-ep 

  As you're hopefully already familiar (and in love) with the first 2 tracks, I'm going to highlight one of the "new" ones. This was a single in 1979 for Nuneaton quintet The Incredible Kidda Band (you can check out the original here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2E1b_4bXCo). This version retains the melody of the original but beefs up the sound a little. I really, really, really, really hope this band hangs around longer than Mr. Teenage.  

    This is called Fighting My Way Back...