No fools joke here. Check out this new single from Cristóvam. “Fever” walks the fine line between struggle and redemption, exploring the delicate balance between “chaos and hope”. For this song, Cristóvam teamed up with Australian indie-folk band Boy & Bear, resulting in a unique and atmospheric sound. Chicago-based four-piece Falling Stars have quietly released the 3-song Garden Variety EP and its great, so take a listen. New wave popsters Autogramm are back with “Randy” loaded with guitars and synths. Next, Small Yards give a punchy performance with “Shake Me Loose.” For indie pop with personality, try Tiny Tiny, a project of Boone Williams and some friends. Some cool listening on “Ultra City” and “Born Yesterday.” As a freebie, you’ve got a brand new Rum Bar Records sampler, Swagger. Loaded with 28 tracks.Enjoy.
April’s Fool
Due to some personal issues, I’ve been a bit lax on posting. Sorry but I’m just April’s fool. Just enjoy this classic until I can pull myself together.
March Singles and EPs: The Airport 77s, Juan y La Hormiga, Skeleton Staff, Cmon Cmon, Strawberry Moon, Bret Tobias
Tristan Armstrong and The Campbell Apartment
Tristan Armstrong “The Lonely Avenue”
If first impressions are everything, then Ontario’s own Tristan Armstrong kicks down the door with a power pop punch on The Lonely Avenue. From the very first title track, it’s clear this isn’t some casual stroll—Armstrong is speeding down melody lane with the windows down and the volume cranked. Armstrong wears his influences like a badge of honor. We’re talking the cream of the crop: Pete Townshend’s swagger, Alex Chilton’s cool, Matthew Sweet’s melodic chops, and a touch of Redd Kross’s playful bite.
The slow ballad “Periscope” comes up next, and shows a pensive cool with a terrific blues guitar solo midway through. As a co-founder of the roots rock outfit The Actual Goners, he knows his way around a melody. Those Americana influences still peek through like an old friend, examples of this are “Sing In Your Sleep,” “The Lender,” and “Would You Take An IOU?” In addition his heart clearly beats to the rhythm of crunchy guitars and sugar-coated choruses here, shown in “Queen of Diamonds,” and the hook filled “On The Run.” Overall a refreshing mix of the melodic and mellow. Highly Recommended.
The Campbell Apartment “(510)”
The Campbell Apartment, led by singer-songwriter Ari Vais, returns with their eighth album, (510)—a nod to his area code in Oakland, California. The album dives deep into themes of fatherhood, isolation, addiction, and love. The songs vary in style, from angry rock to trippy lightness.
Standout tracks include “30,000 Days,” an opener buzzing with garage-rock grit and a nostalgic, and “In My Dreams” has a catchy Lennon-esque vibe. The trippy “Ambulen” is another winner and “Tululah Says” delivers an infectious mix of punk and garage rock. Both “Grudge” and “Biter,” which lean into growling guitars and pounding percussion and radiate raw, primal energy, demonstrate Vais’s affection for Nirvana. The shimmering “What’s Goin On” starts with a ’60s pop-rock sweetness before shifting into a rugged garage-rock finish, but one of my favorites here is “Winter 2028,”which is similar to They Might Be Giants in political themed humor. (510) is a powerful demonstration of excellent songwriting and The Campbell Apartment’s persistent creative spark that is both raw and retro. Highly Recommended.
20th Century Boys and The Loft
20th Century Boys “20th Century Boys”
The debut album from 20th Century Boys doesn’t just flirt with nostalgia—it grabs it by the collar and drags it onto the dance floor. With a sound that fuses the glittering swagger of ‘70s glam rock with the raw energy of pub rock, this Fullerton, California-based trio delivers the goods you’d expect from a Rum Bar Records band. The group is Jeff Moses (lead vocals, guitar,) Mike “Rocko” Occhiato (bass,) and Jason Hubbard (skins).
Right out of the gate, the album’s opener “Suzy” pulses with an anthemic urgency, and even better is the follow up “Cuz I Want To” follows the Stones playbook, with cocky glee and buzzing riffs. Tracks like “Tricky Situation” and “Hotz On 2 Boogie” are brimming with power chords and sing-along refrains, perfectly crafted for late-night drives. It’s not all great, as some of the songwriting feels lazy (the same riffs repeated ad nauseam.) But there are plenty of highlights including “Come On Jason” and “Never Dull Moment,” and “Rumble At The Dance Hall.” Overall, a good debut, and I look forward to more from these “Boys.”
The Loft “Everything Changes Everything Stays The Same”
A tale of the fledgling ’80s UK indie scene and friendships shattered and rekindled, resulting in a band’s debut album finally emerging from the studio some 40 years later. Like other “lost” bands (i.e. Peach and Lee) it’s a tale of what “could have been,” and a long awaited homecoming.
“Feel Good Now,” the opening track, has a calming chorus and is the most enjoyable song here. It easily could have been on the charts alongside Crowded House. “Dr. Clarke” has a bit of the late ‘60s style that recalls The Who’s “Can’t Explain,” but the majority of the music is mellow folk rock “trying to have something useful to say” like the easy strum on “Ten Years” or jangling beauty of “Greensward Days.” While it might not set the world on fire, the steady confidence of “This Machine” and several tunes here prove more than worthy of multiple listens. Check it out the album and see the documentary below.