The Re-Used Electrics prowled Houston, Texas from 1980-1985 and was dedicated to translating the spirit of live punk bands of that time to local rock audiences. This 5 song EP is dedicated to Johnny Thunders (aka John Anthony Genzale) best known for his work with the New York Dolls.
The classic guitar instrumental “Pipeline” originally made famous by The Chantays is given a sweet treatment and opens the set. Followed by “Chinese Rocks,” the solid instrumental work does its best to make up for the buried vocals, which resemble a gruff Johnny Rotten. “One Track Mind” and “Pills” are good catchy rock and roll. Definitely meant to be played loud and proud.
After ending a 7-year hiatus with 2018’s Before Your Summer Fades, The Blank Pages are back with a fresh EP. Guitarist Greg Potter leads the charge with the title track, a catchy anthem with a nice guitar hook. My favorite track here, “Let It Flow” is another jangling gem that rocks with gleeful abandon. The lower key “Snapshots” is more a narrative about a long lost connection and “Welcome To The Unknown” is composed a little like Joe Jackson, a synth and piano lead with driving percussion and swirling guitar rhythm. Highly Recommended.
Wow, out of nowhere Sam Hoffman sounds like Richard X. Heyman fronting The Junipers, with plenty of that jingle jangle guitar. The opener “December” is just infectious and “Anything At All” is like a Byrds outtake. Some nice McCartneyesque bass highlights “Glencrest Lane,” but Sam’s vocals are a little too buried to make it stand out.
“Good Company” has a slowly rising riff that starts with gentle harmonies and a light melody. Next, the instrumental “Karate” shows us Sam’s guitar chops. Most songs are 2 minutes or less, so this feels a little like Tony Molina’s LP. But Mr. Hoffman gives us a lot more with the 5-minute + ballad “Lorraine” full of strings and western guitar. Not a single dud here and I was super impressed by this debut. You have the option of a name-your-price Bandcamp download or support the artist through an Amazon purchase. Highly Recommended.
The best thing about music on the internet is that it’s immediate. That means anyone who comes up with a timely tune can record it and get it out there right away. The worst thing is that it’s ephemeral and we’ve seen brilliant one-off tunes not getting the attention they deserve because of the blink-and-you-miss-it pace of social media. Big Stir not only has a kick-ass zine, that deserves support – it has an impressive growing roster of power pop artists: Spygenius, The Newds, Plasticsoul, Addison Love and The Armoires (to name a few). So support these artists and check out the Big Stir Singles page!
More NEW Singles!
A wonderful new jangling gem from the Sunchymes – you can’t go wrong here.
Scott Brookman has been locked in his bedroom, doing his DIY pop for years. This single is based on a true story!
I’ve missed Peter Balderachi and I’m glad he’s ready for a “Change”
The Jellybricks are back! Very very cool video shows that Ok Go aren’t the only creative vid kids! The new single “Brooklyn” is out now. Get it!
Working on several more reviews before my top 25 list comes out after the New Year. In the meantime here is the last of my holiday singles. Add them to your Yuletide mix!
Remember Longplayer? Well, Göran Hjertstedt (the lead from that band) has a new project that continues to draw its influence primarily from Electric Light Orchestra and Queen. The slow building “And Light Appeared” is a very majestic instrumental introduction full of pomp that demonstrates the rich orchestration. “Ride The Wind” is a compelling Wilbury-like track with a very sweet slide guitar over a steady strum. “Two to Tango” follows as a blues-influenced number about a love of dancing like Fred Astaire, and “All in The City” is a synth and percussion-heavy melody with all those great ELO stylistic touches.
At times music’s glossy bombast threaten to overwhelm those multi-tracked choruses but thankfully most of the songs are strong enough to let those melodies stick. “What Am I Gonna Do (Lunar City Heartache)” is an excellent mid-tempo power ballad, and the shimmering instrumental “Memory Lane” is a fitting end with its superb guitar solo that reminded me of Boston’s Tom Scholz. Overall a highly recommended album that demand’s repeat listens.
