Category: Singles Only

More May singles: The Bayonets, The Well Wishers, The Lolas, Scoopski, Kurt Baker

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Brian Ray (Paul McCartney) is back with his old-school band The Bayonets. He let loose with his newest video, maybe more suited for Halloween (whatever) but it’s got a nice hook. The reliable Well Wishers are also back with the dense “So Important” and The Lolas have a great single here with “Trick Myself,” one of their best IMHO. Scoopski has a quirky single, like Green Day without the guitars or Billy Joe’s snarl. Honestly, check out the catchier “Double” that came out earlier. Finally, Kurt Baker returns to true form (minus the hair) for “Secrets,” and it’s no secret that Kurt is one of the top power poppers out there. More music to comb through each week, my review pile is growing at a furious clip, so stay tuned.




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May singles: Mason Lowe, The Half-Cubes, Librarians With Hickeys, K. Campbell, The Odds, Eytan Mirsky

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April showers bring May flowers. Well, it certainly has been showering music.  We start with the fuzzy rock of Mason Lowe, who’s got a new album coming out soon and this little song is called “Plastered.” The Flashcubes (Gary Frenay, Tommy Allen, etc) teamed up with Bob Pernice (Pernice Brothers) to form the Half-Cubes as they cover the “Weakest Shade of Blue.” I was very impressed with Librarians With Hickeys‘ jangling gem  “Can’t Wait ‘Till Summer” and I agree with the sentiment. Another strong jangling performance is “Neil & Joni” written, performed, and recorded by K. Campbell in Houston, Texas with backing vocals by Mandy Kim Clinton. It has been ages since I’ve heard Canadian power pop legends The Odds. It seems a kinder, gentler band emerged with all that maturity. Finally, our FREEBIE today is brought to us by the earnest singer-songwriter Eytan Mirsky. I guess he’s been thinking about sexy flight attendants in “Lost You in the Jet Stream.” ENJOY!





Mid April Goodies: Les Lullies, The Genuine Fakes, The High Strung, The Forces, The Linda Lindas, Gregory Pepper & His Problems

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Looking for a little punk pop in your life? France’s Les Lullies new single “Zero Ambition” is an advance of their new album Mauvaise Foi out May 19th. The band plays it hard with nods to rock and punk influences both new and old (Ramones, D4, The Saints, The Real Kids, The Records, MC5). The Genuine Fakes are most genuine with “Websites” a very sweet song reminiscent of Fountains of Wayne. The High Strung has an album on the way too, and you get a taste with “Different Animal,” its driving tempo about “leaving shit behind.” Dutch band The Forces look to dazzle with harmonies on the new EP, and more details are in an interview on Sweet, Sweet Music blog. The Linda Lindas found after the flash of indie pop fame last year they have “Too Many Things.” It wouldn’t be the first time the music business has “killed” an artist, or that an amazing talent just walked away — but Gregory Pepper & His Problems always felt like he’s given his soul and maybe as an audience, we didn’t pay close enough attention. No Thanks is his final album, and the bile-filled hostility is wrapped up in candy-sweet melodies. Although its a name-your-price point, I’d pay a tribute to Gregory. We will miss him, and I hope his problems get resolved.




Last Day in March Goodies: Lost Hearts, Novelty Island, The Blakes, Everet Almond, Canadian Invasion, Dazy

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The debut single “Hate Yourself” by Nashville’s Lost Hearts is radio ready gem with a swaggering rock n’ roll attitude.  Max Frye’s vocals are set against a pounding guitar background and relentless energy as he sings about a toxic relationship with a former partner. Next, Novelty Island is one of those bands on the cusp of greatness (and another LP) but we have a single “Eureka, I Can See!” that will tide us over. The Blakes released some out-takes that are so good, I wonder why we haven’t heard more, as “What You Own” kicks ass. Everet Almond has discovered a very groovy Clavinet on the cool single “Insanity,” and veteran band Canadian Invasion delivers a nice freebie, Your Favorite Lies EP. I really liked “The Charms of Adeline” with its pedal steel guitar. And finally, Dazy is back with another EP of fuzz-drenched goodness called Otherbody. Check out “Every Little Thing,” “ESTAO,” in fact this is good all around. Don’t be an April’s Fool, and get this fresh batch!






More March Singles, Freebies, and EPs: The Tearaways, The Deadlights, Peter Hall, The Plus4, Ransom and Subset, Friends of Cesar Romero

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Great song from The Tearaways, from the upcoming album ‘And Now For Our Next Trick.’ due out at the end of the month. The jangling alt. rock alter-ego of Jeff Shelton The Deadlights returns with a new single here, and I was impressed with the melodic EP by Peter Hall called About Last Night. The title track rocks, and “For Love” has some ELO overtones, but overall very very good. Keith Hale aka The Plus 4 sings about a UFO sighting I guess and the radio-ready single by Ransom and Subset is a real treasure that’s a free download. Loud punk rock from Friends of Cesar Romero all the same tempo, but I liked the “Bittersweet Nothing Symphony” best, and it’s a free download too.