Many Genre Music Reviews by BiboZ

Horrorpops- Hell Yeah (2004) This album is pure madness, but it’s no better than the second.Both are killers!!!The band’s founders, Patricia Day and Kim Nekroman, first met when Day’s band, the punk rock outfit Peanut Pump Gun, supported Nekroman’s psychobilly band Nekromantix at the POPKOM festival in Cologne, Germany in 1996. Although they both belong to the Copenhagen, Denmark subculture scene, the two had never met before, but became friends through their mutual interest in alternative music. :)Hell yeah! A band that uses fuzz with the double bass !!!

The fuzz was the first saturation effect pedal to be used by electric guitarists and bassists. Most models were designed in the late 1960s in the US and UK, such as the Tone Bender, Fuzz Face and Big Muff. This effect is used by many guitarists, including Keith Richards, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend and David Gilmour. As far as I’m concerned, this is Psychobilly at its best.To be even more precise, it’s a mix of Rock’n’Roll, Psychobilly and Punk Rock.Really great music!

The Big Moon – Walking like we do (2020) The Big Moon are a British indie rock band, formed in 2014 in London by singer Juliette Jackson. I’ve never listened to their debut album, but this band was a favourite from the start. I’ve listened to their latest album in part, as I haven’t had access to the rest of it yet.

It’s with immense undisguised pleasure that I listened to this magnificent second album, and I’m still listening to it as I write these lines. Their three albums are generally available on CD, digital download, streaming and vinyl.

They’ve supported the likes of The Maccabees (who I like and had seen), Ezra Furman (who I don’t know yet) and especially The Vaccines, who are a band I love but have never had the chance to see. In any case, Juliette, Soph, Celia & Fern are doing a great job. Juliette had given birth and that delayed the release of the third album.The band embarked on a headline tour, which began with a concert in Finsbury Park alongside George Ezra.

A powerful, soaring album that’s a must-have in my collection. Indie rock is well preserved and still has many happy years ahead of it with bands like these. I don’t know who plays the keyboards on the tracks, but I do know that they all sing, apart from drummer Fern Ford. Jackson composes the songs and handles some of the guitars, while Soph Nathan takes care of the other part of the guitars, while Celia Archer lays down her bass on top. A fine team effort that deserves attention, a lot of respect and, if possible, a lot of love.

The Rentals – The Last Little Life EP (2007) Yes, I know this band was also one of the best of the 90s.
But I’m still not sure whether they’ll be back in 2007, then 2014 and finally 2020. Actually, they’ve been going strong since 2005. On the one hand, like the Terminator, they’re always ready to come back! On the other hand, there have been about twenty-three musicians who have gravitated around singer Matt Sharp, who has always led this band. It’s probably hard to work with him.

At the same time, Matt Sharp isn’t just anybody! He was the first bassist in Weezer, which he co-founded in 1992. He appeared on their first two albums, the incredible Blue Album (1994) and the fabulous Pinkerton (1996). In 1994, Sharp founded the Rentals, who went on to release five albums. Sharp has also released an EP and an album as a solo artist.

Of course, as soon as their best-known song “Friends with P” was released, it sounded an awful lot like Weezer. That said, this band has opened for such established mega-bands & artists as Alanis Morissette, Garbage, Blur and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. This is a collection of new material from the band over the last 8 years.
This EP is very good, but it’s not magic. Very good Pop Rock, New Wave, Power Pop, Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, that hasn’t changed. The lyrics are pretty cool too. My criticism of these songs is that they’re just nice and catchy.
Nothing transcendent. It sounds like what they used to do, it still sounds a bit like Weezer. The third track, on the other hand, sounds like early Dexy’s Midnight Runners, with its trombone and violin sounds. Which isn’t unpleasant, after all. The synth is intact, and there’s still that pleasing mix of male and female vocals.
Basically, I could find no fault with this EP… but unfortunately, I’m in a very demanding period. If ever, here’s the list of musicians who played on these four tracks:

Recorded by drummer Dan Joeright in his Hollywood studio. In addition to three new tracks, the EP also includes a new reworking of “Sweetness and Tenderness” from the band’s 1995 debut album, Return of the Rentals.

Matt Sharp – vocals, acoustic guitar, synthesizers
Rachel Haden – bass, vocals, synthesizers
Sara Radle – guitar, vocals, piano, synthesizers, glockenspiel
Ben Pringle – synthesizers, trombone, acoustic guitar, vocals
Lauren Chipman – viola, vocals, synthesizers
Dan Joeright – drums, percussion, vocals, sound engineer, producer

Beach house – Devotion (2008) I usually like Dream pop. But here, I don’t know if it’s the album or the band that doesn’t thrill me. No, this album isn’t for Indie Rock fans as I’ve read. Dream pop is a subgenre of alternative rock and neopsychedelia that emphasizes atmosphere and sonic texture as much as pop melody. Common features include breathy vocals, dense production and effects such as reverb, echo, tremolo and chorus. It often overlaps with the related genre of shoegaze and the two genre terms have sometimes been used interchangeably, although, for me, shoegaze is more powerful, less calm. It makes you soar & dream just as much, but it’s a little more complex in the sounds sought on the guitar.

It was mainly Cocteau Twins (whom I adore) and A.R. Kane (whom I know almost nothing about, for the moment) who started these genres, or who were, in any case, their mainstays. Later, bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Galaxie 500, Julee Cruise, Lush and Mazzy Star released important albums in this style. Most of these artists made albums that I much preferred to this one. But Beach House remains a very important band. After the success of Beach House in the late 2000s, this music has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity among Generation Y listeners.

The Pillowfights – Uh Huh (2010) Ouch! I liked this album even less than the first. The first, released a year earlier, is good, even though it’s not a style I’m crazy about. And here, the style is even further from what I like.
For someone who loves old-school London or New York punk… here, I’m not served. There’s this concourse of speed that I can understand in Punk, with all the instruments going very fast and being very aggressive… but that’s not going to convince the haters that this is good music!!!!

There are 4 tracks from Pillowfights and 2 from Smoke Jumper here. Admittedly, there are some very nice interesting moments and I’m glad I listened to this almost 13-minute 6-track album. But it won’t be one of the records I’ll listen to over and over again, or one I’ll have trouble getting out of my turntable.

The Pillowfights – Round 1 (2009) Now that’s the kind of album that doesn’t take up too much space in our lives, or in our schedules. Let me explain: the album has ten tracks and lasts… eleven minutes!!!
It’s the kind of album that if you don’t like it, it doesn’t matter, because it doesn’t last long.

If you like the band, but don’t like a song… well, it’s no big deal, since it only lasts a minute.
After that, I ask myself a lot of questions. How long do or did their concerts last?

Their punk isn’t my favorite kind of punk, but it’s still fun, no-nonsense, energetic and full of humor.
Sometimes a female voice, sometimes a male voice, sometimes both, and they go very well together. Listening to this album twice in a row is always shorter than listening to another complete album. It’s even shorter than listening to an EP, generally speaking.

I discovered this band simply because I was researching the actress Fairuza Balk. And the last track on the album is called “Good Job Fairuza Balk”! By the way, Fairuza has her name in a lot of more or less vulgar song titles.
Some say they just want to fuck her (and that’s mostly on the hip-hop side, of course!), others confess their admiration for the fabulous actress. In a nutshell! Their second album “Uh Huh” has only six tracks, but it lasts almost thirteen minutes. Incredible! I’m going to listen to it right away…

Hause Plants – Field Trip To Coney Island EP (2023) Oh my! A Portuguese indie rock band singing like the British?The band’s third EP! I’m not going to say much about it, but let me make one thing clear. I’m well aware that globalization isn’t necessarily a good thing. But I love this style of music so much that it doesn’t bother me that every country in the world is doing this style.

In the 80s, the French had a pretty bad accent when they wanted to sing in English, unlike the Germans. The same goes for English or American groups who wanted to sing in French. But in the 2000s, their English started to become perfect. It took the Italians, Spanish and Portuguese a little longer to reach that stage, it seems to me.

Today, it’s a bit special to hear so many countries rocking out in English, because you don’t feel the cultural differences anymore. They all seem to come from the same place.

As far as I’m concerned, as long as the music’s good… that’s the main thing! But yes, it’s great to hear bands like Killers Barbies singing in Spanish, because that’s where they’re at their most helpful and powerful. The same goes for the Italians in Bambole Di Pezza when they sing in Italian. In short! A very good EP. There are mainly two people doing most of the work (guitars, vocals, bass, piano) and there’s a drummer who’s a real metronome to play the role of the band’s driving force. I don’t know if Hause Plants have done any songs in Portuguese or if they’re going to do any… but they’re clearly a band to watch.

Hazel English – Just Give In / Never Going Home (2017) A year after releasing the 5-track EP, Never Going Home, here’s my favorite Hazel’s debut album. I can’t fault this incredible artist. She makes me soar, travel, dream, fly… while I stay in my living room with my headphones on full blast.

In this album, she reminds me of the “Darling Buds” of the 80’s… but especially of the Drums… who are both indispensable bands in my great collection. Hazel joins them directly on my list of singers I can’t live without.

Hazel English (born Eleisha Caripis) is an Australian-American Indie Pop singer-songwriter living in Oakland, California. She leads the band of the same name. Before composing music, Hazel English was studying creative writing in Melbourne. In 2013, she moved to San Francisco as an exchange student, then to Oakland.

I really love her songs, her albums, her voice, her creativity. All the sounds she uses are beautiful to my ears. I hope to see her live at least once.

Lucky Chops – NYC (2015) In 2017, the excellent baritone saxophonist Leo Pellegrino left the group to devote himself to his trio Too Many Zooz, a similar group that I also adore, except that they are a trio and mostly create their own tunes. Lucky Chops is a brass band from New York founded by bass player Raphael Buyo, trombone player Josh Holcomb and saxophonist/clarinetist Daro Behroozi in 2006. Raphael Buyo is on bassophone.

Originally, the band played in the New York subway. From 2015 onwards, the band’s performances met with success on the internet. In 2017, the excellent baritone saxophonist Leo Pellegrino left the group to devote himself to his trio Too Many Zooz, a similar group that I also adore, except that they are a trio and mostly create their own songs.

This first album is already a gem. An excellent moment for those who appreciate brass and percussion without guitar, piano or vocals. The covers of The Temptations’ “My Girl”, The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” and the medley “Funky Town/I Feel Good” alone are excellent endings to their concerts. I had the opportunity to see them when Leo was still around, and I consider myself one of the lucky ones.

Too Many Zooz – FANIMALS EP (PROD. BY JNTHN STEIN) 6 September 2014 – 9 years before the album just released (March 2024), Matt “Doe”, Leo P and Dave Parks were already in top form. Just listening to 5 minutes of their music makes you want to jump, dance and pirouette… even if you don’t know how!The New York instrumental trio is blessed with talent. There’s not a single sound that comes from them that I don’t like. On the contrary: I keep coming back for more, because I’m totally insatiable. Power, class, groove and humor, without fail. To be listened to over and over again, without moderation or interruption. Proof that music is real therapy.

Too Many Zooz – F NOTE (EP) (19 January 2014) The band defines brass house as a blend of jazz, Afro-Cuban rhythms, funk, EDM (Electronic dance music, if ever) and house music. Pellegrino and Muirhead met at the Manhattan School of Music, where they were enrolled. Pellegrino and Parks had played together in Drumadics, a local band of strolling musicians. The trio joined forces in mid-2013 and began playing together in August at various New York subway stations, in a genre they themselves defined: brass house.

The band defines brass house as a blend of jazz, Afro-Cuban rhythms, funk, EDM and house music. They came to prominence when a video of one of their subway performances, recorded by a passerby at Union Square station, went viral on YouTube in March 2014. They’re also known for Pellegrino’s trademark dance moves when he performs. So much for the history of this exceptional trio, who have made nothing but excellent music since their inception. This first EP was already a rare gem of excellence.

Too Many Zooz – Retail Therapy (2024) Sad to say, perhaps, this is first and foremost a band we’re going to see for the extraordinary, the phenomenal Leo Pellegrino. The most punk and groovy saxophonist of modern times. In fact, he’s a member of the brass house band Too Many Zooz and a former member of the Lucky Chops brass band. He’s known for his energetic dances, which he performs while playing, often in public places.

But the more you listen, discover and watch this band, the more you realize that Matt Doe and David Parks, Mr “King of Sludge”, are also incredible. There’s such a fusion in this band that it brings tears to my eyes.
tears in my eyes. The three of them give each other plenty of room, and do an outstanding job musically.

An instrumental band, one of the best in the world, which doesn’t prevent them from singing at times, as in “Subway Devil Blues with Lucky Chops”. Well… it seems to me that it’s the members of Lucky Chops whose voices you hear…
But it doesn’t matter, as long as you understand me!

The children or grandchildren of 80’s band “Pigbag” and 2000’s “Get the Blessing” are in top form.
It’s funky, it’s groovy, it’s powerful, it’s danceable… but it’s also a slap in the face and guitar-free rock energy.

I’d give anything not to see bands like this disappear. I was a bit scared for a while… and here comes this new album totally unexpected for me!
AND WHAT AN ALBUM!!!
No, but it’s not possible: they’ve improved even more, which I didn’t think was possible.
I’m absolutely overwhelmed. I can’t put my emotions into words right now.

When I think that there are uneducated people who say that the first albums are always the best.
These are people who don’t know Too Many Zooz… and who might not even understand the undeniable genius behind it.

I can’t find this band on physical support. But maybe that’s just to save myself: listening to Too Many Zooz with the sound of vinyl… that would probably be a guaranteed heart attack!

Adrienne Frantz – Anomaly(30.10.2007)Excellent Actress, Brilliant Singer, Magnificent Artist !!!What more can I say??? As hard as it is to believe tonight, I’ve been watching “The Bold & the Beautiful” for years.And that’s when I discovered Adrienne. She moved on to “The Young & the Restless” after that. She was one of the best actresses around, and I think a lot of us thought she should go into real cinema. From time to time, she sang on the show, which made her fans want to see her in a band. It took years for her to release an album, in this case this one. It took me several more years to get my hands on it, because it sold out quickly and I couldn’t find a copy. A few more years and I was finally able to listen to it. And there was no disappointment, much to my astonishment. Usually, when I want something badly and impatiently, I’m almost always disappointed. This album is a Pop Rock gem, interspersed with ballads like the incredible “Seven Minutes”. Her sensual voice is intact. We all know she can be a minx too ;-)Beautiful voice, magnificent performance. She knows how to create absolutely magical, harmonious, complementary second voices.What suspends me is that she probably didn’t make another album.I sincerely hope she’s still singing…

Caroline Rose – Loner (23.02.2018)Four years after her debut album, I Will Not Be Afraid, the fabulous Caroline Rose returned with this album. I know there are a few too many incredible artists to mention… but I’m here to remind anyone who wants to hear and know, that Caroline really is one of them. Yet another artist simply classified as Pop Rock, when she’s so much more than that. There’s such creativity and power in her songs that I’m blown away every time. On streaming platforms, it’s too often the same thing: there are always comments under the first songs and under the hits… but after three or four tracks… there’s no one left. And I always have to fill the scandalous void. Everything about this exceptional album is perfect!Starting with every picture that goes with every song, in which we see Caro Rose either smoking all the cigarettes in a pack at once, or with boxing gloves on, or with a pretty rose in her hand. But she’s the real Rose, of course! Alternative, indie pop and rock.An intro song that sets the tone, followed by a second song that’s immediately catchy too. Track 8 is a sort of interlude. All in all!11 musical tracks, 35 minutes… that’s far too short when you’re in the company of Caroline Rose. I couldn’t get over this album when I first listened to it. And I’m not about to get bored of it…

Gina Birch – I Play My Bass Loud (2023) Since 1977, when she formed The Raincoats in Nottingham with guitarist Ana da Silva, Gina Birch has traversed the decades with the same punk class and intact DIY energy. The proof is in the 68-year-old musician, artist and video-maker’s sincere and inspired debut solo album, I Play My Bass Loud, which combines post-punk, grunge and reggae with a playfulness that sets her apart. A direct inspiration for the Riot Grrrls in the ’90s, adored by Kurt Cobain in the same decade, this unassuming icon is still celebrated by new generations of feminist musicians. That’s it! That’s the story. But I’m going to be very hard on this album. Already, I don’t think the Raincoats’ comeback was as good in the ’90s. And this solo album… is even worse. What’s wrong with this album? It’s too punk. I can’t believe I’m saying this, even though punk is my favorite musical movement. But as much as it’s been underestimated, because people say it’s easy music or not much work… as much as we’ve had to deal with exceptional bands who were far more talented than we expected them to be. This album represents the easy way out. Nothing complicated or complex in the melodies or lyrics. That’s not to say it’s devoid of humor or important messages. So… I’ve got absolutely nothing against Gina and the fact that she’s still having fun, especially at her age, when she’s got nothing left to prove. But it’s also obvious that I can’t put this album on the same level as an album where the whole Raincoats team was together. Nor can I put it on the same level as a record by the Stranglers, the Undertones, the Clash, the Buzzcocks, the Slits… the list goes on. Still a good album, though!

The Armed – Unanticipated (Live)Released 16 June 2016 I don’t know if this live album belongs to the band Armed, who made the albums These Are Lights (2009), Untitled (2015), Only Love (2018), Ultrapop (2021) and Perfect Saviors (2023). To tell you the truth, I’ve just discovered this band or these bands… and I’m going to be interested in these albums.On the other hand, I hated this one.So I’m really hoping it’s not the same band. I already don’t like Hard Rock, Heavy Metal (let alone its derivatives like Death Metal, Speed Metal, etc.), but then… Grindcore… it’s… I can’t find the word!Totally indigestible, perhaps?Okay… I once saw a band like that live. They weren’t famous, they didn’t care and they didn’t understand their success. In fact, after their concert, they didn’t expect such enthusiasm. And we applauded until they went on with a few more songs, even though they hadn’t prepared for it! It was a great evening. There are times when bands we love play a style we hate… just as there are bands we can’t stand, even though they play our favorite style.Grindcore, for me, is first and foremost the detestable Anal Cunt. For the record: Anal Cunt, also known as AxCx and A.C., were an American Grindcore band formed in Newton, Massachusetts in 1988. Since its inception, the band had undergone a number of line-up changes and never had a bassist. The band, known for its casual, noisy musical style and controversial lyrics, has eight full-length studio albums plus a number of compilations and plays. Anal Cunt disbanded in 2011 after the death of band founder and frontman Seth Putnam from a suspected heart attack. The band is often referred to by its initials A.C. (often spelled AxCx) due to the offensive nature of their name and censorship limits on some radio stations and publications, and many of their album covers simply display the initials A.C. However, the band has managed to subvert even this abbreviation by drawing these letters in a way that resembles an anus and vulva, which can be seen on many of their albums. The band’s early songs contained no pre-written lyrics or music. Instead, the band developed an entirely improvisational style that consisted of extremely loud, fast and unintelligible screams. Over time, the band gradually changed their style and slowly began to incorporate more riffs and pre-written lyrics into their songs. It was only then that Anal Cunt gained a reputation for being intentionally scandalous and obscene. 2010 and 2011 saw the release of their last two albums: a “cock rock” album entitled Fuckin’ A, and an album similar in style to their earlier material entitled Wearing Out Our Welcome. Voila!With that, you know what you need to know about this kind of band. For me, it’s unbearable.

Hazel English – Hazel English on Audiotree Live EP release date: November 30, 2017 Hazel English is probably my favorite Hazel in the music world. And “Audiotree Live” is always a pure joy when it welcomes our favorite artists. 5 songs only, 18 minutes and 49 seconds of pure bliss, and transcendence in my case.
I’ve listened to almost everything by this artist. Whether it’s gems like “Heartbreaker”, covers like the famous “There She Goes”, her collaborations such as Day Wave’s “Jesse”, Hazel works musical miracles. I can’t fault her in the slightest. Everything she touches turns into a diamond in the rough. She rocks me, makes me travel, float, relax, glide.

Her EP “Summer Nights” is also of rare perfection. I wish a long career to this unrivalled musician, who can be described as Magical Pop, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Indie, Alternative, Rock… in short… everything I particularly adore. All the best to you, Hazel!

The Boys – Punk Rock Menopause (20.06.2014) A totally unoriginal album… but I’m so pleased with it!
So… I’m going to give it the maximum mark, because, once again, I’m not going to be objective. Those who know me well know that Punk is my favorite style of music. And when a band like this comes back, it’s already a pleasure.
When you find out that they’re still not messing around (just look at the title!), it’s even better!

The band was formed mainly by Matt Dangerfield, who had just left the punk band London SS in September 1975 for a project with Casino Steel, the former keyboardist of Hollywood Brats. London SS was a much lesser-known band than most… but it had quite a few members who came and went. Of particular note were the Clash’s Mick Jones, before he became a household name, and Tony James, Generation X’s legendary bassist.

Still on the subject of London SS, guitarist Brian James (with no family ties to Tony James) can be considered a more or less permanent member. He is best known as one of the founding members of The Damned and The Lords of the New Church.

Several other notorious musicians crossed paths with London SS but never really integrated it, among them Paul Simonon and Terry Chimes (ex-Clash drummer who became their chiropractor, though!), future founding members of The Clash. Nicky “Topper” Headon, who would become the Clash’s main drummer, was approached but turned down the offer. Rat Scabies, future drummer of The Damned, plays with London SS even though he’s still in his own punk band (Rot). In short! London SS’s only recording is a demo featuring Jones, Tony and Brian James, and Hot. Musically, they play energetic rock ‘n’ roll and cover RnB standards from the 1960s, although some ex-members find the band’s sound rather poor. After Hot’s dismissal in January 1976, Brian James left with Scabies to form The Subterraneans and later The Damned. The other James joined Chelsea and Billy Idol before launching Generation X. So much for culture. But, basically, I had to talk about The Boys and this album.
Very good old-school Punk Rock. Mixed with good Rock’n’Roll, this album can also be considered Punk’n’Roll. And there’s a touch of Blues, too, which makes this band more danceable and enjoyable than ultra-fast and aggressive. The Boys are one of those bands that make those who don’t like Punk love it, just as the Ramones did (and still do, despite their rap demise a long time ago). Incidentally, there are obvious nods to Sheena in “Punk Rock Girl”. The album is also about conditioning and global warming, among other things.

On June 20, 2014 (yes, it was my birthday!), The Boys released their first album since 1981, this Punk Rock Menopause, precisely, on Wolverine Records. The album features debut members Matt Dangerfield, Casino Steel, and Honest John Plain, and includes 13 new songs. The Boys will travel to Shanghai, China, on January 13, 2015 for a nine-date tour in support of their album Punk Rock Menopause, which, theoretically, will be canceled by the Chinese Ministry of Culture due to “security concerns. “That said, The Boys, who had gone on tour in support of the album, were scheduled to play nine dates in China. As soon as the band arrived, the authorities cancelled the tour. This decision was taken in response to a stampede at a New Year’s Eve party in Shanghai, which left 36 people dead. The Boys nevertheless gave three secret performances in China!!!!

There’s something about this album that confuses me and is a mystery to me.
The cover shows the three band members: Matt Dangerfield (guitar and vocals), Honest John Plain (guitar and vocals) and Casino Steel on keyboards and vocals. But who plays bass and drums? And why aren’t they credited? I’d be surprised if the drums were programmed or if one of the guitarists also played bass.
But anything’s possible. But where were Martin H-Son, the drummer, and Kent Norberg, the bassist, during this recording? Great album! Easy to listen to. I can listen to it with my kids as well as my parents!
And that in no way detracts from the quality, comparable to the endless work of the extraordinary Vibrators.

The Raincoats – Extended Play (1994 EP) Excellent! But too short. Only 4 tracks. The Raincoats are among the many female punk and rock musicians of the late 1970s and mid-1980s who would later influence the Riot grrrl movement. These women included Siouxsie Sioux, Poly Styrene (of X-Ray Spex), The Slits, Au Pairs, Patti Smith, Chrissie Hynde, The Runaways/Joan Jett, The B-52’s, LiLiPUT, Lydia Lunch, Exene Cervenka and many more. I think it’s absolutely brilliant that The Raincoats helped create the Riot grrrl movement… and that they played at the same time, in the ’90s, with the gems they spawned. These four tracks are played by Steve Shelley on drums and Anne Wood on violin. Vocals, guitars and bass are played in turn by Gina Birch & Anna de Silva. Management was handled entirely by Shirley O’Loughlin.The EP includes a message dedicated to the singer, guitarist and leader of Nirvana: “Kurt Cobain gave us so much life, inspiration and liberation in his music, and he gave us new life. This session probably wouldn’t exist without his love and enthusiasm, and we dedicate it to him. – The RaincoatsIt’s got it all here: humor, interesting, special or surprising arrangements. There are beautiful melodies, wild cries, lots of creativity. The Raincoats in all their glory. Kurt would have loved to listen to these four gems. Let’s hope he did so from another dimension.

The Raincoats – Looking in the Shadows (1996 ) The Raincoats are a British experimental post-punk band. So, without further ado, you could call them post-punk and experimental rock. Ana da Silva (vocals, guitar) and Gina Birch (vocals, bass) formed the band in 1977 as students at Hornsey College of Art in London. Many of the band’s members have gone on to play in the band, such as Kate Korus, from the Slits and then the Modettes. She briefly joined the band and was replaced by Jeremie Frank. Nick Turner left to form the Barracudas and Richard Dudanski (ex-101’ers and future member of PIL) took over the drums. Director Patrick Keiller also replaced Jeremie Frank on guitar.

It wasn’t until late 1978 that The Raincoats became an all-female post-punk band, when Palmolive of The Slits on drums, Vicky Aspinall on violin, played London’s Acklam Hall for the first time on January 4, 1979.

This is the British alternative rock band’s fourth studio album, and fans have had to wait twelve years for it. The album was produced by Ed Buller. Fun fact: original Raincoats members Gina Birch and Ana da Silva had to relearn their instruments before recording Looking in the Shadows.

I’m going to be very hard on this album.
It’s not my favorite, it doesn’t thrill me as much, and it’s not as good as the other three they did.
Just because they’ve matured and become more serious doesn’t mean it’s any better.
The following review says precisely everything I don’t think it does, and is written by the Hartford Courant: “With a penchant for electronic sounds and a playful, revelatory way with lyrics, the band manages to create music that reflects not some kind of nostalgia for what the Raincoats used to be, but a considerable understanding of what they’ve become.” The Washington Post wrote that “the Raincoats may have grown up by now, but on songs like ‘Love a Loser’, they juxtapose hardness and softness as invigoratingly as ever”.
Anyway!

I’ve been told that when you’re hungry, you give it your all!
Here, you get the feeling that the band doesn’t really need to know how to feed or break through.
Still, there’s a certain sloppiness.

That said, the band toured the UK for the first time with Swiss all-girl band Kleenex (one of the few incredible Swiss post-punk acts), in May 1979, after Rough Trade had released their first single, “Fairytale in the Supermarket”. Johnny Rotten, himself, was an early admirer of the band, and later said, “The Raincoats offered a completely different way of doing things, as did X-Ray Spex, and all the books on punk didn’t realize that these women were involved for no other reason than they were good and original.”

Their active years were from 1977 to 1984 and from 1993 to… today?
Yes, it seems to me that they’re still active, at times.

The Monks – Hamburg Recordings 1967

It would be hard for me to say here how much I love The Monks.
I can’t tell you how much I adore this band.
I just wish they’d made more music.

Only 5 songs here!
14 minutes and 24 seconds is far too short. I can listen to this EP live over and over again.
In fact, I do it every time I decide to listen to it.

It’s an EP released on June 23, 2017 that consists of some of The Monks’ latest recordings. It was released by Third Man Records.

There are two three mysteries for me. I don’t know if the brass… well, the trumpet, especially, is real or if it’s a sound made with the synth. These guys were so avant-garde that anything is possible. And since there’s mostly trumpet on the last instrumental track, I don’t know if it’s the singer who plays it. Or a surprise guest, or even another member of the band.

Ah… I just did my research.
Apparently, after the death of Burger (singing guitarist), Blackwell (one of the two drummers of rock band The Dirtbombs, co-founder and minority shareholder of Third Man Records, and official archivist of the White Stripes) and Eddie Shaw (bassist) approached his widow to ask if there were any other Monks recordings in the collection. She found cassettes containing several mixes of the Top Ten Club recordings. A few errors were found in the recordings, which were corrected in the final mixes with Shaw’s help. According to Shaw, the final track “Yellow Grass” had a vocal track, but this had apparently disappeared, so it is presented here as an instrumental. Excellent closing…

Pitchfork gave the EP a score of 6.9 out of 10, stating that the lighter tone of the music reflects the Monks’ Hamburg contemporaries rather than the proto-punk pioneers they have become revered for. Indeed, this live set is rather light-hearted and doesn’t represent the darkness they might have had.

Punk rock bands and bands of other genres from the 1980s and 1990s, such as the Dead Kennedys, The Fall and the Beastie Boys, have credited the Monks as an influence on their music.

But as far as I’m concerned, I always give this band top marks… simply because I can’t give them any more!

Tantrum – Tantrum (self-titled album) 2023 Another excellent band… who don’t take themselves too seriously!
On their Soundcloud page, for example, you can read: “We make crazy music to make this crazy world angry 🙂
Comment, like, dislike, criticize, share, everything is welcome and appreciated!”
The “like, dislike”, you can see it as arrogance… but I see it as a group of Winners!
We know that to be successful, we’re also going to make enemies and get hated.
Anyway!

Tantrum is a band with five members, two women and three men. They hail from Belgrade, Serbia. Their Instagram page apparently no longer exists. They’re not on Spotify. On YouTube, they only have 25 subscribers. Well, they haven’t posted anything in 1 year, apart from this EP…

…and frankly, I find that dramatic!
All I can hope is that this band doesn’t disappear before it even appears.
Alas, it’s happened to a lot of bands.

Their alternative rock is a joy to listen to.
They also have a funky side, at times. I love their sound.
I’ve only got access to 5 songs and I wonder if they’ve done more.
I’m not about to stop listening to them…

The Pinpricks – Rituals (2021)EPI’ve just listened to the three tracks on this EP twice.I’ll probably linger longer when I listen to an album, but, one thing’s for sure, this is a new band with mega potential. Very powerful, that could be described as Heavy Indie Rock rather than Hard Rock.In any case, it’s good heavy rock, that’s for sure. Another female-led band… and what a woman! She’s one hell of a singer.For me, these musicians are the offspring of exceptional bands like Guano Apes, to name but two from the same country, in this case Germany. You can’t find their albums in physical form either. I’ve only found the virtual on the platforms. And yet, a good vinyl would go down a treat. I’ve loved and still love all the Guano Apes albums.We’ll see if I’ll be as excited about Pinpricks, but it’s off to a relatively good start!

Cloudy June – Unthinkable EP (2022)Berlin-based singer-songwriter Cloudy June toured Germany in May 2022 and released her Unthinkable EP in May 2022. With a relatively vulgar cover… which announced the color right from the second song, which is called “FU In My Head”… which has an equally vulgar image depicting drawn lips holding a pair of thinking cherries. Quite explicit, indeed!On the face of it, not the kind of artist I’d want to follow everywhere!I’m going to avoid following her on Instagram, TikTok or even Facebook, although her music is interesting. If I had to add her to my list of favorite female singers, she would represent the vulgar complement. I can’t think of another word. But I probably won’t add her, because I don’t mind artists who have no subtlety. You can’t say she’s not original, though. Of course, if you hate today’s pop, she’s just another piece of trash on the landscape. But her songs are still real songs, with their effects, melodies, harmonies and all that annoying stuff. Her lyrics are like:”I’ll be president of the United States (Look at me)I’ll buy myself a glass to spill on your faces (Look at me)I’ll make you call me “Mom” just before I break your heartThey said I had to stay calm, so I bought a new guitar”For what it’s worth!I understand she’s going to reach a lot of teenagers with this, given the times we live in. Would you like some more?Okay:”You can’t go to school in that dressUnless you cover your legsYou can’t show off like thatNo-OhOh, if you knew all my friendsWhat they do, what they smokeOf course, you’ll lose your headHi Mom, I’ve been drinking againPictures on the InternetWhat will people say?Hi Mom, and by the wayI met a girl todayThe neighbors will be ashamed”There you go! Nothing super original. But some lyrics that need to be said here and there by a few artists. After all… youth must be made.For info: “Cloudy – she/herIf the last few years have shown Cloudy June one thing, it’s this: the queer musician from Berlin is finally where she’s always wanted to be – and she’s come to stay.Cloudy wrote her first songs at the age of 10. Since then, making music has always been her greatest passion. After discovering the TikTok app in 2020, Cloudy began filming and posting her first clips on the platform. Her music and message quickly resonated with a wider audience, enabling her to quickly make a name for herself.Growing up internationally-minded in the colorful Schöneberg district and openly celebrating her bisexuality, the Cuban-born artist has become the voice of many young women.”I enjoyed listening to this EP. It’s a good little moment. But I’ll only listen to it if I have it streaming.Not a singer I’d spend money on. Neither to buy a record (which you can’t find in physical format, only virtual on the platforms), nor an album, nor to see her in concert. Unless I can get myself an immortal life. Ah… by the way, I see that she’s going to be playing near me in the next few days…🌟🌟🌟

Smalltown Tigers – Five Things (2020) I went to see the Damned, the first band in the world to officially record punk… and they still exist. But before this legendary band, we saw this trio of Italian girls open for us. These punk fans have a song that sounds like Buzzcocks ! And it was a real slap in the face. For they held their own and warmed up the room before the eagerly awaited concert.

At the end of the concerts, I went up to the Smalltown Tigers and told them that I almost preferred them to the mythical group of the evening. They panicked a little and told me that “you shouldn’t say things like that!!!”
But, of course, they were more than flattered by such a compliment.
The reality is… I had a great time!
When the concert and its opening act are good, I don’t really ask for more.

And it was with undisguised pleasure that I drove home, listening to this EP over and over again in my car. It was a long drive and I think I listened to it more than three times that night. And a few more in the days that followed…

Bambole Di Pezza – Strike (2004)Long before “Smalltown Tigers”, which I also adore, there was “Bambole di pezza”. Which means “rag dolls”. Indeed, they don’t lack a sense of humor! Bambole di pezza is an Italian pop punk band from Milan, Italy. In addition to their musical activities, the band has always been committed to feminist issues, fighting for gender equality and against sexist violence and sexism. But as a result, they don’t hesitate to use sexuality and vulgarity without subtlety… and that’s a shame, I think. Musically, I’m not going to be very objective.Indeed, I’m not crazy about much of anything from Italy. The food, of course, the pizza, certainly… but musically or cinematographically, it’s never been it! It’s never been my cup of coffee, and even less coffee. That’s why I like and admire these Italian punk rockers at the top of their game, with their crazy energy. 10 tracks of immense power. Like Killer Barbies, they excel when singing in their native tongue. Killer Barbies never sound as good as when they sing in Spanish, and Bambole di pezza do the best of the genre when they sing in Italian. All that said, I don’t understand why it took them almost twenty years to bring out an album again. I know that some members have left the band, namely two singers, a bassist and a drummer. I’m looking forward to listening to the new opus as soon as I can get my ears around it. Hopefully, I’ll get to see them live at least once too.