Senzabenza- Especially For You

A movement cannot exist without it's door openers. In 1989 when Italy's pop punk realm didn't exist just yet, there was a newly formed band named Senzabenza coming out of Latina with an idea that would soon change things. With no constraints from any kind of labeling in a pre-Internet age, they began to play their own conceptualized brand of punk rock called "Flower Punk Rock". This style was absent of the more aggressive and political tones of hardcore punk you'd most often hear in those days, and much more geared towards a melodic sound. They've accomplished a great deal of successes in the 26 years of their existence and are very responsible for helping others like the Manges get exposure in their early days on the wonderful Flower Punk Rock Compliation CD they released in 95'. Plain and simple, this band is to be admired for being the spark to a now rich history of pop punk that vibrantly endures in Italy to this day. 2003 was the last year to see a release from Senzabenza and it is my great pleasure to write about them for the first time today because they have a great new single 7" out called "Especially For You"!  

The songs were recorded during November of 2014 at New Mood Recording Studio by Frederic Mazzei. I've been a fan of his work from the Proton Packs to more recently with Tough and once again, he's upheld the same level of quality in sound! The cover art and layout is pleasantly uncomplicated, pairing studio imagery with their name. Official release happened on January 16th from One Chord Wonder who has proved itself to be a solid advocate for quality Italian bands over the last year and a half of it's operation. The 7" is highly limited with an already sold out special edition of only 20 copies featuring a photo story cover and then the still available 200 regular edition copies on black vinyl. A digital download code is of course included. Digital only can be purchased through the OCW bandcamp page and you can stream it there in full too.

Two songs await to be played on the record that will appeal to any punk rocker with a quickness! Side A features the original and title track, "Especially For You" which is simply a good pop punk song and exactly the kind I prefer. More punk than pop! Remember when someone would say "pop punk" and that's what you could expect? I miss that dearly and these veterans restore that purity with melodically heavy guitars, a fast and steady tempo from the drums, then Nando's great vocals that deliver a relatable message of annoyance in the lyrics. The B side has a unique choice of cover. Originally a country song, "Wichita Lineman" has made quite the journey through many different genres since it's start in 1968, being covered by anyone from Johnny Cash to Ray Charles and this time gets translated to Flower Punk Rock! The song works well in Senzabenza's style with some cool leads played over the chorus and a nice solo. 

I really enjoy seeing longtime bands like Senzabenza still coming to the table with new material after all these years because the beautiful lineage that's delivered in the way they play is more than needed. Especially to the youngest wave in our scene that sometimes needs to be reminded where it comes from! Pick up this little gem from One Chord Wonder or Striped Music(who also has some kick ass old school t-shirts of theirs available!) before it's gone and stay tuned to the guys' facebook page for all upcoming news if you haven't yet! 

Senzabenza is...

Nando Ferdinandi- Vocals and Guitar

Sebi Filgi- Guitar 

Massy Raimondi- Bass

Max Bergo- Drums  

Tracks

Side A

Especially For You

Side B

Wichita Lineman

The Hallingtons- Alien Girl EP

As a fan of bands like The Yum Yums, The Promdates, and The Dahlmanns, Norway is a place that has held a good reputation with me for quite some time. It's always nice to discover another cool one from there and I believe I first heard of The Hallingtons close to a couple years ago. Their name was appealing to me so checking them out seemed to have some promise and that hunch was right! Established since 2009, they've been another solid glimmer of hope for Ramones worshiping pop punk and I've been fond of what they do since the first listen, but have never gotten the chance to write about them. A new EP they just put out called "Alien Girl" has grown on me quickly so that all changes now!

The songs were recorded, mixed, mastered, and produced from the Summer to early Winter of 2014 by The Hallingtons themselves. The cover art featuring a cute and retro looking pinup alien girl posing on her home planet was done by Mikel, making this a  DIY effort all the way through. I think it's admirable to see bands take the initiative like that to get their music heard and the end result is great! Release happened on last Thursday and was made available as a digital download by RTTB Records on their bandcamp page. It's also streaming in full so check it out!

I first heard the title track, "Alien Girl" as a part of the "Tales From The Pop Punk World Vol. 2" monster comp that RTTB released last month and liked it right away. Simply, it's just a catchy little love song about falling in love with an alien girl visiting from another planet but the style of pop punk/punk rock they play is always welcome with me. Definitely melodic, inspired from the genre's golden age, and not over complicated. Jørgen has a very bubblegum quality to his voice and that's something I was drawn to as someone who's into bands like the Beatnik Termites. You don't see it happen too much these days! It's funny I made this reference because coming in right after is a cover of "You Sound Like You're Sick" from Pleasant Dreams which the Termites also did a hell of a job covering entirely. Out of the Ramones discography, the songs from that record transition well for poppier bands and it did for The Hallingtons too. Tor takes the lead on vocals this time, adding in a little diversity with his more powerful tone and it worked out just fine! Four more original tunes follow showing their no nonsense early punk rock with a streak of sweetness approach ranging in subject from silly to sci-fi. The almost one and a half minute tongue-in-cheek ode of distaste for poseurs called "Part Time Punks" was my favorite of those with it's more aggressive approach, catchy bass lines from Mikel, and great hook. The EP ends with another well loved classic which is The Queers' "I Met Her At The Rat", once again having a heavy dose of the guys' persona with both Jørgen and Tor singing. It's important for songs like that to survive and be handed down to influence the next generation. Good choice!

"Alien Girl" took very little effort for me to get into and if you dig the classic approach, I think you'll be into it as well. Add the release to your digital collection and the guys are already working on new material so stay tuned to The Hallingtons facebook page to see what's next!

 The Hallingtons are...

Mikel Hallington- Bass and Vocals

Jørgen Hallington- Guitar and Vocals 

Tor Hallington- Drums and Vocals

All songs written by Jørgen Hallington except for: "Saucermen" by Andy Hallington, "You Sound Like You're Sick" by Dee Dee Ramone and "I Met Her At The Rat" by Joe Queer.

Tracks 

1. Alien Girl

2. You Sound Like You're Sick

3. Slob 

4. Part Time Punks

5. I Don't Wanna Go To Work

6. Saucermen

7. I Met Her At The Rat