Neon Bone- Sick Of Me

I've got a twenty second rule whenever I hear something new. If a song doesn't grab me within that time frame, it's on to the next and I have never proven myself wrong with choosing to let my intuition guide me as a Resident Riff Randell in this rock 'n' roll world. With that being said, Neon Bone is a band that has never failed this test with me once. Armed with a very natural capability to write catchy pop punk/punk rock songs, Lars has hits the mark every time and I'm always so impressed he can continue that with that level of quality when he's put out five releases in the under three years I've been a fan of his. That's something not just anyone can do! Last December when I reviewed "Year Zero", I mentioned that he was in the process of recording the next batch of songs that would be coming out this year. What I didn't mention is I had already gotten to hear the demos and was very much looking forward to a moment that has now arrived for us all to discover a great new 7" from this one man, kick ass machine from Germany called "Sick Of Me".

The whole process before release was handled entirely by Lars this time! He recorded, mixed, and mastered the songs during late 2014. With this being his first completely solo run of doing all that on his own, it sounds great! Staying in a Neon Bone tradition that makes collecting his records so fun and never having any two album covers that are alike, he designed one based off of an underground comic, "The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers". The inspiration's charm really carries through and ties into the title, depicting a cartoon Lars, out on the street! Official release happened on April 13th and is being made possible by none other than the purveyors of fine European punk rock, Monster Zero Records! The 7" is available right now on their webstore and you can find it digitally on Neon Bone's bandcamp page where you guessed it, the whole thing is also streaming for your listening pleasure. As a highly ranking member in the church of vinyl, I of course recommend the real thing but definitely go press play so you can check the songs out!

The title track "Sick Of Me"is first in line to be heard on Side A, showcasing the high energy, classic pop punk sound that he has nailed down! His lyrical premonition of a relationship's end is kept simple and it doesn't have to be anything more with the power and reverence in Lars' vocal capabilities that you can always count on, also shining through. Tying into the visual approach of Neon Bone, any of this project's videos are always entertainingly unique, humorous, and you can see this for yourself in the one he made for this song. Click here to see it and fear not, my fellow punk rockers!! That's a stunt double in the place of my #1 record for 2014. The second track "Bucket Full Of Shame" takes a different turn into a slower pace with some well placed keyboards and a bit of a new wave influence too which pleases me since I've always loved his covers of songs like Depeche Mode's "Not Tonight" as one example. It's always cool to see songwriters work in an inspiration from another genre and blend it to their sound. Side B opens with "Rock 'n' Roll Heart" another resounding quick tempoed track with a great solo and my favorite for this time, "Dreamgirl" closes things out! While I go crazy for punk rock that kicks your ass, I can't help it! A well done ballad always captures me. I've said it before and due to memory loss from being a girl Dee Dee or it being totally essential, I'll say it again that the 50's and 60's are key to pop punk's survival in present day! I'm so glad to see people like Lars not only get this but make original songs that pay tribute to that beautiful foundation of where the best love songs ever made were created! "Dreamgirl" is nothing short of being a little gem that greats like Buddy Holly would be proud of.

After watching a successful tour with a full backing band happen for Neon Bone last month through pictures, this next step of having a 7" be released by one of the best labels in pop punk these days is something that makes me smile because this kind of passion deserves to be noticed! I've seen it from the start when I heard the first track and have no doubts that whatever is next for Lars will be wonderful. Add "Sick Of Me" to your collection, punk rockers and while you're at it, make sure to pick up a free download of "Year Zero" from Neon Bone's bandcamp if you've not done so. Like always, any release outside of the newest one is free on there!

Neon Bone is... 
Lars Hannemann- Everything!

All songs written by Neon Bone

Tracks
Side A
1. Sick Of Me
2. Bucket Full Of Shame
Side B
3. Rock 'n' Roll Heart
4. Dreamgirl

Tough- Hurricane

If they're willing to stay the course, a band's evolution is something that comes quite naturally and gracefully with time but when it is consistently brought on with no choice, this is the truest test of endurance. In watching the changes Tough has gone through since the very beginning, their presence has never once become diluted but only solidifies with each passing year and this makes me love them all the more. This is a band that's supposed to be here in this moment and is a constant source of inspiration for those that are willing to turn their sights towards Italy's magnificent punk rock scene. After a very successful release of their 7", "Obey The Ramones" last year and a change in their lineup occurring soon after, I was excited to see what this now Piacenza/Milan based trio would do next. I'm happy to have an answer for that curiosity in the form of another 7" entitled, "Hurricane" and that's what I will be making sure everyone out there who's tuned into this little radio frequency knows about today!!

The songs were recorded during mid January at Giardini Sonori Studio in Piacenza, IT by Cristiano Sanzeri and mastering was done by Alessandro Vanara making this the band's second time working with them. With as strong as the "Obey The Ramones" sessions turned out, this was a great choice to return to the same place and it's easily proven by what is heard! Along with Tough's always hands on approach as self producers, this studio catered to the vision and made the finished product a repeat success. I am simply crazy for the cover art done by Riccardo Bucchioni. It's a very cool continuation of the previous 7''s cover, taking the already battle scarred cat and making him ten times more menacing with a face that's become completely exposed to the elements, revealing the skull but for some reason he's still alive! That striking transition is a perfect example of why I see Riccardo as a superhero of imagery in the punk rock realm and I'll be so proud to own another piece of his work! The layout also done by him is well complimented by a beautiful photo of the band taken from a shoot done by Serena Groprelli. With all that finished, official release is today, April 10th and is once again being brought to you by Kevin Aper and his team of badasses at Monster Zero Records! I just never run out of admiration for that label. Digital only can be found on Tough's bandcamp page and you can stream the whole thing for free too!

By the looks of the cover art, it's pretty obvious that things are moving into a more tumultuous place with the songs and that is confirmed with the title track, a tale of chaos and anticipation of betrayal called "Hurricane" waiting to greet you first. Chris Polecat's direct approach as a songwriter is going strong as he wastes little time with his wording and like a true member in the church of the Ramones, he takes less and gives more with a full picture of his emotion. His downstroked to perfection bass lines and well defined, powerful voice are joined by Biso's always accurate and monumental skill as a drummer. As a longtime Tough fan, those are elements I can count on and this leads into my curiosity with the newest member, Robi Tuono. I admire Robi on so many different levels with his work done in other projects(Mega/Drawing Dead) and he proves once again to be a total asset as the new guitar player. with the exception of "Badly" which is a simple expression of romantic desire, the other two tracks, "Hey Hey Hey(oh no)" and "Sick Of You" stay on the path of the first. My choice for standout track is "Sick Of You". It's an honest expression of a painful situation, narrating a relationship as it falls apart which is sad BUT I love it because in these times when so many others will make a song like that into a display of pure emo garbage, Chris does not. It's still purely a punk rock song and still very much Tough.

As someone who is wildly in love with the concept of a band putting their all into a small time limit, I'm impressed as hell with what Tough did inside of four songs that clock in at under eight minutes. Our forefathers built that foundation in 1974 and with more than 40 years passing by since, it's wonderful to see bands like Tough still getting it. Get this 7" from the MZ store or of course the fine people at Striped Music who should be carrying it soon! Chris, Biso, and Robi of course won't be resting with this newest effort and besides playing shows, you can expect to see them recording a new full length LP in the beginning of next year so stay current with all those details as they develop on their facebook page!

Tough is...

ChrisPolecat- Bass and Vocals

Robi Tuono- Guitar and Backing Vocals

Biso- Drums 

All songs written by Chris Polecat

Tracks 

1. Hurricane

2. Hey Hey Hey(oh no)

3. Badly 

4. Sick Of You