Song Premiere- The Connection- "Southern Girls"(Cheap Trick)

From the point of when Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and a precious handful of exceptional people put the pieces together for what we all know as Rock 'n' Roll today, our universe was changed for the better. Anything good that has happened in the genre after it's creation stays true to those roots by means of influence. It's something that can be heard within seconds, is the determining factor in my choosing to give a band my time, and that's the reason I'm into The Connection. They get this principle and it comes through loud and clear with each move they make! Their stripped down and fun approach shined through perfectly on the latest LP, "Labor Of Love" and coming off of the heels from that release, they put a new idea into motion that I really dig. It was to choose a series of cover songs that have impacted their vision as a band and it's aptly entitled, "Just For Fun!". The picks range from Buddy Holly to The Dictators in naming a couple examples of what can be expected, but the coolness in this project didn't stop there. As New Hampshire rockers with much admiration for the musicians in their scene who helped to pave the way before them, they reached out to none other than B-Face. This mythical man who has accomplished a lot to be admired in his work as a bass player with many bands from The Queers to The Real Kids, and is without a doubt my most favorite one to watch play live was a perfect choice to include for a guest spot on three of it's tracks. I have the pleasure of introducing one of those today and it's a beautiful rendition of Cheap Trick's "Southern Girls"!

Give it a listen here.

The Connection is...
Brad Marino- Lead Vocals and Guitar
Geoff Palmer- Guitar and Vocals
Kris Rodgers- Keys and Vocals
Bobby Davis- Bass
Craig Sala- Drums

Tracks
1. "Get Out Of Denver"
2. "Stay With Me"
3. "I Can Read Between The Lines"
4. "Other Guys' Girls"
5. "Streets Of Baltimore"
6. "Teenage News"
7. "No Expectations"
8. "Southern Girls"
9. "Think It Over"
10. "Haircut"

Label: Rum Bar Records
Digital release will happen on 12/16 and the CD is slated for shipment in January. Both options can be pre-ordered here.

Mind Spiders- Prosthesis

A lot of bands stay within a certain range of comfort. It's not anything terrible but I have to admit I'm always a little more captured by the ones that don't. Mind Spiders are certainly one that align to the latter and I've been amazed to watch their evolution with each release they have. The three records preceding this one all have a unique element of experimentation building around the post punk foundation Mark Ryan has created as a songwriter for this project. It's not a derivative of the genre either, but rather very much a revival and I love it. My curiosity was peaked right from the moment of seeing the cover art for this LP with each of their faces appearing as death masks against a very simple contrast. It's beautiful and I can say my sentiment is very much the same for it's eight tracks. They do pick up from where "Inhumanistic" left off in a sense with heavier synth but the're all the more perfected, threading into each other like a moving landscape with lyrics touching into a certain darkness that's draped in a lot of mystery. It's one of those records that takes me outside of myself whenever I hear it and that's a good thing! I always move from start to finish whenever it gets a spin on the turntable or plays from my phone but I do have three absolute favorites. "Running" has such a great even calm to frantic arrangement, in a very Devo sort of way, Think "Gut Feeling". "Cold" is also another that I adore for it's complete detachment in a sense, but still having a big impact with it's driving rhythm. There is a fantastic video they made for it that you can check out here if you missed it! The third in my choice has to be the closer, "Ulcer" for it's hypnotic synth, rich bass tone, and shadowy guitars. It's a perfect example of why Mark is one of my most favorite songwriters and I look forward to seeing what will come next in this entity known as Mind Spiders. Music is better for it's existence.

Mind Spiders are...
Mark Ryan- Guitar, Vocals, Synth
Mike Throneberry- Drums
Peter Salisbury- Synth
Daniel Fried- Bass

All songs written by Mark Ryan.

Tracks
Side A
1. "Rip It Out"
2. "No Filter"
3. "Running"
4. "Cold"
Side B
5. "Prosthesis"
6. "Split In Two"
7. "Nothing Without It"
8. "Ulcer"

Label: Dirtnap Records
Buy it here.
Stream it here.

The Mugwumps/The Vapids Split 7"

Splits are great! I like seeing them happen and even more so when it's a couple of bands that don't typically do them or never before. This kind of split is special because it isn't coming from a place where exposure is the primary objective, but instead being a dual statement of creativity and compatibility. That's exactly what The Mugwumps who are doing this for the first time and The Vapids who have but on very few occasions decided to do after years of knowing each other when the timing was right; and it's a perfect pairing! Both of these great punk rock bands have the tendency to do no wrong in my eyes with each move they make, and this little split 7" follows in that tradition. First up are the Austrians who always seem to have an infinitely perfect grasp of the Dee Dee three words, a chorus, and the three words saying it all philosophy. The first track "Ka-Mun-Rah!" is a lightening fast, school of Head piece that's over before you can think about it too long, but they don't leave you feeling cheated because a different side of what they do so well awaits in the second track. "The Reason" is a simple yet completely powerful ballad that tugs at my heartstrings with no false pretense. Just a perfect little gem that's been stuck in my memory since the first time I heard it, because that's where good songs stay. Now it's time for the Canadian veterans and absolute badasses(who have also made a magnificent full length LP that I'll be getting to soon) to take over. I feel a lot of hope watching these guys keep moving because the way they play is what this world desperately needs when thinking about what punk rock should be. No fuss, no fluff, no bullshit overproduction. Just stripped down rock 'n' roll that's ready to kick your ass with lots of heart and that is exactly what the first track "Dangerous Game" is. Those guitars are distinct to the trademark Vapids sound and Jimmy's beautifully gritty voice is one of a man that's stood the test of time, retaining great importance for me. It really carries through and I love how poetic he is in his lyrics with this one touching on a darker side of life. "Capital City Creeps" exudes lots of early punk attitude as well and gets job done in an impressive one minute and thirteen seconds. No time wasted! I know I'm always going to get what I want when I listen to either of these bands and am very happy to own this record. Get into it if you've got good taste!

The Mugwumps are...
Chris- Guitar and Vocals
Hank- Bass
Andy- Drums

Their Side
"Ka-Mun-Rah!"
"The Reason"

All songs written by Chris.

The Vapids are...
Jim- Vocals and Guitar
Scotty- Drums
Matt- Guitar
Eric- Bass

Their Side
"Dangerous Game"
"Capital City Creeps"

All songs written by JV.

Label: Striped Records
Buy it here.
Stream it here.

Neon Bone- Down To The Felt

There's always plenty to fill my little eyes with hearts when looking to the European pop punk/punk rock scene these days due to it's seemingly higher than average amount of songwriters that get it! So many of those bands claim space on my overfilled at the moment record shelves and Neon Bone is a perfect example of why it's like that! While I can always bet everything on instantly taking a liking to the songs Lars writes, I gotta admit that I'm also totally impressed by the amount of great material he can create on such a consistent basis. Last year was no different with the "Sick Of Me" 7" and just as I was through praising that at the end of 2015, he had a new batch of demos for a full length to wow me with. Fast forward many more months of impatiently waiting and it's finally arrived, a wonderful LP from my most favorite one man, kick ass, pop punk machine from Münster, Germany called "Down To The Felt"!

When I got my hands on the finished product at the beginning of this year, I was completely impressed to find out that once again, this was a total solo effort like the last. It has to be a little maddening to cover every aspect of playing the songs themselves, then adding in all the recording work on top of all that, but Lars made it work! The sound quality is great. Holding tradition in steadily imagining funny cover art, this one features a photo of him going bust on a video poker machine on the front. It's very well shot and I love all the color. Release day was the first of this month coming from none other than Monster Zero Records who seems to be on a winning streak with putting out good records as of late. No surprise there either! It's available on black vinyl with download code or CD through the label,or digital only which you can get through the Neon Bone bandcamp page. All the songs are streaming there in full and you should definitely check them out if you've not done so yet! 

A strong opening track is essential for capturing my interest whenever I listen to a new record and that is something I think Lars has down to a perfect science! I was crazy for the mid tempoed yet powerful "I Can't Let Go" in a matter of seconds. This song is such a perfect representation of the simple but super catchy way Neon Bone songs easily get into my head and stay there. It's just really well played 90's inspired pop punk with no gimmicks. Good songs don't need it and the momentum of this opening energy builds, leading into the second track "Without You". It's a lighthearted love song that they matched the sentiment of with a funny video they made for it(click here to see it!). It's a spoof of a 60's tv show performance complete with the sparkliest jacket I've ever seen haha. Neon Bone videos are always the best. Go peek around his youtube channel if you're not familiar with them! Speaking of that time period, "Cheek To Cheek" is one of those songs that has an early rock 'n' roll/doo-wop feel to it. Definitely another of my favorites with those perfectly done backing vocals in the bridge. It's very dreamy and while this record is heavy in the fun pop punk energy that I'm fond of this band for, there's also some different forces of punk rock coming through as well like in "The Things We Can Do". That is my number one pick out of the faster songs and it has a very cool, edgier early Descendents vibe. Now we all know well enough I said favorite out of the faster songs because I am greedy and HAVE to pick a slower one too! That one for me is "Love Has Made Me Blind". It is such a gem with a heavy doo-wop approach as well and really shows off the just lovely range in his vocals. The closing track is a cover of Jimmy Cliff's "You Can Get It(If You Really Want)" and is translated in such a great way to a punk rock version. I always appreciate how Lars chooses covers that aren't common and take some effort to do! 

I think it's kinda funny that this record is called "Down To The Felt" because nothing about it is going for broke! If anything, this is one of the most well rounded pop punk records I've heard in a long time, complete with a few great surprises and will most certainly be earning a spot in my Best Of 2016 list. Make sure to add it to your overcrowded shelves because I know I'm not the only one with that problem, I mean, hobby!! Yeah, hobby and stay tuned for what's next!! While this band is a one man effort in the studio, the live lineup adding in Mirko Cruel, Fred Fredsen, and Jan Koslowski sounds fantastic. Make sure to catch their sets at Summer In October in Belgium, or some shows they're planning with the almighty Mega from Italy during that time. Also, there's a split that just came out featuring them and their friends Muskelprotz and hell yes, more new songs are being demoed as we speak!! Something new is always happening in the Neon Bone universe and it's bands like this who make me believe there's always hope for music to be better.

Neon Bone is...

Lars Hanneman

with guest part by David Gröbner who played the trumpet part on "You Can Get It(If You Really Want)".

Tracks
Side A

1. "I Can't Let Go"

2. "Without You"

3. "Cheek To Cheek"

4. "Let's Go Home"

5. "Fate"

6. "Love Has Made Me Blind"
Side B

7. "I Don't Care" 

8. "The Things We Could Do"

9. "Where The Action Is"

10. "Ghost"

11. "You Can Get It(If You Really Want)"

The Hallingtons- Running From The U.S.S.R

Going my own way in how I view punk rock with great respect for it's roots, no matter what seems to be the trend of the moment is something I never bend on. While I support everyone thinking for themselves, whenever I see a jaded sentiment in online conversations saying that there's nothing left to draw from a more traditional approach anymore, I gotta laugh a little because it's total bullshit to me. The foundation of our little universe is an anchor for it's very survival and I'm glad there is hope for it to remain intact when I hear a band like The Hallingtons. I've had my eye on this Olso, Norway based trio for a few years now and they've kept my interest by not only honoring what's important to me but also growing in presence each time they record. I loved the "Alien Girl" EP but was even more excited this time to see that they were finally getting the much deserved support in being pressed to vinyl! They are back with their brand of pop punk that catches your memory like a Rolex in a store window does Dee Dee's eye on a 7" called "Running From The U.S.S.R.", and that's what I'll be making sure the word is out for today!  

The songs were recoded during June of 2015 at Endless Tinnitus in Oslo with producing, mixing, and mastering done by Anders Krokedal. The recording was done on an analog tape machine and while I found myself a fan of these songs right away hearing them digitally, they really come alive on the vinyl as a result of this. This is the way The Hallingtons were always meant to be heard! The cover and layout for the 7" looks great with a more classic approach in some well shot photos of the band done by Frode Skjold on the front and back that have a very '77 feeling. From there Rocky Skullington tied it all together with a clean presentation in the layout and I like the way that little touch of red in the lettering on the front makes the title pop out. He also designed an Alien Girl shirt for the guys which I'm a proud owner of as well! Official release happened on April 18th and is a collaboration between the band themselves and Monster Zero Records. Kevin has a full plate with all his releases but always seems to find a way to help bands that deserve it, and that is very honorable. The record is on black vinyl and digital only is available though their bandcamp page. It's streaming in full there and name your price to download, aka free but be cool and donate a few bucks towards their next move. That's the way we keep DIY alive! 

As I was saying, it made me so happy to see Jørgen, Tor, and Mikel have their work pressed to vinyl, and it was lovely to go through the motion of placing it on my turntable. At 45 rpm, the guys launch into a fast opening on Side A with "Running From The U.S.S.R". This one has everything that could be desired out of a good punk rock song as a tale of espionage is told in it's lyrics. It has lots of punch as a more direct arrangement and some "ba ba ba bas" most definitely influenced by the forefathers of Forrest Hills. So easy to love! I think what I like most about this band is that they all have the ability to contribute as lead vocalists and as they trade off, there's always great support from the other two in the backing vocals. That interchangeable aspect adds depth and can be picked up on in "Gaga Over You" which Mikel takes the lead on. He brings in a little bit of that sunnier energy that he does so well in The Lemonaids and it balances out well with the band's approach. Tor I love as a lead because he packs a lot of bravado into his vocal delivery just like his drumming. He sounds so cool when you flip to Side B and hear "Lori Is A Mexican", which is a song they had recorded previously but definitely was deserving of a remake. I gotta level with you all that the last track is my absolute FAVORITE and maybe even my most favorite out of every single song I've ever heard from this band. "Why Can't You Be With Me" is one of those songs that draws from a rich 1960's Rock 'n' Roll vibe and it is just perfect for Jørgen's voice that has all the bubblegum appeal you could desire in a track like this. It's all said and done in less than eight minutes for this little gem of a record, so my natural choice is just to listen through again. 

Simple, beautiful, and catchy. Those three elements make the kind of punk rock that The Hallingtons play something that I'm always eager to hear. They really bring back an element of fun amongst all the overproduced and sometimes a little too emo sounding modern pop punk that I'm just not a fan of, and that is good for music!! Add "Running From The U.S.S.R" to your collection before its gone like a spy on the run by visiting the Monster Zero webstore or writing to the guys who also have those cool shirts I mentioned for sale! They have a couple things in the works now which include a contribution to a Scottish tribute album for Brandon Carlisle and a new single too so keep an eye on their facebook page to stay tuned for when they'll be out! 

The Hallingtons are...

T.E. Hallington- Drums and Vocals

Mikel Hallington- Bass and Vocals

J. Hallington- Guitar and Vocals

All songs written by The Hallingtons 

Tracks

Side A

1. "Running From The U.S.S.R" 

2. "Gaga Over You"

Side B

3. "Lori Is A Mexican" 

4. "Why Can't You Be With Me"

The Putz- Hole In One reissue

With pop punk nearing the age of a sensible decision making adult in it's three decades of existence, creating it in a way that is interesting in present day is no easy task!!  It's easy to fall into sounding as a derivative or even worse, attempting to innovate it past the point of recognition but as luck has it, there's a small handful of songwriters who succeed at it still. I first heard of The Putz about four years ago from one of my friends on the East Coast. He had a lot of enthusiasm for what they were doing so I followed his tip and found that these guys from Indianapolis, IN were not only doing something good but rather great instead. Standing out from run of the mill and way off base, they play pop punk that makes you want to pull out your Queers, Screeching Weasel, and Beach Boys records for an all day binge, but also bring a unique personality to the table that is sincere, engaging, a little kooky, and utterly hilarious at times. To put it plainly, you remember who they are in one listen and that, my friends is what this small world of music we all love so much needs. I fell hard for the harmony heavy and super pop sensible "Knock It Off" in 2014, hoping for another reason to write about them immediately after and through the actions of some great people, something has manifested!!

Seeing a dire need for the songs to be placed on sacred format, Moms Basement Records decided to reissue the more than deserving first album of these guys on vinyl for the first time! From there the idea began to pick up more momentum with a beautiful remastering job done by Mass Giorgini at Sonic Iguana where "Hole In One" was originally recorded in 2009 by Phillip Hill. With everything sounding perfect, another modern day hero in the American label scene, Travis Woods added some live shots of the band into a bold yet simple and gorgeous layout he created, then it was off to the pressing plant!! Please take me seriously when I say don't wait to order this because the quantity is very limited! 100 copies were pressed to black, 100 copies were pressed to pink which I chose because it creates a lovely contrast against the cover art, and they include a download code of course! Release is today on the 27th(pretty inconspicuous date huh? Haha) and you can order it through the Moms Basement webstore! The tracks are waiting to be streamed or downloaded on the label's bandcamp page now too so go check them out! 

When I think about reissues the one thing I enjoy most is to see someone from the band talk about it instead of a writer's thoughts, so I decided to approach Billy and ask for a contribution to this piece. He answered my call with a wonderfully written recollection of the record and some cool history on the evolvement of the band as well so without further delay I'd like to hand over this space to him. 

"Looking back, it’s almost unbelievable that Hole In One ever got recorded, turned out the way did, or got released, let alone a remixed and remastered re-release…on vinyl!!! 

Now, I’d like to say that Hole In One was the result of endless hard work, timeless effort, and unmitigated dedication, but it wasn’t; it was really just an accident…

See, back in 2009, The Putz were at a very different phase in our…uh…career? Sure, if you call getting drunk and playing exclusively open mic nights, exclusively at the local dive bar, exclusively on Wednesdays a career that is. I’m pretty sure most of us do, so let’s not belabor. Now, we never harbored any delusions that we would ever become international superstars, but that didn’t stop us from being out of tune, out of key, and out of our minds. 

In all truthfulness, real talk here, we had no business recording an album at the time; furthermore, we had no business recording an album at the legendary (you’ve heard of it…) Sonic Iguana, but we did it anyway.

Our initial idea was just to capture our at-the-time-and-probably-only-to-us hilarious shtick, you know, for the annals of history. Our second idea was to just cancel and save our time and money. Our third idea, however, was to actually take ourselves seriously for a change. Mondo bizarro, I know. Well, that’s exactly what we did; we switched gears, scrapped the majority of the tracks we were intending to record, and started focusing on unfinished and unwritten material instead. 

In the end, we (surprisingly) pulled it together and found ourselves with a (surprisingly) decent album that included 16 tracks that were written, completed, and rewritten over the span of a decade, some of them during my formative years as a young school boy, and others literally in the week leading up to recording, and I’m willing to wager that most of you couldn’t even guess which were which. And, even though it may be juvenile, in terms of content and talent, Hole In One includes two very important songs for me personally: (1) the first good/decent song I ever wrote; and (2) the first song I ever wrote that I knew other people would enjoy. 

We halfheartedly approached a few individuals about the prospect of releasing an album recorded by a band no one had ever heard of, or knew existed, or cared about…yeah, well, whatever…In the summer of 2010, Hole In One was self-released on compact disc with a first pressing limited to 100 copies and a second pressing of 50 copies, and that was all. Ever. Until…

On tour in the summer of 2015, The Putz found ourselves lodging in none other than the mom’s basement (yeah, the one that inspired the record label, duh).  It was here, drinking PBR and watching South Park, that the benevolent John Proffitt, Jr. agreed to release the remixed and remastered version of Hole In One on Mom’s Basement Records…on vinyl!!!

In retrospect, Hole In One opened a lot of doorways for The Putz, not only because we had material we weren’t ashamed to send to bookers and promoters, but also because we knew what we were capable of achieving as a band. We started practicing, which led to playing more venues, which led to playing out-of-town shows, which led to playing out-of-state shows, all of which led to making fans that would become friends and friends that would become family."- Billy Putz

The Putz as they appeared on this recording...

Billy Putz- Bass and Vocals

Tyler Wrong- Guitar and Backing Vocals 

Jordan Miller- Drums and Backing Vocals

With appearances by...

Ian Johnson- Keyboards on "Once-a-Year Day" and "Idiot Over You"

Elise French- Vocals on "Bride Of Frankenstein"

Reissue produced by Billy Putz, Dougie Tangent, and John Proffitt Jr.

All songs written by Billy Putz(BMI) except where noted 

Tracks

Side A 

1. "Letdown Of A Lifetime"

2. "Not Giving In" 

3. "Your Spaceship's Taking Off"

4. "Operation: Sneak Out" 

5. "I Do(What I Want To)"

6. "Brain Dead" 

7. "Summer's Here"

8. "I Quit"

Side B 

9. "Institutionalized"

10. "You're Ugly"

11. "Once-a-Year Day"(Adler/Ross)

12. "Idiot Over You"

13. "Don't Talk"

14. "My Girlfriend's a Bonehead"

15. "Bride Of Frankenstein"

16. "Hole In One" 

The Ratcliffs- Bubblegum Warfare

"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."- Albert Einstein 

Who knew Einstien and Dee Dee had so much in common!? I did! I think this quote of a genius can easily be applied to the beautiful structure of a sound we define as punk rock and at it's very most foundation, that's what you find. Simplicity. This principle is very much alive in Europe and as a devoted fan of bands like the Mugwumps and DeeCRACKS, Austria is a place that I've been dialed into for years. This is largely in part due to those guys having such a crystal clear understanding of what a punk rock song should be, and they play it with no unnecessary embellishments. There was another band from Innsbruck that I heard a few summers back by means of a sampler that was made for the Monster Zero Mash in Bergamo from 2014. They were called The Ratcliffs and I remembered liking their song, but being the scatterbrained girl that I am, I got distracted by something shiny probably and forgot to research them further. It happens!! Anyway, let's fast forward into the present. I saw that they finally had a full length record coming not too long ago, checked out the stream when it went live, and in a few words I was smitten with it pretty quickly. I've been craving so much to hear a good pop punk record lately and it has arrived in the form of one called "Bubblegum Warefare"!

The songs were recorded/mixed during the Summer and Fall of 2014 by Matthias Mayr(aka Hias) at Workstation & The Shithole(aka Hias' bedroom) and then mastering was handled by Mathias Magerle. If theses names sound familiar, it's because they are!! Both of them were involved with the last Mugwumps record and like their work on "Can't Be The One", the sound quality they produced this time is great once again!!  The cover is a great fit with the album title featuring a photo of Paul shot by Jonas Flattinger and artwork by Karin Berner. Simple bubblegum concept, bright colors, I like it! Once that was all finished it was time for the painful process that always happens since everyone's waiting on the plants and there's not enough supply to meet the demand, but good things are worth the wait!! Official release happened on March 8th from the fine people of Monster Zero Records. 300 copies were pressed to pink or black vinyl and come with a download code. Collector nerds like myself, the pink wax is apparently super limited! Digital only can be found on the Ratcliffs bandcamp page where it's also streaming in full! Lastly, a small and limited edition run of 30 cassettes was made on Paul's label, Campfire Tapes. So your listening options are many!! But for now, go press play on that stream if you haven't done so yet.

I woke up early on the morning MZ announced the record was streaming and decided to investigate right away since I was so curious for it. Most of the time when I'm looking at a stream I don't start from the first track, but instead scan the song titles for one that jumps out at me. Usually that method proves to be quite effective and this time I decided to play "You Can't Break My Heart" first since that's an experience that typically spawns a great song. Especially in pop punk and my hunch was correct!! The Ratcliffs sound is simply a breath of fresh air and I was drawn right in by it. Paul is most certainly one of us in his devotion to the Ramones and Lookout bands, which you can hear in his songwriting but there's also some nice touches of 50's/60's rock 'n' roll in there too and it's very cool. Overall there's a huge injection of fun in their style, not taking anything too seriously and the lyrics are super catchy. Another thing I like about Paul is his vocal style. He's got much more of a melodic Joey-esque crooner approach and I'm into it! This recording also has a great lineup of talent! I mentioned Hias above who adds being a fine guitar player to his résumé and then Klemi who also plays drums for Insanity Alert shows his diversity, easily going from thrash to pop punk and did a wonderful job. The LPs 12 tracks cover a wide range of topics and open up in a very Riverdales Phase 3 sort of way with the first one, "S.L.I.T.H.E.R" that is a quick burst of  punk rock, talking of a two faced person. "Zombie Walk"  drops into a mid-tempoed pace and most definitely gives a nod towards I Walked With A Zombie. Monster songs never go out of style with me and the Ratcliffs do well in bringing an element of horror to their mixture without sounding cheesy. "Swine Flu Outbreak" and the metamorphosis illustrating "Teen Wolf Again" also go along with this theme and were infectious in their ability to get stuck in my head. I really love "Chinese Whispers" too! Its got some great backing vocals but as a true romantic, I gotta say I choose the ode of love lost called "Radioactive Queen" as my favorite track! The lyrics are enjoyably demented, expressing the woes of being burned in more way than one and the chorus is beautiful!! "Never Any Good" adds a little more variety, standing out a bit with just vocals and a more clean guitar but stays cohesive with the record and shows that early rock 'n' roll side I mentioned. 

2016 was SO SLOW to start out with new releases! I was waiting for something to come along that captured my attention and "Bubblegum Warfare" is it. This is a nice open to what is promising to be an eventful rest of the year so don't sleep on this first pressing and order a copy before it's gone. With both Hias and Klemi relocating soon, there are no immediate plans for The Ratcliffs besides the release show they played but seeing how that Austrian scene is such a supportive network of talented people, something is always bound to come together. Follow their facebook page to stay tuned! 

The Ratcliffs are...

Paul- Vocals and Bass Guitar 

Hias- Guitar

Klemi- Drums 

All songs written by Paul Coyote

Tracks

Side A

1. "S.L.I.T.H.E.R."

2. "Zombie Walk"

3. "Li'l Light Bulb"

4. "Swine Flu Outbreak"

5. "Too Many Issues"

6. "The Thing To Do"

Side B

7. "Chinese Whispers"

8. "Teen Wolf Again"

9. "Radioactive Queen"

10. "You Can't Break My Heart"

11. "Never Any Good"

12. "Camp Nowhere"

Best of 2015!

Greetings, my fellow connoisseurs of good taste! Your faithful girl Dee Dee here. While it's seemed to be a longer one than most, here we are at the end of another year at Ramona Confidential. It was one that had me down a lot to see so much loss in our little universe but in spite of dark days, lots of great things happened too so here I am to give a rundown of what I favored most. I've decided to change up a few things up this time! First, besides a "one-two-three-faw!!" before a song starts or eighth notes behind the drum kit, I really see no use for numbers in the way I want to do this list. I dig everything I chose and want you to see it as you wish. Next! You're going to see a few selections show up that I didn't get the chance to properly review. Things were chaotic at best during these last few months but music is always going in my life no matter what, so I'm bringing them in now. We're punks around here and can call the rules as we go! Before we get everything going, I want to send a heartfelt thank you to each person that hangs out with me here. From nearly every continent I see you all showing up to read what I write and that's something very beautiful to me. Seeing so many hearts like mine gives me hope, because that's exactly what's needed to keep good music alive! So stay passionate, know that you are very important to this, and live your days to the fullest because Lemmy wants you to. Any corresponding reviews or ordering info will be linked in the album titles. Now let's talk about what saves us all. Rock 'n' Roll!  

My favorite LPs...

The Manges- Florida EP
My life is never complete until these guys release new material and they arrived just in time to make sure a much needed example for what a good punk rock song sounds like was delivered before the year was up! The songs on this EP are better than good, they are immaculate and it never ceases to amaze me at how The Manges can come to the table with something that is evolved and everything that music needs in the moment, each time they walk out of the studio. The memory of seeing a couple of these songs get played live is my most favorite moments of the year and I cannot wait to give that gorgeous blue LP a spin once it arrives in my anxious little hands. As long as The Manges are around, my passion to write will be too.

The Mugwumps- Can't Be The One
With the many years we had to wait for The Mugwumps return between the last two records, I was elated to see them keep their momentum in 2015 with "Can't Be The One". This record was very special because while "Mutation In The Family" was a great reintroduction, CBTO was a snapshot of them right in the moment from a perspective of songwriting. It showed that they are just as relevant in 2015 as they were in 2007 and now have grown into being masters of their sound with something substantial to contribute that any newer pop punk/punk rock band can benefit from by observation. These three guys from Austria have it down to a science at this point and are hopefully going to be coming back soon with something else for me to fall in love with.

The Piniellas- Struck Out Looking
As far as contemporary American pop punk goes, lots of the newer bands tend to go for what I find to be the all too common yawn inducing third wave/indie/beardo sound, but not The Piniellas! Led by Scott Matthews of The Wanna-Bes, this band is one of the best that my country has to offer and really revived the classic sound of this genre's great lineage without being a carbon copy. "Struck Out Looking" has became a staple in my collection for having songs that possess a catchiness I've not heard much since the last Riverdales record. This band has already covered a lot of ground making a name for themselves, so it's sad to see that things are slowing down for them at the moment with their drummer relocating. I think that they could only step up to the next level with what they're doing but I'll hang in there with the hopes that at least one more record comes out of their camp.

Radioactivity- Silent Kill
In the first listen through it, "Silent Kill" was one of the most mesmerizing collection of songs I've heard in the last decade. It's almost like another dimension with how well arranged it is. "Silent Kill" is a testament to the FACT that Jeff Burke is still a genius songwriter who seemingly has no limit to the amount of quality he can manifest in his mind where punk rock, garage, and whatever he sees fit melt together into a sound only Radioactivity can play. Simply put, I'm one happy little lady to keep supporting their cause. This band has fully stepped into their own as a powerful entity and I'll be waiting for their next move with total anticipation.     

The Ponches- HUM
These boys from Ferriera completely swept me off my feet this year in both seeing them play finally, and releasing this gem of a record. "HUM" is one of those records that gets under your skin in a good way before you even know what's happening, and then you're just hooked!! They punk rock they play by their own rules holds such a beauty in it's individuality and makes The Ponches stand out so much for me. I think they should be much more recognized than they are. Consider me fully devoted to their cause and hoping that they'll make it back over to tour America sometime. Music can only gain from their presence.

One Chord Wonder- 30 Second Wonders
I'm very skeptical of compilations because they usually end up pretty unbalanced or with not enough for me to get excited about but if anyone was going to create an exception, it made all the sense in the world for One Chord Wonder to do just that. The equation is simple enough. Thirty tracks at thirty seconds each and my face was beaming with a smile as soon as the beautifully screen printed LP started to spin on my turntable, hearing Rev, Norb's intro. Everyone from Italy I'm in love with from Senzabenza, to Mega, to the Proton Packs, to The Nuts, to The Veterans just to name a few are on there but that's not all!! Europe is well represented by The Mugwumps and DeeCRACKS, America makes an appearance with Horror Section, and even Canada too with the mighty Jimmy Vapid!! There's lots more to get into so check it out if you've not yet. Comps can be done well! This one is proof.

Rufus Recordings- Ramone Army Split 
My heart was invested in this release from the start and with the untimely passing of my dear friend Paco Rufus, it has become a treasure that I'm so proud to have had a part in. He carefully chose each band for a reason, and that was to show the way of life he believed in with all his soul was still out there. Woodcocks, The Mugwumps, Riccobellis, Tough, The Nerdy Jugheads, and Rivelles brought the very best from their respective corners of the globe to make a statement come to life in a split that will spend much time being played at my place. The Ramone Army is strong, and it will forever carry on because people like Paco aren't afraid to stand up for it and make sure people listen.

The Dumbheads- Heartbroken Idiots
I love to find something special in places I don't often look to and Belgorod, Russia gave me a great discovery on the day I first heard The Dumbheads. While maintaining a sense of humor, the songs on "Heartbroken Idiots" are powerful in both categories of music and vocals. Such a great range of subjects are covered in them from the supernatural to romance and their version of The Kids "Do You Wanna Know" is one of the most well done covers I've heard all year. Go give them a listen if you've not done so yet! They deserve your attention.

Noise By Numbers- High On Drama
There's something that makes me happy every single time I see a record from one of Dan Vapid's bands get released. It's the unspoken certainty that I know I'll love it because he's proven to be a constant as a key songwriter who's built much of the foundation for what I hold dear. Noise By Numbers has always held a special place in my heart since the first moment I heard them and "High On Drama" was a nice little bonus to get after they became inactive. The mixture of pop punk and alternative rock that can even venture into somewhat of a new wave sound at times was played so vibrantly by them in these songs. For that, they resonate with me and I'm happy to have another little piece of their history.

The Connection- Labor Of Love
It's always cool to see a band draw from what influenced punk rock in the first place. Any pop punk fan is well acquainted with Brad Marino and Geoff Palmer by means of The Rydells and The Guts, so it makes perfect sense for them to join their well developed forces as a songwriting duo in The Connection. They work well together and with Andy Shernoff taking the helm as producer, "Labor Of Love" is a fantastic mixture of sounds influenced by the Rolling Stones, classic power pop, and 50's to 60's Rock 'n' Roll just to name a few places they drew from in making this record. All that paired with Brad's universal reach as a vocalist and their punk rock spirit made for great record that I enjoyed very much as a change in pace to diversify my time spent as a music lover this year.  

My favorite 7"s

The Veterans- Qu4rtet
With just two songs, The Veterans gave me such a big reason to smile. Andrea Manges is so important to me as a songwriter ans this band is one I have a lot of affection for because it shows another side of his skill. As I said in the review, "Rocket Summer" is one of the best songs he's ever written and the Go-Go's cover is superb as well so make sure you own it.

CJ Ramone/The Manges- Split 7"
Two hugely important worlds in my life as a punk rocker coming together to make a split 7" is something that was both totally rare and had me over the moon to witness. I adore the cover art designed by John Holmstrom and the spirit of that just gets even brighter in the music. The guys kept it fun with a song from the Beach Boys, then one from the Trashmen and it made for a perfect collaboration. It's such a special piece to have in any Ramones and Manges fan's collection but also makes me personally breathe a sigh of happiness because the spirit of what saved my life lives on!

The Vapids- Punitive Damage/Thin Skin
I am crazy for The Vapids. They're one of those bands that strike such a natural response of adoration from me for playing punk rock that hits hard and is honest as the day is long. Jimmy is one of my absolute favorites for putting up zero fronts as a songwriter and I am SO GLAD Carlo from Surfin' Ki finally gave them enough shit to make a new record. The three songs show this band is still a force of nature, growing in magnitude and the last track for Robo is one of the most moving tributes I've ever heard. You never know what's going to happen with these guys, they've got some kickass side projects but I'll always be a happy girl if they wanna come back with more.

Neon Bone- Sick Of Me
Lars is still on fire!! I guess I somewhat expect this of him after supporting him for the last few years but it's still amazing to watch him be so prolific with what he does. I was so happy to see Neon Bone get added to the Monster Zero roster this year, develop a very good full band to go touring with, and spread the gospel of pop punk done right to so many. "Sick Of Me" was a step up and stay tuned because a new full length record is in the works as I type this!! I've gotten the honor of hearing it's demos and cannot wait to see it all come together.

Ratbones- Ratwars
I still have "Lost In East Berlin" stuck in my head. I shit you not because that's one of the best songs I heard all year and "Ratwars" was such a great representation as a whole for what Italy has to offer in the moment. This introduction to the new lineup for Ratbones was well done, the songs pay tribute to a lineage that needs to be remembered in such a lovely way. Let's see your next move, guys. Surely it'll be something I'm into.

Moms Basement- Wedding Split

Joining in on the collective of pop punk/punk rock labels this year, Moms Basement has made a good first impression with it's first release. Choosing Horror Section, Eaten Back To Life, the Young Rochelles, and The Putz was a smart move to group some fine American talent together and the finished product looks fantastic!! As a heavy collector with a global view for music, John is destined to do very cool things and as an insider to what he does, all I'm gonna say is get excited for what he's working on for the new year. You're going to be into it.

Labels I pledge my love to- An independent label with lots of passion and support from the scene has infinite power to change the landscape of music for the better. As time has changed the way we access music, people have unfortunately lost sight of why we need them. The digital age may grant easier access but there is an absolute unwavering beauty that exists in a format one can hold in their hands. Through the grooves in vinyl, artwork admired, and liner notes studied, a physical format not only grants the listener a full connection to what they love but also gives it a means to continue. As we step away in observation of our little universe, it's easy to see these people pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into this craft with little reward are doing no medial task. They are the hope for it to survive and these are the labels you should be watching.

Eccentric Pop Records, Striped Music, Monster Zero Records, Rufus Recordings, One Chord Wonder, Dirtnap Records, Surfin' Ki Records, Moms Basement Records, Jolly Ronnie Records, and Mooster Records

Other Rock 'n' Roll Writers I Support- Massoneria Ramonica, SNAFU, I Buy Records, Just Some Punk Songs, and For The Love Of Punk. 

MVP(Most Valuable Punk Rocker)- Paco Rufus

In the 36 rotations around the sun I've experienced so far, I encounter a lot of people that inspire me from all over the world but every once in awhile I find a person who is very rare. If I think about the feeling behind punk rock, I can say that Paco truly exemplified what it was to live those words completely. We only got a little more than a year to know each other but I can tell you in that short amount of time that I chose him as a brother because of who he was. He was never shy to show his true self and if he saw that someone shared his dreams, you were no longer going to move forward in your journey without his support. Paco was one of the very few spirits on this earth who could match my rabid love for the Ramones and while that was what first united us, he was also caring enough to know who I am. He was so generous in every aspect with never any expectation. He sent me records, listened abut my life, told me about his, and gave me the precious gift of becoming friends with his lovely wife Marta. He also supported me more as a writer than most anyone else ever has, always encouraging me to keep going, sharing my work, and then he permanently added my words to one of his last releases. Ever since the 16th of December, it's pretty hard for me to look at his facebook page without crying and to feel some sort of anger at why he's no longer with us but there's something so much bigger to take from the tragedy of his loss.

Paco lived. 

He lived every single day passionately loving his wife, running Rufus Recordings and his record store Naranja y Negro with all his heart, and he didn't waste one moment to let any of his dreams go by without pursuit. He was a beautiful person, chosen family, a kickass punk rocker, and will forever be an absolute inspiration to me. Thank you Paco for touching my life and the lives of so many others. Everyday when I wake up and have the chance to give it my all, I'll give a little bit more in your honor.

Special thanks sent out to the following people for carrying me though the worst with their kindness when I needed someone to be there for me this year. Words can not express how grateful I am for each of you.- B-Face, Andrea Manges, Massimo Zannoni, Danny Sullivan, Valentina De Rosa, Andrea Imbalzano, Ale, Paco Rufus, Marta Rufus, Phil Nieswender, Faith Cardelli, KJ Jansen, John Proffitt Jr, Richie Boyd, Ame Bumpkin, and Franz