Radioactivity- Silent Kill

Very few songwriters posses the confidence in me that goes to the extent of where I would blindly follow their next step with full support before even hearing it, because I'm that sure of what they do. If you take a look at this very small list in my mind, you can count on seeing Jeff Burke's name right there. The special breed of rock 'n' roll he creates is something I became quite devoted to as a fan of the Marked Men and when I saw his path evolving into a new band called Radioactivity year before last, it was a no-brainer to become instantly smitten with their debut self-titled record. That first set of thirteen songs brought to life by Jeff, Mark Ryan(another songwriter I completely adore!), and Gregory Rutherford still makes an at least weekly appearance in my rotation. After the addition of Daniel Fried on second guitar who also has a long running history with the guys in other bands(Mind Spiders, Bad Sports, High Tension Wires), the Dallas/Ft Worth, TX  based trio became an even more powerful quartet releasing a great 7", but I was beyond thrilled to see news that a second full length LP was on the way. It was a bit of a tease, but the kind you want to hear a few tracks that were leaked starting last April but the whole record has been revealed my anticipation has been 100% satisfied."Silent Kill" is here!

The recording process for these songs began shortly after their first record was released and wrapped in the Fall of last year at Cool Devices Studio in the Dallas/Ft Worth area of Texas. For the same reasons I love a studio like T.U.P. in Italy, I love Cool Devices as well which is owned and operated by Jeff and Mark due to their analog approach in sound. The work they do is impeccable, truly capturing what any band does that spends any time there and this recording came out beautiful. Mastering was handled by Matthew Barnhart at Chicago Mastering Service and with the audio portion complete, the cover art designing duties were taken on by Patrick Lillard. Featuring imagery shot by Brian Maryansky, this time the cover took on a more dark feeling in appearance that aligns well with the album title. Official release happened on June 29th from Dirtnap Records and I have to say right here how much I appreciate this label's level of professionalism. Their releases always arrive in absolutely pristine condition and in record time! The copy I ordered was in my hands within three days of placing an order on release day, and it's like this every time I order from Dirtnap. People deserve the praise when they're kicking ass at what they do so I will most definitely recommend your business going to this label and their record store Green Noise Records which always has a great selection to browse from! Going back to this amazing release, it is available on a black vinyl LP or CD. There was also a very limited clear vinyl variant that I was lucky enough to get and it is now sold out! Digital only is available through bandcamp where all songs are streaming in full so go press play if you've not heard them yet. I'll wait for you! 

In thinking about exactly what it is that I love about Radioactivity... well, it's a lot of things! The songs they play hold an excellent mixture of influences, ranging anywhere from the boldness of 60's garage rock, to true punk rock(I'm talking what took place in the mid to late 70's), and then in that fundamental spirit, they branch off into a place that is only them. When you hear Radioactivity, you know exactly who you're hearing from the first few seconds of sound and once they're engaged with their instruments, there's this incredible wall of sound that is always present. It's engaging and impactful but never comes across as a pompous display of skill! It's always very deliberate and sincere. All of these elements were present in their debut record but moving into "Silent Kill", it is even more defined and expanding into a much heavier realm. Side One opens up with "Battered" which is a full on rock 'n' roll assault, moving quickly to create a backdrop for Jeff's powerfully beautiful voice. I was crazy for this song right away but something I thought was very cool is just when it starts to fade, those last few notes lead into the next track, "Stripped Away" which is an entirely different little universe, but the transition is seamless. "Way Out" is one of my first favorites to show up, with a darker tone and some very well done backing vocals by Jeff's brother, Mark that add in another layer of depth to the song. The title track follows right after with a great hook and my second favorite, "No Connection" closes this side and is a good representation of this band's growth. A lovely ballad driven by a steady bassline, slower in pace but just as impactful and with some great lyrics that are very open to a listener's interpretation. Side Two transitions right back into the more upbeat energy Radioactivity has mastered with "I Know" but there's some surprises to be found! "Where I Come From" is a great example of that. Just an absolute gem with a haunting atmosphere, chill inducing vocals, and it is another one I really love. "Silent" is also fantastic with a wonderfully shot video you can see here if you've not checked it out yet but my most favorite song on the whole record is the last. An almost dizzying rhythm leads into "Pretty Girl" and everything about it is addicting. It's an ending that shows these guys are a force to be reckoned with and works like some kind of subliminal mind trick on me because all I want is just to play the record a few more times when it ends all too soon! 

I think it's not so easy for most bands to make a powerful debut and then followup with an effort that is just as mighty, but shifting into a different energy that solidifies presence. Like The Ramones did with Leave Home, that's what Radioactivity has done with "Silent Kill" and that, my friends, is a beautiful thing. Make sure to pick this record up from Dirtnap or from the band as they are planning on some tour dates and to stay tuned for exactly where those will be happening, keep watch over at their facebook page. I'm hoping they'll be coming my way!

Radioactivity is...

Jeff Burke- Guitar, Vocals

Mark Ryan- Bass

Gregory Rutherford- Drums

Daniel Fried- Guitar

With backing vocals by Mark Burke

All songs written by Jeff Burke

Tracks 

Side One

1. Battered

2. Stripped Away

3. Not Here

4. Way Out 

5. Silent Kill

6. No Connection

Side Two

7. I Know

8. No Alarm

9. Where I Come From

10. Silent 

11. With You 

12. Pretty Girl

The Piniellas- Struck Out Looking

Back in late 2011, I took notice of a newly formed band from Seattle called The Piniellas due to their association with one of my all time favorite bands. Anyone in the know and with good taste quickly grew fond of the Wanna-Bes, who during their run of activity from 96' to 04' put out a small handful of what in my opinion are some of the best to happen in pop punk. After I discovered it was their drummer Scott Matthews now fronting this new outfit, I fully tuned in and became an instant fan with the release of their "Without A Fight" EP. I was so excited to hear something coming from them that is sadly becoming more rare by the day for American bands who describe themselves as a part of this genre. It's classic, uncomplicated, catchy rock 'n' roll that's true to what the architects of pop punk from the late 80's and early 90's actually created!! Praising Dee Dee for a sound I treasure showing some signs of life in a country it was born in, I became smitten with what I first heard out of them but naturally, it wasn't enough for me and I wanted more. There was a long wait for that to happen but I can say with full confidence that these guys made it more than worth the wait and then some. Their first full length album called "Struck Out Looking" is finally available and exactly what I want to make sure you check out today!

The recording process began in July of 2013 with Guitar, Bass, and Vocals being done at Scabbey Road Studios in Atlanta, GA by Joe Queer. The drums were later tracked by Scott, who returned to his post as drummer back at home in Seattle, WA during May of 2014 at Crackle And Pop Studios by Johnny Sangster. Mastering was done by the always highly skilled capabilities of Justin Perkins at Mystery Room Mastering in Milwaukee, WI. The cover art was done by Ole O'Brian of Ole Art. I've been a fan of Ole's self described "low brow toon art stuff" style for a few years after discovering him through his band, The Evil O'Brians located in Germany. He does a lot of really cool monsters but his ability to be versatile came through for The Piniellas in a scene from a baseball game. With the batter not doing such a good job, an assorted less than amused crowd in the stands is looking on featuring anyone from Lou Piniella himself to my personal favorite, Johnny Ramone(of course!). I love all those little intricate details and this cover art is a perfect representation of why people are taking notice of what he does. Julie Moore completed the layout and with everything done, Kid Tested Records is handling the release! It's available on CD for now from the band or label as far as physical formats go, digital only should be showing up on iTunes soon, and you can also stream the songs in full over on The Piniellas ReverbNation page.While I'm elated this album is available, I do really feel that it is worthy of being pressed to vinyl also. Hopefully that will happen at some point because these guys deserve it!

Thanks to my Resident Riff Randell tactics of persuasion(aka asking about it repeatedly haha!)  and super secret keeping abilities, I got to hear this album when the recording process was finished. I've been smitten since the first listen and simply put, The Piniellas get it. In the first ten seconds it's easy to tell they're a band that's graduated from the class of Rock 'n' Roll High School. Starting out by playing in a way that honors the foundation, they also nod towards the early 90's where bands did things right, but then there's also a vibrant streak of Paul Collins-esque pop sensibility with Scott's vocals. Joined by Leif's Dee Dee powerful bass playing and spot on backing vocals, these songs are nothing short of attention grabbing and my accolades given can be easily verified in the opening track. It's like a breath of fresh air to hear a song like  "Count 1-2-3" with it's straightforward and effortless approach. Just stripped down rock 'n' roll with a playful story line of taking a romantic chance and a chorus that gets stuck in your head right away! It actually lines up numerically with the title as well at one minute and twenty three seconds. I thought that was a cool coincidence. In one of my favorite Johnny Ramone interviews, he talks about the importance of a good bridge in a song which I couldn't agree more with and "Another Night" has it in spades along with some lovely harmonies. "Run Away" is a song that people who've been following this band will know from the EP but it's got a nice update, played just a touch faster and remains one of my favorite songs. In thinking of my top picks though, the next two that follow are tied for first place. "Mystery Girl" has such a cool intro that's very Riverdales where the guitar is quickly joined in by the bass, then drums, sticking to my brain like glue and then the absolutely beautiful title track "Struck Out Looking" comes in next. Things are taken down a notch tempo wise for this very doo-wop inspired song about not taking a chance in love and I'm so crazy for the backing vocals in it! It's got all the appeal of a  1950's ballad but exists in the moment! Some other highlights you'll discover are in "No One Cares" featuring Joe Queer making a guest appearance to sing the bridge, "Not Looking For Love" being a perfect anti-romance anthem, and the closer, "I Wanna Be Normal"which lyrically is exactly about what the title says. That kind of down to earth approach is something that's easy to connect with, actually makes Scott stand out as a songwriter, and I think it's very cool.

Pop punk within the U.S. has needed a swift kick in the ass for years and after all the waiting, it's wonderful to see a band like The Piniellas take things back to basics. They're the reminder that rock 'n' roll can be fun and not so over convoluted with unnecessary influences. "Struck Out Looking" without question is taking a spot in my top five for this year so I of course recommend it for your collection, punk rockers. Shortly after the album was recorded, both Miles and Jeff were added on to complete the band as a solid four piece and they've been sounding magnificent live. After playing some big shows with the likes of the Mr. T Experience, Screeching Weasel, and The Queers recently, it's safe to say this band will only continue advancing in their pursuit of showing that American classic pop punk is far from dead, so be sure to like their facebook page if you haven't yet to stay tuned for what's next!!

The Piniellas are...

Scott Matthews- Vocals and Guitar

Leif Larson- Bass and Backing Voclas 

Jeff Mangalin- Guitar and Backing Vocals

Miles Ezra Freeborn- Drums 

All songs written by Scott Matthews 

Tracks

1. Count 1-2-3

2. Another Night

3. Run Away

4. Mystery Girl

5. Struck Out Looking

6. Down And Out

7. No One Cares

8. Without A Fight

9. I Think Of You

10. Not Looking For Love

11. Head In The Clouds 

12. I Wanna Be Normal

Pool Party- Pool Party Number One

The concept of stirring the pot seems to be something that many people who hang around the scene these days tend to balk at and I just don't get it. That type of majority enforced censorship makes me wonder if these people actually listen to music they claim to like because since the dawning of punk rock's inception, bands have been raising a middle finger to what's comfortable and that my friends is part of what makes it exciting!! I often wonder what these people would think if bands like the Ramones, Dwarves, Sloppy Seconds, or Angry Samoans were just playing their first shows tomorrow? Surely any of those four wouldn't give a shit and I'm glad there's still newer bands pursuing creative expression on their own terms like Pool Party. While I haven't followed them since their start, this quartet of guys who take on some outlandish personas to make catchy songs from Florida first caught my attention with a song called "Teenage Weirdo" a couple years ago. They've got a brand new LP out called "Pool Party Number One" and that's what I'll be covering this time!

The songs were recorded during January of 2014 by Rick Carmona who also shares a producer credit with Pool Party and mastering was handled by the always reliable talents of Dave Williams at Eight Floors Above Mastering. Brian Butler at Upperhand Art took inspiration from the cover art of 2 Live Crew's "Move Somethin" and transformed it into a brightly rendered cartoon version of the band, still including the big butt, and a awesome lyrics disclaimer haha. This coordinates perfectly with the LP which is a really pretty yellow with blue splatter! Now all these choices were sorted and ready to roll shortly after the recording was wrapped and it should have been out before the year's end, but due to the nightmare that happens far too often these days with pressing plants focusing on some garbage like a RSD reissue that's easily found on discogs, this record got pushed all the way to April 7th, 2015... The only way to solve this problem is to STOP buying that crap and support the smaller labels that are busting their asses to bring something cool to you. Record store day should be any damn day and a true music lover shouldn't need a gimmick to support the cause. Rant over. It needed to be said. The LP and CD are brought to you by Mooster Records and It's Alive Records. Check out the Mooster Records bandcamp page to stream it in full or buy digital only!  

I scored a promo CD from the always fantastic people of Mooster back in November and was immediately smiling from what I heard out of the first song which is the title track, "Pool Party Number One". The stage is set for sleaze, fun times, and the guys being number one at it of course in a Sloppy Seconds kind of way with a great solo. A unique dimension is added in by Creep Guirdo's always sleazy and exotic vocals. Next up in the first few seconds, you hear a growl coming out of Hand Gloveless who takes the lead for "Underwater Lights Out". I really like the Joey Vindictive influence you can hear in his vocals with the Vindictives being one of my all time favorite bands and this song too is just as fun, following suit with the opening track's bravado. Two fun punk rock songs lead into 12 more and some of my favorites were "M.I.A In M.I.A" featuring both Creep Guirdo and Hand Gloveless trading off on lead vocals, "Undress For Success" with it's well written bridge and leads, and the very rock 'n' roll "Straight Skin". "Freaking Out" ventures into a little different territory with it's slowed down tempo in the verses and more experimental guitar parts. They really nailed the feeling of anxiety through sound in that one! "Drinking By The Pool" kicks things back into party mode and the closer "This Party's Never Over", that's very classic Pool Party and has some cool sounding keyboards!

It kinda sucked that this record was so delayed but in a way, the timing of the release kinda clicks because I think it works out great as a summer record. Get with Mooster or It's Alive for you copy and it seems like Pool Party is always on the move with new plans so follow their facebook page if you haven't done so yet!

Pool Party is...
Creep Guirdo- Vocals and Guitar
Dick Dumb- Bass and Backing Vocals
Hand Gloveless- Vocals and Guitar
"Inner" Toobs Malloy- Drums and Backing Vocals

With Special Guests...
Joe The MC-1 Koontz2- Baritone Guitar on "Freaking Out"
Vic Vaporu- Keys on "Pool Party Number One" and "This Party's Never Over"

All songs written by Pool Party except for "Drinking By The Pool", written by the Dogmatics

Tracks
1. Pool Party Number One
2. Underwater Lights Out
3. I Don't Feel Like It
4. S.L.O.W
5. Favorite Girls
6. M.I.A In M.I.A
7. Undress For Success
8. Baby Pants
9. Straight Skin
10. Boob Massage
11. Strut My Stuff
12. Freaking Out
13. Drinking By The Pool
14. This Party's Never Over

The Vapids- "Punitive Damage/Thin Skin"

At the dawning of punk rock's emergence into the music universe, Teenage Head was the Canadian answer to the Ramones. Lots of great bands sprouted up on either side in America and Canada from that point on, but at the peak of things in the early nineties which in my opinion was the last era to see ones start who completely understood the gospel of this message, The Vapids were there to meet The Riverdales. While the Canadian counterparts from the 70's or 90's never seem to be revered as they should be, it's hard to take a look at The Vapids even on a superficial level and deny the power of their contribution. From their start in 1993, to what seemed to be the last release which was "The Point Reamins The Same" EP in 2009, they did not rest for a moment, managing to make more than 20 releases, countless comp appearances, and almost 500 live performances happen. Since then, Jimmy has released three fantastic solo 7"s(click here to check them out if you've not done so yet!) but in mid December I did a double take and blinked my girl Dee Dee eyes twice to make sure I wasn't mistaken at what I was reading on his blog. He announced something that I was extremely surprised to see... The Vapids were coming back with new material! From then I was on standby, waiting for a glimpse at what was to come and finally got to hear last week what I will back 100% as one of THE BEST punk rock releases of 2015, "Punitive Damage/Thin Skin".

After freaking out over these songs in the first listen I decided to search out Jimmy for a closer look at the process that brought all this to life and lucky for me, he kindly obliged. The songs were recorded during late November of 2014 in the span of just a few hours at Matthew's house by his roommate Nathan Daniel Burger on an analog tape machine. Mastering was done by Alan McC who kept things computer free as well, running the tape through an old tube EQ machine. I love everything about the way these songs were recorded because the plain and simple truth is: If natural talent is present in a recording situation, modern fixes and trickery just aren't necessary. You won't hear any bullshit auto-tune here! Just good songs by a veteran band, who knew exactly how to bring their work through in an honest way with the help of a good engineer. Keep it mono, people! Please. Jimmy handled the artwork which was nicely inspired by The Misfits "3 Hits From Hell" cover art and it turned out great. It's simple but makes a bold statement, just like The Vapids! Release is happening today on Surfin Ki Records which is a fantastic label ran by my pal Carlo out in Pisa, Italy since 2009. This first pressing is available in the limited amount of 300 copies. 100 on solid red wax with a red cover or 200 on black wax with a black cover is what you can choose from and it comes with a digital download code. Hang on before you think to yourself, "But I don't want to pay international shipping charges!", because the label actually has a flat shipping rate of 7 euros to almost any country outside of Italy, no matter how much you order. That is a good deal! 

A couple new songs might not seem like much to get excited over but The Vapids show that a few seconds is all they really needed to pull you in with the first track, "Punitive Damage". Less than fifteen seconds into it had me completely engaged and so happy to hear what was coming in through on my headphones. This band has a wonderful way about them where the initial foundation they built that could be compared to The Ramones at their toughest, The Dead Boys lack of fucks to give, and the grittiness of Dee Dee Ramone ICLC all rolled into one always stays true as the main element, but evolution is also there. They become bigger and brighter each time. The guitars are full of attitude, Scotty's drumming is on point, and Jimmy's voice as always is a total punch in the face. One that that you want! Aggressive and magnetically beautiful all at once, he knows exactly how to use it with his skill as a magnificent poet. To be honest, that two minutes and seventeen seconds telling a story of personal transformation could have easily appeased my little rock 'n' roll heart because the song is THAT GOOD but there was another one waiting. "Thin Skin" is an even quicker, under two minute burst of  what they do so well with some great changes, and grabbed hold of me just as fast. Those two perfect songs had me head over heels but there was another one waiting at the end that impacted me the most. Untitled and meant to be discovered on the flipside, you'll quickly pick up on the fact that it is a memorial song. It was written for Robert "Robo" DeGrunt who played guitar for The Vapids from 2004 to 2008 and left this world much too soon in 2012. Full of pain but so lovely, the song deeply touches on the loss, who Robo was to them, and had me in tears pretty fast with the way Jimmy connects to the emotion in it. It's the only one you won't hear unless you buy the record for now and I think that's the way it should be.   

As this 7" is released, it's pretty uncertain if The Vapids will ever play again but I can tell you wholeheartedly that this little gem belongs in your collection. Get with Surfin Ki for your copy before they're gone and you can stay tuned to the band or Jimmy's solo work which there will be news for on both fronts soon through their website. It was an absolute honor to write for this band and in closing, I thought the only way this review should end is with the lyrics for the untitled song, so here they are in memory of Robo...

"This one goes out to metal black 

And BC Rich guitars

Anyone who's lost a friend 

Vanished into the stars

This one goes out to you, our brother 

There never was, or will be another

Souvenirs in picture frames

No tombstone flowers

We merely blinked and you disappeared

The hand of god had struck the hour

We hang our heads and cried

No time to say goodbye

There's not much that we can do

But keep your torch burning

Think back as the years go bye

And this shitty fucking world keeps turning 

It's already seemed so long

We wrote you a song

We waited three years for this

And it's the last song we ever write

From us and the ones who loved

We'll see you in another light

There never was, or will be another

This one is for you, our brother

A blank space fills the air

You went where the eagles dare"

The Vapids are...

Jimmy Vapid- Vocals and Guitar

Scotty Vapid- Drums

Eric Felgner- Bass

Matthew Ellis- Guitar

All songs written by Jimmy Vapid

Tracks

Side A

1. Punitive Damage 

2. Thin Skin

Side B 

3. Untitled

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 

Sweet Baby- "It's A Girl!" Eccentric Pop Records Reissue by Danny "Panic" Sullivan

When I first heard about this reissue happening, I was both very excited and wanted to celebrate it in some way! Being that Ramona Confidential has never taken a standard news approach and reviewing a reissue is something I don't generally do, I racked my little Dee Dee brain for inspiration and then it happened, a light turned on! In thinking of this obscure gem being reintroduced to the scene 25 years after it's initial appearance, what better way to mark the occasion than by bringing a well loved member of pop punk's rich lineage out of obscurity to talk about it? That turned my attention directly to Danny "Panic" Sullivan. There's at least a thousand reasons to admire this man in just viewing the monumental contribution he's made as a musician to our community but with the great fortune of  becoming a friend of his over the last year, I've discovered that his well spoken ability to talk about music is also something I enjoy about this architect of the 90's very much! This along with the great love he's expressed for Sweet Baby's "It's A Girl!" made him the perfect and only candidate I desired for the job, so one evening with my "more guts than brains" approach, I asked him if he'd care to write a piece about this record that I could share with you all. Luckily he agreed! Make sure to stop by the Eccentric Pop Records webstore or Interpunk(that's the only place now to get the bonus 7" bundle from!) if you've not preordered the record yet because it is selling FAST. Official release date happens on April 7th for this beautifully put together reissue and this is where my chatter ends. Here he is, the wonderful Danny "Panic" Sullivan giving his personal take on Sweet Baby's "It's A Girl!"     

Sweet Baby "It's A Girl!"

A Wordy Scribe About A Deceptively Smart Album For Romantic Dummies.                   

Sweet Baby - an East Bay pop-punk band that was criminally ignored/underrated during their brief existence & their sole album "It's A Girl!" deserves to be emblazoned in the pantheon of classic albums in our beloved & misanthropic genre of  punk rock.

I was introduced to this prodigious album through a friend/bandmate in a (also) short-lived punk band we were both in. He was one of the lucky few who actually had the vinyl copy of this melodic gem while I had to resign myself to the cassette format (which I had purchased thricely over time due to excessive playing).

The albums' hold on me was immediate for a few good reasons:

1.  Musically - it was an amalgamation of early era Beatles (especially the chord structures & harmonies) & the Ramones (concise & rambunctious).
2.  Lyrically - it tackled all the profundities regarding romance (yearning, having & losing) & the words were sometimes sincere, sometimes humorous & sometimes both.
&
3.  Thirteen songs in  just over twenty five minutes.  Melodic AND economical!

Recorded in 1988 by engineer/producer extraordinaire Kevin Army, "It's A Girl!" has not aged sonically or lyrically (um...correction on my behalf. The song "Telephone Booth" bellies it's lyrical age due to telephone booths being rather scarce as of 2015 compared to the halcyon days of the eighties).

The opening salvo of "It's A Girl!", "Baby, Baby, Baby Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby (I Love You)" (all one minute & eleven seconds of it) signals the intent & nature of the  the album & will not likely be misconstrued as a convoluted civics lesson, an explanation of binary arithmetic or a passionate dissertation of religious or political didacticism. This song would make both the Beatles & the Ramones proud....& there's still twelve to go!

Being that "It's A Girl!" is about a girl, or a myriad of them, the genius prevails throughout the album from the three profundities I mentioned above:

Yearning for the girl- the songs "Two Tons of Dynamite", "There's This Girl" & "Gotta Get A Girl" all exemplify this feeling & the song "This Talk About The Girl" adds an insouciant cognizance towards current events compared to the more topical, more important girl.

Having the girl- from the joyous ("Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby (I Love You)",  "She's From Salinas" & "Resuscitation"), to the demented ("The Way She Gets Around"), these songs exemplify the punch drunk feeling of being in love.

&

Losing the girl- "Year After Year", "Telephone Booth" & "Pathetic" embody the despair of romantic love lost. "Pathetic" has to be quite possibly the most mirthful sounding song in modern recorded music to report on a break-up.

Additional props go to "She's From Salinas" for the Venus de Milo reference (absolutely clever) & their cover of "Daddy Cool" that respects both the Rays & Darts versions, but gives it a British Invasion/punk kick in the proverbial pants.

The album naturally wouldn't exist without the band of course. My appreciations to Dallas-for his sundry, sincere vocals & his engaging charisma throughout the album; Matt-for his knack for brilliant guitar/chord structures & his Lennon-esque backing vocals; Richard - for his bass playing adaptability, switching from Dee Dee Ramone root notes on one song to Paul McCartney walking bass runs on another with such ease & Sergie-for his melodic drumming , encapsulating a saunter & shuffle with punk rock energy.

Thank you Sweet Baby for making, to these eyes, ears, nose & throat, the best East Bay pop-punk album of all time! May this reissue garner the attention "It's A Girl!" & the four of you so richly deserve!

A special thanks to Sara for letting me pontificate, Eccentric Pop Records lovingly reissuing this masterpiece & Scott "Gub" Conway for turning me on to Sweet Baby in the first place.

XO
Danny "Panic" Sullivan
Somewhere on earth...