31 Reviews In 31 Days In October

 

But it is much more than that as many more are planned. There is a big backlog of Reviews to write, plus October has some incredible albums to come, starting today, It has been quieter here for Album Reviews due to Don being involved in an alternative project which ends tomorrow. 

So the fun starts on Sunday and with him having a completely free week next week, you can watch the posts Ramp Up. A reminder that today is Bandcamp Friday so artists get all the money from your purchase, so it may be worth having a gander at artists that you might have missed.

Writing has not ceased here until Sunday as Reviews are being completed in the background. Thanks as always for the support that you give to the artists here and we will be back with a bang in just a couple of days.

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Listening To This Week Playlist 28 September

The Maximum 30 songs again this week. Perhaps a little more Guitar Pop orientated, but with the usual surprises and as always, a superb closer. The scene has really revved up since the return from the August holidays and we expect a massive October as always.

The song order is not about song preference, but how the playlist flows.  All embeds open in new windows to aid scrolling. Links to the artists will also appear on I Don't Hear A Single Social Media sites over the next 24 hours. This will help you to discover more about those who appear here. 

Softjaw - Love Can't Kill You

Teutonosaur - Saccharine Stone

Izzy Crawler - Born In A Shell

Late Cambrian - Calypso

The Marra - Last Of The Poets

Hospital Job - Gilded

Bunchy's Big Score - Magnet

Bagful Of Beez - Wonkavision

Jonny Swift - Piggyback Girl

Cashell - Game Show

Eventually Flowers - Chasing Time

Slow Teeth - Window

Total Joy - Shining Light

Total Joy · Shining Light

The Friends - Flower Moon

The Serfers - Mellow

Orange Doors - A Crack And A Peep

Autumn Luz - Cobalt

Pushbike - Pure Hate

K7s - Too Much Weight To Carry

Full Flower Moon Band - Endless Summer

st. davis - I See The Issue

Animated Mayfly Festival - Crystal Skull Persuasion

Purse Thief - Panther Panther

TOY PARLOUR - Galactic Girl

Broadcaster - Lucky Number

The Schisms - All The Good Things

Forre Sterra - Mr Fantastic

Loco Tranquilo - SUENO

King's Evil - Kings Evil

starcrusher - Space Police

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Fuzzysurf - Black Licorice

 

Milwaukee's Fuzzysurf are a quartet that have appeared regularly across the LTTW Playlist's life and I have no idea why I didn't review the excellent Chameleons, I can only imagine it being caught in the January 2025 compiling of the previous years Best Of.

Black Licorice has a story to tell. Originally planned as the follow up to 2020's Sweet Tooth, the album was abandoned in 2023. The replacement of the rhythm section led to a change in direction and the path to Chameleons.

It was decided to revisit Black Licorice with the new line up. Some songs were re-recorded, others removed and replaced with new songs and the result is something really cohesive. The result is something distinctly Rockier, without losing the Guitar Pop that is a strength.

The album sounds a little more Slacker, a little 90s Rock at times, but it also borders Power Pop, both classic and the noisier new fashionable version. Superfaded is an instant classic, built on a killer riff and yet sounding both a bit Weezer and a lot Brit Pop.

Everybody Knows is a darker version of the band, yet adds some great harmonies and the closer mesmerising American Blood broods wonderfully. But there is also great Pop. Self Attraction is nearer Indie Pop and I Really Miss You is built around a wonderfully engaging arrangement.

Sheep Shed is superb Power Pop. I've obviously never heard the original sessions, but it would be interesting to hear them and compare them to the now because Fuzzysurf have delivered a crackerjack listen. Great riffs, great choruses and a joyous listen.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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The Buttons - Medication

 Whilst compiling the current Listening To This Week Playlist, I was delighted to gather up the Psych Pop on offer. Many of you know my love of the genre and if here is an inkling of a revival, nothing would make me happier.

People say the genre is Retro and of course it is, but there is something special about what it brings. It adds more depth to the I love you, yes I do that Power Pop struggles to avoid and concentrates more on a vibe, perhaps more on the instrumental arrangements.

David Walsh's The Buttons are now on their fifth album and it isn't often that Glasgow leads the way with Psych Pop. The mastery of The Buttons is that they remind you of many other things. This is a mellow version of the genre, built on flower powered riffs.

But there is plenty of directions to explore, Paisley Pop obviously, but also the trippy 60s. At times, you are reminded of the better Madchester bands, riffs can also be a little Goth and a song like Voodoo jangles as well as the Jangle Poppers that are still around with a killer riff partway through.

Vocally, I'm reminded of my beloved Orgone Box at times. Psychedelic Sunshine mixes 60s hippy with 70s Pop Rock in a wonderful soundscape. The title track closes proceedings and builds and builds from something insular into an all encompassing joy.

Colours opens and gives you an indication of what you might expect, Lava Lamp adds a slightly mellotron feel to the mix and She Plays A Tambourine is an obvious single. An album to be listened to from start to finish, sack your playlists. Medication is an absolutely wonderful listen.

You can listen to and buy the album here. The album fully serves a physical release.

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Listening To This Week Playlist 21 September

What a great week for Submissions and Releases. The Maximum 30 songs this week. Possibly one of the best ever LTTW Playlists. Guitar Pop as you might expect, but plenty of scope for the other genres that are beloved here, for instance a fair sprinkling of my beloved Psych Pop and as always a superb closer.

The song order is not about song preference, but how the playlist flows.  All embeds open in new windows to aid scrolling. Links to the artists will also appear on I Don't Hear A Single Social Media sites over the next 24 hours. This will help you to discover more about those who appear here. 

Loose Lips - Tired Of Toein' The Line

Big Nothing - Won't Be Around

The Toms - 15,000000000 Years Of Evolution

Chromette - Mysterious Delerious

dilute_calico98 - myrtha

The Tubs - Who's Gonna Love You Now

Naïve Men Leading The Blind - Fairytale Love

Naive Men Leading the Blind · Fairytale Love

The Wheelworkers - So Wrong

Travis Seal - Powerball

Barlow - Billionaire's Hand In My Pocket

Tom Minor - What A Little Moonlight Could Do

Sona Bliss - Without You

Charming Arson - Thessalian Trick

Defecting Grey - The Difference Engine

The Speedways - Angela, Sincerely

Little Quirks - Game Boy

Little Quirks · Game Boy

The Buttons - She Plays A Tambourine

Ray Kenny - Wall Of Sound

The Rainlamps - You Wrote My Favourite Song

Pseud - Shadows Plateaus

The Spitting Pips - Sidelines

The Crystal Teardrop - Tomorrow Starts Today

Finn's Motel - Thanks To Gravity

Never The Bridle - Funny Bizarre

Misery Prize - Thought Police

The Deathray Davies - Red Lights

Hollow Hand - Kiss The Boot

SnakeOil - Sleeping Nothingness

Fruited Planes - So You Say

Ventilator - The Tailor's Lament

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Loose Lips - Love You EP

 

Great to see (and hear) the return of Loose Lips after last year's wonderful Last Laugh (Review here) album. As mentioned in the review, Two Thirds of Loose Lips are in the five piece The Prize who enchanted all and sundry with their debut album last year.

Consisting of Josh Hardy on Guitar, Ethan Stahl on Bass and Nadine Muller on Drums, the band rely on noisier Power Pop that edges towards Punk than the three Guitar attack of The Prize. But it is incredibly effective. Fist shaking is guaranteed.

Muller and Hardy split vocals Muller taking her turn on Tired Of Toein' The Line which is possibly the best thing here, a great example of how the band can expand away from more traditional Power Pop. Hardy takes the lead on the 100mph Ramones like Beehive Teardrop.

There is a terrific Rhythm Section from Stahl and Muller, the former offering up great UK New Wave basslines. Hardy offers up killer riffs and surprise solos that add another dimension to the Melbourne Trio. It is really great to have them back.

You can listen to and buy the EP here. It is available on Vinyl 7 Inch and as a download.

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Duncan Sheik R.I.P.

 

Duncan Sheik was an extra-ordinarily gifted Singer Songwriter. A mainstay of our previous life as Anything Should Happen, where his albums and live performances were adored. He doesn't appear here, largely because we celebrate the new and he swapped his album career for Broadway around the time that IDHAS began.

On ASH, Mick Dillingham termed the description Gravitas Pop to describe him and others of his ilk. Under Appreciated he certainly was. Many will point to his self titled debut album from 1996 which spawned Barely Breathing, but the follow up, Humming, was possibly even better. 2015's Legerdemain was as great as earlier days. 

He leaves behind, a stellar back catalogue and is a really sad loss to Guitar Pop.

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