Fall Town - After The Crash (2021)

 

GENRE : alternative punk, power pop, alternative rock, dream pop, shoegaze, post-punk

RECORD LABEL : Dead Forest Records

Fall Town are a band you've almost definitely never heard of. They're an alternative punk band from Scotland, and this is their phenomenal (yet sinfully ignored) debut album, 'After The Crash'. It's a dark, powerful, introspective journey. One of these albums that's all over before you know it, and you're left wanting more...

Fall Town's sound is a unique amalgamation of dark post-punk, power pop, alt-rock and shoegaze. A perfect soundtrack to driving down dark highways, or running away from home. There's a real sadness to this album, yet at the same time it's fun and energetic, and catchy as hell. This band needs a lot more love than they're getting. You should give this one a blast. 

Here's the album blurb taken from their Bandcamp page, which totally nails it...

Fall Town comes roaring from bare, rocky, isolated islands to unleash a debut album overflowing with passion, rage, sweetness and melancholy. Huge riffs collide with soaring melodies like storm-raised waves battering cliffs in a push and pull that mirrors the anger, joy and loss of the human condition.

Somehow Fall Town has managed to create a debut that sounds as fresh as these energies did when they were first unleashed somewhere in the history of rock music. 'After The Crash' is a must-listen for lovers of meaningful music that evokes profound emotions. It also kicks ass.

Stream/Download the album here :

https://falltown.bandcamp.com/album/after-the-crash

Pushflowers - Close For Comfort (2019)

 

GENRE : indie pop, indie rock, power pop, fuzz rock,

RECORD LABEL : Forged Artifacts

Here's a cool power pop record from the amazing Forged Artifacts record label. Pushflowers are pure fuzzy pop goodness. They have a thundering rhythm section, unique dual guitar chords/melodies that never get dull or predictable, and beautiful vocals layered over the top. This band have an interesting thing going on - their music sounds like it was largely influenced by punk and post-hardcore and (dare I say) grunge...but the vocals sound very pop influenced. The singer's voice reminds me of certain contemporary pop singers like Morgan Kibby (White Sea) and Danielle Haim (Haim). I dig it very much. This is an awesome EP. 

Stream/Download the album here : 

https://pushflowers.bandcamp.com/album/close-for-comfort

Forged Artifacts :

https://forgedartifacts.bandcamp.com/

Kids On A Crime Spree - Fall In Love Not In Line (2022)

GENRE : power pop, indie rock, pop punk, post-punk, noise pop

RECORD LABEL : Slumberland Records

Here's a high-octane blistering noise pop album from Oakland trio Kids On A Crime Spree. I'm personally not familiar with their previous work, but from what I've read they kept their fans waiting a looong time for this release. 11 years, to be precise!

Anyway, this is a fantastic album. I hear infectious 60's pop melodies, 70's Spector-esque echo chamber production, 80's post-punk instrumentation, and 90's noisy shoegaze in their sound. It's a joyous collision of many things that I love from different decades of music. The guitars are simultaneously jangly and fuzzy, the basslines are fierce yet melodic, the drums are thunderous and mean, and the vocals cut through the noisy reverb-soaked mix quite beautifully. 

I think this band would appeal to fans of The Feelies, My Bloody Valentine, The Ramones, Joy Division and 60's pop music. Give it a listen. And while you're at it, you should have a browse through the Slumberland Records Bandcamp page. There's great stuff on there.

Stream/Download the album here :

https://slumberlandrecs.bandcamp.com/album/fall-in-love-not-in-line

Slumberland Records :

https://slumberlandrecs.bandcamp.com/music

Sock Jock - Well (2021)

 

GENRE : indie rock, indie pop, pop rock, power pop, bedroom pop

RECORD LABEL : Totally Real Records

Sock Jock is Taylor Marie - a young songwriter/musician from the suburbs of Chicago. 'Well' is her lovely debut album. It's a delicious slice of pop rock pie. Just listen to it. If you don't at least like the song 'better' then there's something seriously wrong with you. I don't dance but it makes me want to try. 

Also, Totally Real Records is a cool little record label. If you like Sock Jock, you should definitely check out their other artists and support them.

Stream/Download the album here :

https://sockjock.bandcamp.com/album/well

Totally Real Records :

https://totallyrealrecords.bandcamp.com/

The Knee-His - Action! (2021)

 

GENRE : power pop, pop punk, punk, rock n roll, vintage rock

RECORD LABEL : self-released

I'm a sucker for good power-pop bands, especially female power-pop bands. The Knee-His are a cool 4-piece band from Chicago, and whilst I don't think they're going to win any prizes for originality, they should win all the prizes for awesomeness. They write simple, infectious rock n roll power-pop goodness.

I loved the two individual songs they've released on Bandcamp so far, and I can see on their social media pages that their debut full-length album is on its way! The world needs more bands like The Knee-His.

Stream/Download here :

https://thekneehis.bandcamp.com/