Lollipop Records have been running their label and record shop for long now in sunny Marseille, France. This new compilation was originally an idea from T.Boy (LULLIES) so it’s not surprising to hear Les LULLIES opening the record with “Dernier Soir” a catchy powerpop rock’n’roll song in French. Then you’ll hear the very good “Electric Fear” by PARADE who are more influenced by British indie rock and post-punk followed by SCANERS and their ’77 punk rock/new wave on speed from outer space influenced by The BRIEFS. ALVIDA offers us some fun candy powerpop with a French yéyé touch on “Moustique” while FOOD FIGHT seem to be more influenced by The CLASH in their song “Permanent Departure Master.” On the dirty garage side, you’ll find HOLESHOTS, POGY ET LES KEFARS from Marseille and LA FLINGUE (with some ex-HATEPINKS members) with a brilliant poetic song title “A genoux dans la pisse.” Side B starts with a good dose of punk rock : “Red Signal” by BOSS mixes 70s British punk with early 80s American new wave and BART AND THE BRATS brings the original DEAD KENNEDYS spirit back to life. Then, a bit of French powerpop with “Epluchure” by ASPHALT and some American influenced powerpop meets TEENAGE FANCLUB in a very catchy “Find Out (feat. Pogy)” by ALMOST LOVERS. 60s garage, powerpop and LOU REED mix quite well in “This Love In Me” by PLEASURES and The SUTTLES offer us a pretty good bubblegum song with “Lucy.” Marseille brings us more powerpop with FLATHEAD and “Sunset Girl” before TEENAGE HEARTS put an end to this album with their bootboy glam bovver rock song “Simple Needs.” They say this album should become a cult record in 15 years and maybe it will but the great thing about it is that you’ll hear a lot of new French bands and none of them suck!/Laurent C.
http://lollipop.records.free.fr/
SNOTTY CHEEKBONES from Switzerland were already playing pop punk in the 90s alongside bands such as The OFFSPRING, SUM 41 or RANDY and here they are back with a new album untitled “Avanti”. Opening song “I Remember” is quite catchy as well as “Island”. “Idiot Parade” offers us some pop with slight reggae influences bringing NO DOUBT to mind while “Loudmouth” flirts with fast punk hardcore. “Spoiled White Kids” might be my favourite song on this album since you’ll hear some ’77 punk influences in this one! This record sounds like it was recorded in California in the mid 00s and that is not necessarily a bad thing. You’ll get the energy, the melodies and good spirit you need to put an end to 2021!
“2”, the second EP of Italian punk rockers ANIMOLS is about animals so it can’t be bad. It’s actually quite fun, some RAMONES influenced punk rock tunes sung in Italian with a garage production. 5 songs that will take you straight to Italy!
Last but not least, French veteran garage rockers SONIC ANGELS are back with 4 new songs. “Love Is The Law” takes us to an almost psychedelic garage land while “Up & Down” and “On The Radio” have more NYC early punk influences and “Farlopa” slows things down with some 60s garage vibes. You’ll dig it if you like it dirty! /Laurent C.
Veglam 