A new album by BABY SCREAM (Juan Pablo Mazzola) to end this year softly. Opener “Castaway” has a bit of an acoustic SMASHING PUMPKINS vibe. You’ll hear many piano parts on this album in songs like “Kill Your Idols” or “Explosions” and beautiful BEATLES-like vocal harmonies in “Back Home (feat. Ky Anto)” or in “Spirits”. If you like it more intimate and even quieter than quiet then “Chillin'” will be the one for you and if want to get a bit more adventurous then listen to “The Hurt and The Weak” and its electronica beat. The songs sometimes sound fragile in an Elliott Smith way (“Here”) and it sometimes feels like Juan is playing just right next to you (“Castell de Pop.”) Stripped down and beautiful, you’ll get seduced. /Laurent C.
This is the first album in 11 years for this garage-psychedelic band from Spain. It starts with a stoner rock riff and repetitive beats in “Insatisfaccio” before going psych-pop with “Vestir de Mujer.” The Spanish vocals fit well with this music style even on the old-school garage songs like “El Dia Que David Murio”, “La Pollila” or “Grises.” No wonder this band is from Spain since songs like “La Gente No Sabe Gastar”, “Paleto” or “Acidez” are really sunny. It’s easy to imagine that this band must be successful in Spain and in Spanish speaking countries but if you’re into fuzz and garage, you should definitely check them. “Superioridad Moral” is out on Slovenly Recordings. /Laurent C.
Spanish language and punk rock often mix well together and there’s no exception with DISCIPULOS DE DIONISOS. The band plays fast punk rock with teenage vocals. They’re not really an angry punk band though since they seem to be singing only about fun and sex but most songs are up-tempo and less than two minutes. You’ll hear some 90s indie/emo punk influences in “Noches De Amor Y De M.D.M.A.” or in “Un Hombre Lobo Americano En Londres”, some 80s American hardcore (“La Mujer Del Doctor Soler”, “Patinete Loco”) and some street punk touches in “Odia A Los Chavales.” Songs like “Mi Novia Es Fascista” or “Gibson SG” are quite catchy and this album is definitely worth checking out if you need your fun punk rock dose this summer. /Laurent C.
So a few days ago I went to the “John Paul Keith” show here in Valencia. I usually go early to every show, so that I can get to see the opening band, I was surprised when I arrived there and Mr Keith started playing, I thought the opening band had cancelled or something. So after John finished his explosive show I went out for a beer and and some fresh air when suddenly I heard these catchy chords and melodies, I went in and there was this band from Asturias playing a mind blowing set. To make a long story short. I found traces of Cheap Trick, The Beat, The Raspberries, The Replacements, and Husker Du all mixed together. The band’s name was “Pelazo”, they are formed by : Adrián Cadaya : Lead guitar and vocals Vini Serrano: Bass and vocals Pibli Gonzalez Drums and vocals Pablo Alvarez Torre : Rhythm guitar and vocals First of all, they all sing!! Now that’s a weird thing in the year 2022, and they also do it well, which is even weirder. They played that gig like if it was their last, and so I decided to write a few lines about their latest release, a 2 song ep which consists of “Carry On”, a complete Power Pop gem. This is an original cut that sounds like The Who meets The Plimsouls, in your face Rock and Roll with a 70’s twist so this is probably why it is not a strange thing at all that the other song is no other than a cover of Todd Rundgren’s “Couldn’t I just Tell You” I’m in love with this band, I strongly suggest you guys listen to them You can do it here :
BABY SCREAM is back with a collection of old demos, covers and songs that were never used. Opener “Britney Has Left The Building” is a kickass powerpop song with vocals reminding a bit of DINOSAUR JR., a song that was released on a Swedish compilation in 2016. “Cheap Perfume” is an acoustic demo with a very soothing atmosphere while “Fuck This!” is a crazy grunge song with NIRVANA guitars. Speaking of NIRVANA, you’ll also find an interesting cover of “I Hate Myself and I Want To Die.” The cover of Gene Simmons‘ “See You Tonite” has been reworked as a psychedelic pop song and it works really well while the new version of “Mars” displays more BOWIE and BEATLES influences and “Underworld” has a bit of a T.REX/Nikki Sudden vibe. “Plastic Jesus” is a folk song that Paul Newman sang in “Cold Hand Luke and it has been given a cool RAMONES treatment. Finally, “Guts” closes the album in a beautiful way, mixing superb pop and electronic elements. If you haven’t heard BABY SCREAM before, this compilation record will work well as a first encounter. /Laurent C.
When I started writing reviews a couple of years ago I decided I was going to write about stuff that I love, I just like the idea of promoting music I fall in love with. Some years ago when I was still living in Argentina I discovered Kurt Baker’s music by following some Power Pop blogs, been a fan since then. When I moved to Spain I thought I was going to catch him live and I did, twice. So when I went to his last show I bought “After Party” and to be honest I can’t stop listening to it. I know for sure this is going to be personal favourite, mainly because you don’t get to buy albums that are 100 % perfect in the year 2021. This dude carries the flag of amazing old school Power Pop, it’s The Records, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Dwight Twilley and The Flamin’ Groovies all rolled up into one. Of course there’s the beatlesque twist, go and listen to “Waiting For You”, if he wanted to create that atmosphere, then he nailed it with a 1960’s vibe. I wouldn’t know where to start describing this album because it is literally composed of 12 hits, period. It’s a nonstop dream of Pop bliss and I can’t decide which song is the one that I like the most because it starts with an explosive gem like “New Direction” and the Punk attitude of “I Like Her a Lot”, somewhere in the middle you get some brilliant mid tempo underground inspired song like “Good”, almost mysterious, btw, the album is filled with some kind of monologues that are brilliant. While driving my car a few days ago I told my wife that “Over You” was my personal favourite here,(that was before listening to the whole album like 50 times) because it has this 1980s hook that is epic”. Something that is occurring to me since I don’t have that much time to pay attention to albums is that I just listen to them without getting to know the names of the songs, so it makes sense that every time “A Song and Drink” was played in my car I immediately wanted to drink red wine, this could have been a “Burt Bacharach” song, easily. Kurt sings some kind of apology letter to somebody in “Should Have Been The One” and he says that he “can’t change his ways”, maybe he shouldn’t. This album is a complete masterpiece for the 21st century, a horrible era for real Rock and Roll, glad to know that some people are still that good and I can still become a fan. /Juan Pablo Mazzola.
Four pop punk songs with vocals reminding of BAD RELIGION. “I Wanted You To Know” is quite catchy, “Put It On a Rest” is sunny enough for the summer, “Why Did You Go Away” has a bit of a RAMONES feel to it and “Island Of Dreams” brings early SOCIAL DISTORTION to mind. Worth getting if you like good pop punk.
F.A.N.T.A. “El Paciente Cero” 7″
F.A.N.T.A. is a melodic punk from Barcelona and they offer us two songs on a 7″, the old-school way! “El Paciente Cero” is a pretty cool rockin’ tune and “Yo Nunca Tuve A Nadie Como Tu (I Never Got The Girl)” sounds more like the slower RAMONES songs. The Spanish vocals fit quite well with this kind of punk rock. Quite a pleasant release!
LOS TARZANILLOS is a one man project born during the quarantine in Barcelona. The man behind it, David Garceràn also plays in other Spanish bands such as ALGARA,IRREAL, NUEVA FUERZA, ULTRA and ANARQUIA VERTICAL. Minimal drum machines, vintage synth and DEVO craziness all mix together in a chaotic artisy atmosphere. You also get fucked up powerpop guitars in “Todo Sigue Igual” and in a few other songs. The post punk mood and Spanish vocals brings PARALISIS PERMANENTE to mind, but the crazy delay in the voice is closer to SIGUE SIGUE SPUTNIK! You’ll hear the craziest garage rock you can think of in “Quien Nos Va A Sacar?” and some cartoonish punk in “Aburrimiento” and “No Intentes”. This sounds insane, as the times we’re living in! /Laurent C.
Veglam 