Mr. P. Reviews Dope Music
Dead Lips Release New Single: “Margarita”
I love punk rock in all its forms but that doesn’t mean I love all punk rock. In particular, I’m usually quiet picky when it comes to pop punk. This Norwegian band have found their way into my heart. They bring that rad ass midwestern pop punk a la The Copyrights and The Dopamines. I’d toss in some Beatnik Termites too!
Alex Hellcat Releases New Single: “Devil in Disguise”!
While I’d love to see bit more of his own self in there, I gotta say this song is as good if not better than a fair amount of stuff Rancid has done over the last two decades.
The Lowcocks Release New Single: “Birth Control”
So I don’t know what a Lowcock is. I tried the Google, and all I got was a plow named after someone named Lowcock which tells me that it’s a surname. So is this band like the Ramones but with a surname that I’m totally ignorant of? Considering the topic of their new single “Birth Control” I could certainly see it as an attack on toxic masculinity and dudes’ highcocks (is that a word?).
Proud House of Shmucks Releases New Single: “Manic”
I have to wonder if their band name’s inclusion of the word “house” is chosen because it sounds like an entire punk house of influences from skate punk, to hardcore, to oi and even some friggin’ ska and all in one rad ass song.
Totally Slow Releases New Single: “Crosshairs”
On one hand, I’m super stoked that I just found out about this band because they rip and they are playing Fest this year, so hopefully I’ll get to see them live! On the other hand, I’ve apparently missed them during the half dozen or so other Fests that I have attended…so boo!
Scooped Up! Releases New Single: “Shoelace”!
These cats have been bringing their version of mid to late 90’s pop punk to the masses since 2016, and while I hadn’t heard of them until this review, I immediately connected with their new song “Shoelace” which sounds like it could have come right of of Pokinatcha by MxPx!
Love City Releases “Regretting”!
Love City’s “Regretting” brings a garage rock mixed with blues mixed with 80’s synth and the soul of punk rock into a jam that I just can’t stop listening to
Shark Punch Releases New Single: “Adderall”
I ain’t gonna lie, I’m loving this ska revival with releases from Bad Time Records and the ska state at The Fest year after year. This new (to me) ska band, Shark Punch, from East Bay bring that 1990s ska that reminds me of The Aquabats, Reel Big Fish, and just a touch of Less Than Jake.
Outer Control Release New Single: “Revolution”!
Outer Control are back with another slice of 1990’s skate punk a la Fat Wreckchords. I just did a review for their last release “Apocalyptic Calamity”, and their new single “Revolution” leans more heavily into their metal influences akin to Strung Out with a lot of rapid fire guitar leads and a sick ass solo.
Luminatrix Release New Single: “China Again”!
Luminatrix is one of those bands that defies an exact category. I’m sure they’d be called garage rock or indie rock, but that has as much meaning as alternative did in the 1990s when I was a teen. It could mean a band like Jane’s Addiction or it could mean a band like Mudhoney or The Minutemen or Violent Femmes none of which sound remotely similar.
Ben Senses Releases New Song: “El Cerrito”
Ben Senses new single, “El Cerrito”, give us that emo inspired folk punk with undertones of pop punk. It sounds to me like Spoonboy (a la Max Levine Ensemble") mixed with Dashboard Confessional.
I love ska, and I love it more when its mixed with other eclectic styles like when I recently reviewed and did a podcast for Satanic Puppeteer Orchestra’s new ska album.
Mega Infinity’s new EP, Chaos Magick, fits that bill. It blends ska, metal, punk, electronic, hip-hop, prog rock and more!
Mil-Spec Release New Single: “Too Long At the Fair”
Mil-Spec has escaped by notice, and no, it’s not cause the size of a millionth of a spec or that they are Canadian. As far as I can tell they have no social media presence, despite being around for 7 years other than Bandcamp. Well if not wasting time on social media leads to fucking solid ass melodic hardcore songs that make me want to pull my hoodie up and dance my face off while raising my fist in the air to sing/scream along to song lyrics that I only 60% understand, then fucking A, stay off social media.
Boss Rush Release New Single: “Catalogue of Shame”!
Boss Rush is a husband and wife duo embracing their love of the DIY, political punk bands a la Propagandhi and the aesthetic of post punk embraced by Dischord records work together to create some damn fine music in their Alabama basement.
Coma Beach Release New Single: “Another Song”!
So after having reviewed “Jesus Tears” off the same album, The Scapegoat’s Agony, as this song a few months back, I thought I knew exactly how this would sound. Instead this song brings that a totally different style in that instead of fuzzed out guitars, the guitars are all clean and give that feeling of a song I’d hear on a Stiff Little Fingers or Dropkick Murphy’s album. The singer still remind me of the Beltones, but the second vocalist has more of that classic 70’s British punk snotty sound.
Ghoul Talk Releaes New Single: “I Just Like to Watch”!
Ghoul Talk from Seattle new song, “I Just Like To Watch” mixes punk, grunge and garage rock in a way that reminds of me bands like Year of the Fist and The Used.
Storm Boy Releases New Single: “Steam in the Room”!
First the disclosure, I loved this song the moment I heard it. It was days later that I realized that an old DC area friend that I’ve known for decades was in the band. So with or without knowing anyone in the band, this song fucking rocks.
The Leatherbound Books’ New Single: “FVKING boring” is anything but!!
I’m not sure what I love more about this band, their super catchy indie pop melodies with slightly distorted guitars or the message in this song that being talented and appreciated for your talent has no value if you don’t fucking love what you’re doing.
Hidden Horizons Release New Single: “The Dark Crushing on Me”
Hidden Horizons is a “pop punk” and “skate punk” band from VA and VT. Their new single, “The Dark Crushing on Me” has some of that gothicy punk sound of AFI as well as old school Offspring — like the stuff they did when they were still on Nitro or Epitaph.
I’ll Get By Releases New Single: “Left Behind”
I’ll Get By brings some brutal hardcore punk with a catchy chorus and the breakdown that will have you throwin’ down in the pit. This song is over 4 minutes long which is like twice as long as my attention span can usually handle, but I was locked in on this like a fucking laser.