The Echo Bombs – ‘Pistachio Pudding’

Phoenix, Arizona trio The Echo Bombs – aka Eddie Horn, Daniel Endicott & Michael Regan – do a rather redoubtable trade in the seriously potent garage rock stakes.

They play fast, energetic and loud, something abundantly clear upon hearing ‘Pistachio Pudding’ – first single off the forthcoming second album, Pleb, penned for released in April. Musically, it’s a whirlwind of crunchy guitars, searing riffs, pounding drums and raspy vocals (decrying a seething revulsion at growing older), all clamouring for air above a sea of fuzz. There are shades of Weezer meets Fidlar, in a confection of punky, surfy, power-pop that across two-and-a-half minutes, delivers an undeniably infectious catchy and anthemic cut of garage-rock.

You can listen to ‘Pistachio Pudding’ below – as yet, there is not confirmed date for The Echo Bombs new record but watch this space.

JOHNNY FEENEY’S ALBUMS OF 2017

Aside from compiling my own end of year lists, I really do enjoy checking out other people’s take on the past 12 months and none more so than Mr. Johnny Feeney.

A reliably insightful musical sage, Johnny’s guest appearances are always interesting and add an extra flavour to the blog and I look forward to reading – of which, surely I’m not alone?

A massive thanks to Johnny for taking time out to compile this list, and on that note, I’ll leave you with his Mr. Feeney’s favourite records of 2017.

10. Grandaddy – Last Place

Previously split up in 2006, Grandaddy’s first album in eleven years saw the ever-eccentric, cult Californians return with a bang with their trademark, electronica-tinged alt-rock. The familiar sounds of Jason Lytle’s distinctive, melancholic vocals, chugging guitars and synth flourishes are all present and correct on a wonderful comeback album that was well worth the wait.

09. Fangclub – Fangclub

Dublin rockers, Fangclub, have been tearing up stages around the country and further afield for a while now and, thankfully, their self-titled debut album delivers on the promise of their raucous live shows. In a classic guitar/bass/drums set up, the trio display a keen ear for an infectious hook and make a thunderous racket not dissimilar to Nirvana. If you like it loud then look no further.

08. Wolf Alice – Visions Of A Life

The London four-piece’s sophomore album sees a fine follow up to 2015’s commercially successful, Mercury-nominated My Love Is Cool. The adaptability of vocalist Elise Rowell means the group are equally comfortable on the melodic, anthemic indie-rock side of things (‘Beautifully Unconventional’) as they are on the heavier material (‘Yuk Foo’) and anything in between. It’s this broad range that makes Wolf Alice such an interesting proposition.

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BarryGruff’s Albums of the Year 2017

Yes, it’s that time of year again, lists, lists and well, more lists – and from every angle possible. That said, compiling an annual list of my favourite records from throughout the year is one of the most enjoyable aspects to the blog.

There was lots of great music in 2017 (as with every year) but here are my 20 favourite records from the year. Also, I’m hoping the festive period will provide time to catch up on some records I’ve missed throughout the year, so feel free to recommend some listening material.

Without further ado, here are my favourite records from 2017:

20. Czarface – ‘First Weapon Drawn’

For album number four, Czarface (Esoteric, Inspectah Deck and 7L) teamed up with Marvel Comics to create a soundtrack to an actual hardcopy comic of the same name. The previous installments have featured rapping from Esoteric, Inspectah Deck and other guests, however, on this occasion it’s just the superbly evocative instrumentation, with narration tacked on throughout. In fact, 7L’s production is some of strongest found throughout all the releases. Not quite at the level of albums 1 – 3, it provides an excellent little stop gap while we await a new album proper.

[Stream on Spotify]

19. Nouveaunoise – ‘Nouveaunoise’

Galway duo Nouveaunoise – Conor Gaffney & Niall Conway – had earned themselves a rep for finely crafted electronic productions, intricately weaving crackling samples, jazz-sampling percussion and warm melodies and crisp beats a la Four Tet or Boards of Canada. The pair released their debut back in 2010 and their self-titled follow-up sees them continue to shine when it comes to elegant, lush and intricately produced pristine electronica. Eight years is a long time but it was worth the wait!

[Stream on Spotify]

18. The Courtneys – ‘The Courtneys II’

With their 2013 debut, The Courtneys peddled lo-fi fuzzy slacker garage-pop with the ’90s casting a pretty long shadow and for the follow-up, the Vancouver trio have repeated the trick. Endearingly ramshackle, the dreamy vocals and laid-back sunkissed vibes are pumped with fuzzed-up distorted guitars, sweet licks and heavy, driving bass lines. Rarely has ramshackle indie been so appealing and so pretty damn irresistible. This is the sound of long, hot summers.

[Stream on Spotify]

17. Girlpool – ‘Powerplant’

Girlpool’s sound gets bigger on their second LP, beefed up with addition of a drummer crafting that classic alt-rock loud-quiet-loudness throughout but Girlpool know where their true power lies: Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad’s voices still sit front and centre. The unsettling magic that exists between makes them Girlpool distinct, lending their patented fragility and vulnerability. Powerplant is sparse and explores the energy and shape of contrariety and emptiness.

[Stream on Spotify]

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Something for the Weekend: New Music Playlist #30

After a couple of weeks absence, ‘Something for the Weekend’ returns with a relatively short Spotify playlist featuring some of the finest new music to prick my ears over the course of past while.

Clocking in at just over an hour, it’s an easily digestible slice of new music, just in time for the weekend. There’s a nice mix of genres and styles too, allowing me to share even more crackin’ tunes. Well, without further ado, here’s #30 – Something for the Weekend: New Music Playlist. Get stuck into the tunes & enjoy the weekend!

You can follow me on Spotify here.

Touts – ‘Bomb Scare’

Derry punks TOUTS were the finest new discovery at HWCH last year, scintillating at Electric Picnic this year and their debut EP Sickening and Deplorable, was exhilarating.

The Maiden City trio are about to release their new EP LIT and ahead of its entering the world we’ve got latest single ‘Bomb Scare’ to contend with. ‘Bomb Scare’ is an intense first preview of what to expect, and continues to build on the ’70s punk sound they’ve rather nicely cultivated thus far. An absolute punk rock stormer, this is a three-minute rattle through ’70s-channeling punk with a furious and thrilling high energy. Despite its rawness and filled with an undeniable anger, ‘Bomb Scare’ manages to maintain a certain level of fun and undoubtedly danceable. Outstanding on record and scintillating live, Touts are one of the most impressive acts on this Island right now – and if you get a chance to catch them live, do it!

Touts’ second EP LIT is out now via Hometown Records. The four track EP includes the lead single ‘Bomb Scare’, which you can sample below:

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Introducing: Irascible Fuck Brigade

Formed earlier in 2017 by one angry Englishman and his machines, Irascible Fuck Brigade are hard to forget; partially due to their rather tasty handle but also because of the ferocity and caustic nature of their electro-punk sound.

While lyrics rage at societies increasing structural inequality and seething anger is never far away from exploding, the music differs in texture and intensity, sliding between punk, rock and electronic. Irascible Fuck Brigade don’t create music which is easy on the ear, rather it reflects a genuine anger and frustration (and a backlash against), proclaiming a defiant message of protest that takes no shit. Take recent singles ‘Slash The Fucking Seats’ & ‘Chocolate Box’, both feisty, ferocious and angry, they chop and change between styles but the instrumentation is intense, releasing the pent up energy like a coiled up spring, whilst the impassioned and flurried lyrics implore the listener to smash the chains. Blistering, righteous and caustic; Irascible Fuck Brigade leave a hell of an impression.

Listen to ‘Slash The Fucking Seats’, ‘Chocolate Box’ & ‘Conservative Dad’ below:

Passed Out – ‘Bukowski & Brautigan’

What can you do in one minute and 18 seconds? You can’t adequately boil an egg. If you smoke, you can probably hoover a sneaky one but a far more worthy while and healthy option is listening to ‘Bukowski & Brautigan’; the latest single from Buffalo, NY-based pop punk outfit Passed Out.

‘Bukowski & Brautigan’ packs a lot into 1:18. A ferocious, defiant, swaggering, riff-laden and catchy-as-hell, cohesive ball of punk rock force with a power-pop touch, ‘Bukouski & Brautigan’ is full to the gills with wailing guitars and screeching vocals on top of a twitchy, fast and furious drums.The new single is lifted from their forthcoming EP, The Aforementioned and How it Pertains to Absolutely Nothing.

Take a listen to the single below, guaranteed to be the best one minute and 18 seconds of your day, and check out more of Passed Out here.

Hey Baby! – ‘1-800 WEED’

Aussie indie surf-punks Hey Baby! like to play fast, jangly and energetic tunes and put on live shows that never take themselves too seriously.

Born from the bedroom demos of a Blue Mountains teenager, the Brisbane foursome’s debut single ‘1-800 WEED’ delivers all that and more across a two-and-a-half minutes of infectiously catchy and lively garage-rock. Inspired by frontman Kacper Majchrowski’s experience of an Uber-esque delivery service while travelling in San Diego, it’s delivered as a tongue-in-cheek call to legalise marijuana in Australia. Musically, it’s a whirlwind of fast-paced, energetic and punk-tinged garage rock sound, bursting with rhythm, catchy Strokes-esque guitars, frenetic drums & the snottiness of Fidlar.

Listen to ‘1-800 WEED’ below:

Something for the Weekend: New Music Playlist #29

A regular slot on blog, a relatively short weekly Spotify playlist featuring some of the finest new music to prick my ears over the course of past seven days.

Clocking in at just over an hour, it’s an easily digestible slice of new music, just in time for the weekend. There’s a nice mix of genres and styles too, allowing me to share even more crackin’ tunes. Well, without further ado, here’s #29 – Something for the Weekend: New Music Playlist. Get stuck into the tunes & enjoy the weekend! You can follow me on Spotify here.

Genius – ‘2226’

Based out of the port city of Busan, South Korea, GENIUS is Steve C, Lee Chung Mok, and Kim Il Du.

Since forming in 2009, they independently released two studio albums Yangatchi (2009) and Birth, Choice, Death (2010), before releasing their third album, Beaches (2014) through Helicopter Records. The rock and roll foursome released their new and fourth album Starsea back in August and ‘2226’ is the latest single lifted from the record. ‘2226’ is a fuzzed-up, scuzzy and meandering rock and roll jam. Imbued with a punk spirit, the drawled vocals and buzzy punk guitars wade through a haze of fuzz and feedback with a loose, free-flowing vibe. As incessant the buzz and fuzz is, ‘226’ is strongly melancholic, dreamy and somewhat catchy – in short; it’s a top tune!

Starsea is out now & you can stream it here. For now, listen to ‘2226’ below now:

BARRYGRUFF

Music and other warblings from the man who should have shot JR

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The Echo Bombs – ‘Pistachio Pudding’

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