Last Week in Review -- Week of April 9, 2023

 

Sad rOACH - fabricated complexities

Released: April 11, 2023 (Originally released December 2022)
Label: Sockhead Records

Two-piece riot grrl revival, Sad Roach, whose name my fear of bugs will prevent me from Googling, are fucking cool. Gritty with intention and ever growing intensity, I held on to every winding turn, unsure of where each song would go next, watching the time in amazement that these absolute bops were all under two minutes -- which means I doubled down and spun it again. Tough stuff worth dancing to!

Listen to: "Mr. Hitman"

The Chinese Mudmen - mud on mud

Released: April 13, 2023
Label: Goblin Records (AUS)

Like The Chats but want something arguably more irreverent? Then The Chinese Mudmen are the Australian garage punks for you. Five songs in six quick minutes, this is blink and you'll miss it punk at its best. Plus, if you think you've heard every possible cover of The Who's "My Generation," you couldn't be anymore wrong.

Listen to: "Energy"

Wasei - Vulgar Misplay of Burkett

Released: April 15, 2023
Label: Self-Released

The love child of Tony Sly & Nikola Šarčević conceived in the Summer of 1998, Wasei are a return to a sound long imitated and often attempted to perfect. I think a lot of bands tend to get caught up iin the dichotomy of looking "cool or tough" on the surface level of punk aesthetics, and when you let that shit go and focus on having fun, that's where your individual sound comes from in a sea of bad imitations -- and Wasei nailed it. Cheeky, sincere, and at times hilariously self-aware, I took a chance on this album based on artwork alone and was pleasantly swept back to the time and sound that drew me into this scene in the first place. 

Listen to: "Call to Arms"

The Playmatics - demo - 2023

Released: April 15, 2023
Label: Self-Released

I want more of The Playmatics. From Rennes France, this two song demo is fresh, upbeat, with just the right amount of crunch and a delicious driving bass your hips can't resist. There is pure raw energy and intention in these songs. I hate the term "female-fronted," as I've often been pigeon-holed in the same category, but there are clear tropes within the "genre" be it on either side of a varying femme-punk musician spectrum (read: soft girls vs. hard girls) and I think The Playmatics found their delicate balance by putting musicianship first. I hope this band finds itself likened more to the Buzzcocks than Bikini KIll in their future glowing reviews.

Listen to: "Dig This"

The Eastside Hymns - Hurts Don't It?

Released: April 16, 2023
Label: Self-Released

Remember Chicago punk? Of course you do, 'cause it never went anywhere. The Eastside Hymns captured that classic Chi-town punk sound while managing to not sound exactly like every other Midwest punk band. Full of narrative and laced with influences from Husker Du to Hot Water Music and beyond, Hurts Don't It, feels familiar but fresh, especially the guitar tone -- the overall musical tone is such a fresh take for this well established genre sound, bright, light chuggy guitars paired with powerful stand alone, emotionally delivered vocals. I could absolutely see these guys on tour with The Arrivals (if we could ever get so lucky).

Listen to: "The Medic"