The Exbats - "Kwarenkween"

Photo via Facebook

Burger Records has just issued a seven volume set entitled QUARANTUNES: Songs From Self Isolation. It's to help their roster make some funds while they're unable to tour due to COVID-19. The rule is the song needed to be written and recorded in the past three weeks. I'm sure we'll highlight a few of these in the next week or so, but today's is a new song from The Exbats. "Kwarenkween" is about frontwoman Inez Mclain celebrating her twenty-first birthday in isolation. Even if you could care less about drinking, your twenty-first is huge because you can finally get into any club or bar, and I imagine it's even more important if you're in a band. Intead, Inez spent hers making her own cake, having a fashion show with her dog, and eating beans and rice that she cooked herself. It's a somber song, but still keeps the sense of humor we've come to love from The Exbats.

You can listen to "Kwarenkween" below. The song is available on QUARANTUNES: Songs From Self Isolation #4. You can buy the full volume or just the song here. For more on The Exbats, check them out on Facebook. And buy The Exbats's recently released album Kicks, Hits, and Fits along with some merch at their Bandcamp, so Inez can at least celebrate her birthday when she gets out.

The Prefab Messiahs - "21st Century Failure"

Our favorite classic garage rockers from Worcester, MA are back with a new song. In a world where most garage rock is about rocking, "21st Century Failure" gets much more political than most other bands in the genre. It's a psychedelic blast that mocks a lot of the tropes of modern living. It also includes the line "Get a new disease when you hear a sneeze" which is either great or terrible timing. Regardless, "21st Century Failure" is a killer psychedelic vintage garage rocker, and I think we could all use some straight up rock these days.

You can watch the video for "21st Century Failure" below. The song is available now on The Prefab Messiahs's Bandcamp. For more on The Prefab Messiahs, check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

The Reflectors - "Champagne"

We've come to rely on Burger Records to provide us with the best retro garage rock out there. Their latest offering from The Reflectors isn't quite the normal garage rock we've come to expect from the label. "Champagne" is pure 1970's style power pop. And The Reflectors do this perfectly. "Champagne" is a huge song filled with huge harmonies and huge hooks. There's a little garage and a little punk in there, but this song it far too bright and shiny to truly be anything but nearly pure power pop.

You can listen to "Champagne" below. First Impression, the upcoming album from The Reflectors, will be out May 29 on Burger Records. You can pre-order the album here. For more on The Reflectors, check them out on Facebook and Bandcamp.

Gum Country - "Somewhere"

Photo by Gum Country

Gum Country (which features Courtney Gavin of The Courtneys) describe themselves as "harsh twee." Listening to their debut single, "Somewhere," they're dead on with that description. "Somewhere" has the shimmering small sound of bands like Yo La Tengo and The Magnetic Fields, but also brings in these fuzzy, buzzsaw guitars you would never associate with this type of music. It creates this interesting and unique yet familiar sound.

Courtney Gavin explains the song: "I wrote 'Somewhere' a couple years after moving to LA. It's about leaving a place that you are comfortable in and landing in a strange new one, and discovering what parts of your identity remain and which were left behind. The first line I wrote was 'haven't felt this way in a while, I can't think straight can't hide my smile, i guess this is gonna be my life for a while', and then it was just a process of unravelling that thought. I think the song could be about the range of emotions that come with any big change, and ultimately settling on a mellow excitement for vulnerability. It's pretty serious subject matter for Gum Country, and I blame it on the poetry class I was taking at the time."

You can watch the video for "Somewhere" below. Gum Country's debut album, Somewhere, will be out on June 19th on Burger Records. For more on Gum Country, check out their website.

The Exbats - "I Got the Hots for Charlie Watts"

Photo via Facebook

We were huge fans of father/daughter duo The Exbats's 2019 album E Is for Exbats. In fact, it came incredibly close to making my top ten of last year. I was thrilled to hear that we were already getting new music from them. "I Got the Hots for Charlie Watts" (in case that sounds familiar, it's the same name as their 2018 album) is about having the hots for Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts. The song i much more restrained than anything we've heard before. It's almost a regular love ballad and teeters dangerously close to folk territory. Of course, this is still The Exbats, so "I Got the Hots for Charlie Watts" is as much fun as you expect it to be. It makes sense that the music of The Exbats would age along with singer Inez Mclain, and we're dying to hear the rest of the album.

You can watch the video for "I Got the Hots for Charlie Watts" below. Kicks, Hits and Fits, the upcoming album from The Exbats, will be out March 13 on Burger Records. For more on The Exbats, check them out on Bandcamp and Instagram.

Shadow Show - "Charades"

Photo by Jaimie Skriba

How are we not supposed to become obsessed with a "Detroit-based girl-group?" Back in November we brought you "Shadow Box" and described it as "Detroit psychedelic garage rock proto-punk mixed with a Motown girl group vibe." "Charades" is more of the same, except it ramps up the psychedelia and is a little shinier sounding than the previous single. It's an ultra-groovy that is nearly impossible to resist.

You can watch the video for "Charades" below. Drummer Kerrigan Pearce explains the video: "We wanted to include all of the things that make Detroit home to us. The live footage was shot at UFO Factory, owned by local musician Dion Fischer. The rest was filmed in various places, such as Belle Isle, Detroit African Bead Museum, and another favorite bar Outer Limits Lounge.” Silhouettes, the debut album from Shadow Show, will be out February 14 on Burger Records. You can pre-order the album here. For more on Shadow Show, check them out on Bandcamp and Facebook.

Shadow Show - "Shadow Box"

Photo by Colleen Rose

Shadow Show might be the most Detroit band out there right now. Their new single, "Shadow Box," has elements of Detroit psychedelic garage rock proto-punk mixed with a Motown girl group vibe. It's a down and dirty sound, leaning much heavier into the garage rock sound, but also with this unexpected sheen over it. And then it all ends with a freak out jam. It's like they took Detroit in the 1960's and tweaked it just enough to give it a new, modern sound.

You can listen to "Shadow Box" below. Silhouettes, the debut album from Shadow Show, will be out February 14 on Burger Records. You can pre-order the album here. For more on Shadow Show, check them out on Facebook and Bandcamp.

Dead Ghosts - "Drugstore Supplies"

Vancouver's Dead Ghosts (how do we not post about them this week?) are about to release a new album, and they've released the first single, "Drugstore Supplies." The song is rooted heavily in 60's garage rock, the kind infused with organs. But they've changed that formula a bit by adding in some elements of mid 90's alternative/pop/psychedelic bands like Cornershop and The Dandy Warhols. It's a unique and familiar sound that is guaranteed to be enjoyed!

You can listen to "Drugstore Supplies" below. Automatic Changer, the new album from Dead Ghosts, will be out April 24 via Burger Records. For more on Dead Ghosts, check them out on Facebook. Current tour dates are below the song.

Oct 31 - LA - Minty Boi Presents Halloween @ El CID 

Nov 1 - Phoenix - Psyko Steve Presents  @ Lunchbox 

Nov 3 - SF - Folk YEAH Presents @ The Chapel 

Nov 4 - Portland @ Star Theatre

Nov 5 - Seattle - The Crocodile presents @The Sunset 

Nov 6 - Vancouver - MRG Presents @ The Biltmore

Colleen Green Covers Blink 182

Blink 182 have always been a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. I always felt I was too old for them, their lyrics were always embarrassing (but fun!), and as their audiences got younger as they got bigger, I just had to bail. But this is just beyond perfect for me. Colleen Green has released Blink 182's "Dude Ranch" as played by Colleen Green, which is exactly what it sounds like. Colleen Green first came to my attention by covering the Descendents's "Good Good Things." Her extreme lo-fi version of a punk classic works for me, and she's taking the same approach to Blink 182. Right now there are only three songs available to stream: "Waggy" and "I'm Sorry" over at Bandcamp, and "Dammit" on Soundcloud. If the rest are like this, sign us up.

You can listen to Colleen Green's take on "Dammit" below. Blink 182's "Dude Ranch" as played by Colleen Green is available digitally on Bandcamp and on cassette via Burger Records. For more on Colleen Green, check out her Facebook and Twitter.

Sarah Bethe Nelson - "Weird Glow"

Photo by Jennifer Lewis

The latest single from Sarah Bethe Nelson might be a perfect little alternative pop song. "Weird Glow" reminds me a lot of Mary Lou Lord's major label output. It's a pretty straightforward singer/songwriter track, filled with Nelson's strikingly beautiful in their simplicity vocals and just enough jangle to keep it interesting. It's the kind of song that should be a huge megahit and propel Nelson into stardom if there was any justice in the world. But there's not, so I guess on the plus side "Weird Glow" won't be haunting you in every dentist's waiting room and chain restaurant this summer. Although it should be.

You can listen to "Weird Glow" below. Weird Glow the album will be out June 28 on Burger Records. For more on Sarah Bethe Nelson, check out her website.

Sarah Bethe Nelson - "Paralyzed Waltz"

Photo by Jennifer Lewis

San Francisco's Sarah Bethe Nelson is back with a new single and it continues her own unique version of interesting indie rock. "Paralyzed Waltz" is charmingly lo-fi and minimalist, but it has a full sound, and is as groovy as can be. It sounds like it could be a long lost demo to something out of the 60's. The minimalist feel is definitely intentional. Instead of working with a full band on her upcoming album, Weird Glow was recorded with just her long time collaborator Rusty Miller in the studio. Nelson says about the song (and this is one of my favorite artist quotes in a long time...):  "Paralyzed Waltz is loosely about how people perceive you so differently than you perceive yourself and how both of those perceptions are probably wrong. And part of it is just about having a crush on a guy with a broken front tooth." 

You can listen to "Paralyzed Waltz" below. Weird Glow will be out June 28 on Burger Records via streaming services and on CD, cassette, and limited edition vinyl. For more on Sarah Bethe Nelson, check out her website.

Doug Tuttle - "Did You Need Someone"

When there's a new song from Boston's Doug Tuttle, we know what to expect at this point. "Did You Need Someone" fits in perfectly with Tuttle's previous work. The new song is 70's era influenced singer/songwriter fare. It's laid back not-quite-folk with a mellow groove. But Tuttle does this sound so adeptly it's practically perfect. This isn't him trying out a new sound or branching out, but when you do something as good as he does this, it's exactly what we want.

You can listen to "Did You Need Someone" below. Dream Road, Doug Tuttle's fourth full length album, will be out May 31 on Burger Records. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on Doug Tuttle, check out his website.

Doug Tuttle - "I'll Throw It All Away"

We've been enjoying Boston area musician Doug Tuttle's solo work for a while now, and his newest single won't be changing that. "I'll Throw It All Away" continues Tuttle's psychedelic bedroom singer/songwriter dream pop vibe, and you'll get no complaints from us on that. "I'll Throw It All Away" adds in a bit of country twang into the equation, sounding a bit like Brian Wilson trying on a cowboy hat. It's a fantastic blend of indie rock meets Americana, and is perfect for regular readers of our site.

You can listen to "I'll Throw It All Away" below. Dream Road, the fourth album from Doug Tuttle, will be out May 31 on Burger Records. For more on Doug Tuttle, be sure to check out his website.

Jack Drag - "Hope Revisited"

Photo via Twitter

Last month we were thrilled to share a new single from the recently exhumed Jack Drag. "Little Lies" seemed to lean a bit more towards John Dragonetti's work with The Submarines than his earlier work with Jack Drag, but we were still thrilled to have Jack Drag back.

Now we have a second single, "Hope Revisited." The new single is still poppier than Jack Drag's 90's output, but considering a lot of that were four track home recordings, it's too be expected. "Hope Revisited" has some of the slightly off kilter arrangements I love about Jack Drag. Sure, it's a pop song, but just barely. The these odd driving verses with lines that seem to just run on into each other with virtually no breaks until you hit the chorus, which stops dead just as it starts. Even though it's largely electronic, something about the song feels organic, earning it the moniker "sci-fi folk."

You can listen to "Hope Revisited" below. Jack Drag's new album, 2018, will be out this fall on Burger Records. For more on Jack Drag, check out his Twitter.

Jack Drag - "Little Lies"

I first discovered Jack Drag sometime in the mid to late 90's opening for Letters to Cleo, and was immediately smitten. They had this incredible lo-fi sound, but in a groovy, huge sounding way I had never heard before. I was shocked when they signed to A&M, and thrilled with the release of Dope Box. It was an expanded sound: More polished but in a great way. The band released a few more indie albums after that, but John Dragonetti moved from Boston to LA as part of the great exodus. He got more into producing and released a few albums with The Submarines.

Now, Jack Drag is back! There is a new single and a forthcoming album. "Little Lies" is far more polished and pop than anything Dragonetti has released as Jack Drag previously. It's nowhere near as pop as The Submarines, but lies in the middle of later period Jack Drag and The Submarines. There is definitely much more orchestration, and a far more lush sound. But that could be because home recordings are now much more advanced than they were in 1995. Plus, he brought in Aimee Mann and Dylan Gardner for backing vocals!

You can listen to "Little Lies" below. The new album from Jack Drag, 2018, will be released on Burger Records in the fall. For more on Jack Drag, be sure to check out his/their website.

The Prefab Messiahs - "Psychsploitation"

Photo by Plastic Mynd

Worcester's own The Prefab Messiahs have had an interesting career. The band originally ran from 1981 to 1983 and then was pretty much silent until 2015 when they reformed and released Keep Your Stupid Dreams Alive. Since then, they've released a couple of singles, and in January are set to release another full length.

Their first song off the upcoming album, "Psychsploitation," is exactly what we want from The Prefab Messiahs at this point. It's a blast of psychedelic garage rock that sounds like it's coming from a band that ran well before the 1980's. It's what I imagine The Monkees might have sounded like if the members had met organically and not on a television show about a band. Hidden in pop hooks and the psychedelic feel are these squealing guitars you wouldn't normally find in this style of music, which just adds to the entire crazed feel of the song.

You can watch the video for "Psychsploitation" below. The Prefab Messiahs new album, Psychsploitation Today, will be out January 26 on Lollipop/Burger Records. For more on The Prefab Messiahs, check them out on Bandcamp.

Winter - "Jaded"

I'm pretty sure 95% of the world can agree that the alternative scene of the early 90's was the best that decade had to offer. But, there are some of us that came of age more in the mid 90's that will always have a fondness for that era. The new song from Winter is perfect for us.

You could have played "Winter" for me and then told me it was from some band in your local scene put out in 1995, and I would have 100% believed you. It has just enough of that slacker vibe while still being fun to make it feel like that decade. Samira Winter's vocals are alter between that mid-90's breathy thing and actual singing, not to mention the guitar solos straight outta when guitar solos could go back to being guitar solos, but just barely. Plus, the song is called "Jaded," which is the most 90's of all buzzwords. Just when you think it can't get more 90's, there a speaking part right in the middle between two people. Oh, and according to the press release, the song is influenced by The Breeders, Weezer, and 10 Things I Hate About You. If you think you're going to like this song, you definitely will.

You can listen to "Jaded" below. The single is available now via Burger Records. For more on Winter, check them out on Facebook and Bandcamp.

Summer Twins - "Demons"

Sisters Chelsea and Justine Brown make up the core of Summer Twins. The desire to form a band came before actually forming a band, and in October they have their sophomore album due out.

"Demons" reminds me of the retro girl groups that seem to come out every few years, like The Pipettes or Those Darlins'. "Demons" comes across as a more polished version of that, throwing back to 50s sock hop music and 60s garage rock. And then the guitar comes in, and it's just a dirty noise rock blast. While Summer Twins might look back at the past, they're not a retro act at all. It's a perfect mixture of retro and today.

Summer Twins' second album, Limbo, is due out on October 2 on Burger Records. You can listen to "Demons" below. For some more information on Summer Twins, check out their website and Bandcamp.

Peach Kelli Pop - "Princess Castle 1987"

Photo by Bekah Cope

With their new album, III, coming out April 21 on Burger Records, Peach Kelli Pop have just released a video for "Princess Castle 1987." The song clocks in at right around 1:30, and is a perfect slice of sugary pop punk that's very light on the punk. The video features all four members of the band dressed in Princess Toadstool dresses, running around Los Angeles looking for a castle (Spoiler alert: They find one!). If "Princess Castle 1987" and the previously discussed "Plastic Love" are any indication, III is going to be a fun as hell release next week.

III will be released April 21 on Burger Records. You can preorder it here, and check out Peach Kelli Pop's Bandcamp here. The video for "Princess Castle 1987" is posted below, along with their current tour dates. 

Peach Kelli Pop - Princess Castle 1987 from Eddie R on Vimeo.



Wed. April 15 - Toronto, ON @ Smiling Buddha

Fri. April 17 - Ottawa, ON @ Gabba Gabba Hey

Sat. April 18 - Montreal, QC @ l'Escogriffe Bar Spectacle

Sun. April 19 - Boston, MA @ TT Bears (Matinee show)

Sun. April 19 - Brooklyn, NY @ Palisades (Night show)

Tue. April 20 - Philadelphia, PA @ Golden Tea House

Wed. April 21 - Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery

Thu. April 22 - Asheville, NC @ Tiger Mountain

Fri. April 23 - Atlanta, GA @ 529

Sat. April 24 - New Orleans, LA @ Siberia

Sun. April 25 - Houston, TX @ House of Creeps

Mon. April 26 - Austin, TX @ Hotel Vegas

Tue. April 27 - Dallas, TX @ Three Links

Wed. April 28 - El Paso, TX @ Monarch

Thu. April 29 - Las Vegas, NV @ Bunkhouse

The Prefab Messiahs - Keep Your Stupid Dreams Alive

Coming 32 years after their break up, Worcester, MA's Prefab Messiahs are back with a new album, Keep Your Stupid Dreams Alive. Reunion albums are usually pretty dubious, especially when a band hasn't released one in three decades. In the wake of a universally loved 30th anniversary tour, the band decided to give it another go in the studio. The Prefab Messiahs have this great unique sound, a blend of garage rock, psychedelic, and punk. They might be the only band to equally mix psychedelic and punk since the early days of The Stooges. 

"Weirdoz Everywhere" is a standout track, with it's power pop chorus and guitars over a surf rock base. "College Radio" is an homage to how college stations are eager to give younger bands a chance. I think that's one thing that works about this new album. It's almost a concept album about not giving up on your hopes and dreams, no matter how ridiculous they may sound. Most people don't reform their bands from their youth to give it another go. Keep Your Stupid Dreams Alive is the most fitting title for an album ever. If the results are as great as this album is, maybe we should all listen.

Keep Your Stupid Dreams Alive is out now on Burger Records and KYLAM Records. You can order it off Bandcamp. If you happen to be outside of Boston, they're playing at Ralph's Diner in Worcester on March 20, and March 21 at Modern Gypsy in Manchester, NH.