When a TGEFM staffer just doesn't have the time to write up a full review for an EP or LP, they can do a quick one for the Drive-by Reviews feature. Think of it like a Cliff's Notes for reviews– You'll get the gist of it without all of the verbiage.
Have an album or release you want reviewed? Send it to us HERE.
Buster Shuffle – Go Steady
Do Nothing Records – 18 Mar 2022
The standard bearers of the newest generation of ska in the UK with their best release to date.
Why you want it: Working class Cockney ska done beautifully.
Why you don't: Even though the band has never sounded better, if you didn't get behind the last 9 albums, you are probably not getting on the train for this one either.
Top Tracks: “Sucker Punk Blues,” “Deadline”
Review by Bad Dad
Caracara – New Preoccupations
Memory Music – 25 Mar 2022
Sure there's elements of American Football and The Wallflowers but there is nothing overly-familiar in this wonderfully produced, impeccably written record.
Why you want it: A gorgeous melding of late 90s alt and mid 00s emo creating an original and beautiful experience.
Why you don't: The biblical imagery is a bit heavy handed, but unsurprising considering the bands history of recovery.
Top Tracks: “Colorglut,” “My Thousand Eyes”
Review by Bad Dad
Carly Cosgrove – See You In Chemistry
Wax Bodega Records – 25 Mar 2022
Everything about this record is about Teen Nick shows from well after my time, and I wanted nothing more to hate this record, but nope it's brilliant.
Why you want it: This is the sound of nostalgia, earnestly improving on the sounds of the mid 00s.
Why you don't: Shut up, you want this.
Top Tracks: Each and every track is killer
Review by Bad Dad
The Color Fred – A Year and Change
Heading East Records – 1 Apr 2022
Indie pop-punk masterpiece that Fred Mascherino has been prepping us for since 2019
Why you want it: Mascherino was a member of Taking Back Sunday and toured with The Lemonheads and you can hear those influences shine through
Why you don't: You don't want this, you need it.
Top Tracks: “Veronica Road,” “Everwrite”
Review by Bad Dad
Kevin Devine – Nothing's Real, So Nothing's Wrong
Triple Crown Records – 25 Mar 2022
Kevin Devine has always put out an album of the year candidate, and he's not starting in 2022.
Why you want it: We've all gotten held up in the quicksand of our own mind. Devine just released the soundtrack to that rut and our escape from it.
Why you don't: I have members of my family who would rather lock the door to their own prison than walk out freely, those miserable turds aren't going to enjoy the optimism here.
Top Tracks: “Hell Is An Impression Of Myself,” “Laurel Leaf (Anhedonia)”
Review by Bad Dad
downcast – i saw hell when i was with you
self-released – 4 Mar 2022
I will never outgrow the sound of the early 00s, and downcast have taken that sound and built onto it.
Why you want it: All the catharsis of the Bamboozle era alt/emo boom that so many of us have been missing.
Why you don't: Was Warped Tour in the Target-sponsorship era beneath your gatekeeper sensibilities? Skip the record to get an early start on your home-made bleach-dye shirt.
Top Tracks: “Catharsis,” “Hell”
Review by Bad Dad
Eichlers – My Checkered Future
Bad Time Records – 25 Mar 2022
Get fucking hyped
Why you want it: You will not have a better time hearing someone define a new genre than you will discovering hyperska.
Why you don't: This album is a god damn blast but it will inevitably and unfortunately launch hundreds of shitty edm/ska abominations
Top Tracks: “I Need Hep Immediately”
Review by Bad Dad
Lights – Pep
Fueled By Ramen – 1 Apr 2022
The siren returns with a genre-jumping, ass-shimmying pop masterpiece.
Why you want it: Pep is sassy, vulnerable and flawless
Why you don't: Those of you reading TGEFM may not be willing to get into the dancy pop bops found here… but your soul might appreciate if you would
Top Tracks: “Salt and Vinegar,” “Prodigal Daughter”
Review by Bad Dad
Maneating Orchid – Hive Mind
self-released – 18 Mar 2022
Dissonance has never sounded so good, even if you're not into the screamy stuff this one will make you say “holy fuck”
Why you want it: Mathy, proggy, aggressive and chaotic, this is a record done right.
Why you don't: The album didn't go over too well when I played it for my daughter's church group, maybe skip it there.
Top Tracks: “Cover-Up,” “Premonition”
Review by Bad Dad (with words stolen from Jeff “the white drew carey” Sorley)
Plosivs – Plosivs
Swami Records – 17 Mar 2022
Based on the pedigree, you should have high expectations for this record. Those expectations will be surpassed.
Why you want it: The band may be new, but the members are familiar and everyone should be a fan of at least one of them.
Why you don't: Some of the venom of their past projects is missing, replaced by melodies and manic vibes.
Top Tracks: “See You Suffer”
Review by Bad Dad
Proper. – The Great American Novel
Label – Father/Daughter Records – 25 Mar 2022
Bold, profound and absolutely honest emo from a unique perspective that breaks down the brokenness of the American experience.
Why you want it: Not since The Desaparecidos has the emo sound captured the sound of America's intentionally stifling institutions.
Why you don't: If your version of emo is Ted Cruz waxing nostalgic about the heartbreaking moment “Anti-Racist Babies” were crying and it interrupted his dereliction of duty on a flight to Cancun, you're not up to snuff on this one.
Top Tracks: “Shuck & Jive,” “McConnell”
Review by Bad Dad
The Real McKenzies – Float Me Boat
Fat Wreck Chords – 18 Mar 2022
A greatest hits compilation from some of the most underrated Celt-punks.
Why you want it: Features all the best sing-alongs from the long career.
Why you don't: If you really enjoy the music, you're better served getting the songs as part of the tracklists they belonged in.
Top Tracks: “Chip,””Droppin' Like Flies”
Review by Bad Dad
Riverby – Absolution
Take This To Heart Records – 25 Mar 2022
Immediately jarring in the way it combines biting humor and heart wrenching ruminations on relationships, life and the general shittiness of the human condition.
Why you want it: Ever heard something be subtly aggressive and introspectively brave? Riverby does both marvelously.
Why you don't: I tried to find a negative, and I can't. This is smart, funny and relatable.
Top Tracks: “Birth By Sleep,” “Baseless”
Review by Bad Dad
Soul Glo – Diaspora Problems
Epitaph Records – 25 Mar 2022
Philly blasters put out a genre bending stick of dynamite, ready to explode in your ears and blow your mind.
Why you want it: Its early in the year, but I can't imagine any hardcore album even being close to this great.
Why you don't: If you think a “woke mob” exists, this quartet is going to have pull a muscle in your sphincter from the puckering that comes with fear manufactured by shitbags on Fox.
Top Tracks: “Gold Chain Punk (whogonbeatmyass)” “Driponomics” “Coming Correct is Cheaper”
Review by Bad Dad
Telltale – Lie Your Way Out
Rude Records – 25 Mar 2022
Groove-infused pop punk that reminds me of the common cold… sure we've had it before but it's catchy as hell.Body of the text
Why you want it: 5 tracks loaded with great vocals, better than average lyricism and inevitable ass shaking.
Why you don't: You know where these tracks are going and you know how youve felt about them in the past.
Top Tracks: “Cobain”
Review by Bad Dad
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed's musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he's self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/
