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.
Cinema Stare – The Things I Don’t Need
Static Era Records, 19 May
This pop-punk masterpiece came out of nowhere and immediately became part of the conversation for best album this year.
Why you want it: Its relatable, its high energy and an all-around peach of a record.
Why you don’t: If you never fell in love with the early 00’s North-east pop-punk sound, you probably won’t enjoy this fantastic update to it… and I’m really sorry that someone hurt you like that.
Top Tracks:“committhistohotkeys” “Bob Sigur Ross”
Faintest Idea – The Road To Sedition
TNSRecords, 31 March
UK punks put ska and street into a blender and crafted one of the most fun records about toppling oligarchies, authority and the pricks in power.
Why you want it: This is the sound of a Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn seminar hosted by Joe Strummer and Terry Hall.
Why you don’t: If you think you don’t need to hear it based on the above sentences, you probably need to hear it the most.
Top Tracks:“Kill ‘Em Dead” “Shell Shock”
Five Fingers of Funk – Portland Say It Again
Kill Rock Stars, 5 May
After a long absence from the game, Five Fingers of Funk prove the skills haven’t dissipated and they can still put out one of the best throwback hip-hop records in ages.
Why you want it: Like riding a bike, the love of indie hip-hop is built into our DNA. This album brings that nostalgia to the forefront and adds a healthy dose of updated vibes.
Why you don’t: I can not, I repeat, can NOT recommend this record highly enough, but if you are looking for a negative to this one, I guess you can listen to it and try to find one yourself. I haven’t been able to.
Top Tracks: “Shorty’s Gonna Change The World” “We Were Big In The 90s”
Frenzal Rhomb – The Cup Of Pestilence
Fat Wreck Chords, 7 April
Aussie legends continue to get silly, get rad and get me to fall in love with their sound again and again
Why you want it: After 30 years of writing music about drinking, partying and all that comes with it, you’d think the band would be stale… instead they are fresh as hell.
Why you don’t: If you live a tee-totalitarian lifestyle, you’ll miss most of the fun here, but I’ve got a remedy. Step one: get a fucking life, step two: use the record as guidebook for a week and tell me its not a god-damned delight.
Top Tracks: “I Think My Neighbour Is Trying To Kill Me” “Where Drug Dealers Take Their Kids”
The Hold Steady – The Price of Progress
Positive Jams, 31 March
Craig Finn and team once again create an album loaded with beautiful narratives that gets better each playthrough.
Why you want it: You’ve loved the other 8 records from The Hold Steady and this fits right in without being repetitive.
Why you don’t: If you want your vocalist to croon about the bigness of the world, you’ll miss the beauty in Finn’s mostly-spoken narratives and specificity.
Top Tracks:“The Birdwatchers” “Carlos is Crying”
Hot Mulligan – Why Would I Watch?
Wax Bodega, 12 May
HOLY SHIT!! This record is pop-punk perfection.
Why you want it: Sarcasm, ego, killer riffs and relatability to the fullest, this is a complete bop, start to finish.
Why you don’t: Pay attention. You don’t just want this record, you fucking need it.
Top Tracks: “Shouldn’t Have a Leg Hole But I Do” “Gans Media Retro Games”
Melonball – Breathe
Thousand Islands Records / Lockjaw Records, 31 March
German skate-punk brimming with harmonies and high-energy that won me over within a single verse.
Why you want it: For fans of Tilt, CF98 and FOD (and brilliant covers of The Outfield), Melonball is everything fun rolled into explosive melodies.
Why you don’t: Stay away if your idea of the Warped Tour sound starts and ends with Bullet For My Valentine and Black Veil Brides. Melonball have perfected the sound that Warped Tour was intended to be built upon.
Top Tracks: “Your Love” “Sinking”
Midtown – We’re Too Old To Write Our Own Songs, So Here’s Some Old Songs We Didn’t Write
TAG Music – 26 May
Covers EP from NJ pop-punk legends we wish was original tracks.
Why you want it: Its still Midtown, its still a blast and the tracks covered are some of the best
Why you don’t: but its still a cover album from a band known for amazing and original content
Top Tracks: “Know It All”
Miniaturized – miniaturized
self-released, 31 March
Members of No Knife, Rocket To The Crypt, Pinback and Hot Snakes came together to be a Tom Petty tribute band, then created originals.
Why you want it: Its not Tom Petty, its not Hot Snakes, its not No Knife, but it is fucking wonderful!
Why you don’t: Keep in mind that you aren’t getting the band members’ previous output otherwise it will be a terrible time for you.
Top Tracks: “Blue Glass” “Perfect Angles” “The Most”
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/
