First Impressions is a collection of whiz-bang reviews of singles, 7″s, and shorter EPs, which are given a review after a single listen. This is a great way for TGEFM to showcase some of the releases which wouldn't get a full review on their own.
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Bob Vylan – “GDP”
Ghost Theatre, 19 Nov 2021
I've heard the Bob Vylan name get kicked around a bit, but “GDP” is the first time I actually sat down and listened to them. This one's a real banger, with a lot of angst and aggression in both the music and the vocals. About the closest comparison I can come up with is the noisy Bomb Squad and late 80's Public Enemy records. The song is propulsive and thunderous and the beat feels like I'm getting pummeled by the hammer of Thor while the vocals spit with a fury that feels pretty cathartic. I'm intrigued.
Review by RYAN
Los Cummings! – “Parque Del Centro”
Self-released, 20 Nov 2021
Mexico's Los Cummings! are new to me, but they've got lots of the landmarks I like and listen for in my punk rock. This one has a fantastic lead guitar that comes back time and again to add melody to the chainsaw guitar riffs while the bass and drums kick up a bunch of dirt keeping the pace quick and steadfast. There's a real Ramones feel to this. And while my language limitations leave me unsure of what they go on about, the vocals sound really good with the music. I rather enjoyed this one.
Review by RYAN
Ricky Rochelle – “I'm A Jerk”
Eccentric Pop Records, 25 Nov 2021
Another week, another new single. “I'm A Jerk”, the newest single from Ricky Rochelle's upcoming So Far So Good, has a fantastic pop punk guitar lead that gets me right out of the gate. From there, it goes along at a quick pace, sneaking in all sorts of great little pop nuggets and an absolutely endearing vocal melody. It's clean and polished sounding and the pop hooks are all the more noticeable as a result. More buzzing pop punk, heavy on the pop.
Review by RYAN
Robbie Morön – “Becky Slater”
High End Denim Records, 14 Nov 2021
Robbie Morön's new song, “Becky Slater”, asks ridiculous questions: why did Kevin choose Winnie over Becky, and why didn't Becky tell Kevin she'd “smell you later” (all references from the TV show “The Wonder Years”). While most are firmly in the Winnie camp, Robbie makes a pretty strong case that Kevin needed to be dropped and forgotten by Becky. Oh yea, the music is catchy and melodic pop punk with a cool gravelly vocal take. The verses have a nice charm to them and the “oh Becky Slater” chorus sticks right to my brain. Fun, goofy stuff.
Review by RYAN
Saturday Night Karaoke – “So What?”
Laptop Punk Records, 14 Nov 2021
Eighteen seconds. That all the time Saturday Night Karaoke takes up with the new single “So What?”. The song opens with 4 tom hits and then shoots into a quick little number with good pace, a melodic vocal lead, some good backing vocals, and even some earworm lead guitar. It's just an awesome no-fuss pop punk song, over-and-out in the blink of an eye.
Review by RYAN
Urban Crater – “Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal”
Self-released, 04 Dec 2021
Baltimore's self styled pizza crust punks Urban Crater (members of Kill Lincoln, Braceface) get into the festive spirit with their latest 2 song EP, Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal. With a spoken word style lyrical approach, a few ska puns, allusions to a classic holiday movies, a little gutter grind, and all the upstrokes Jesse Michaels could ever hope for, they land somewhere between the Suicide Machines and Choking Victim. “Pick it up” if you're looking to celebrate this “straight edge Xmas” and smear some black x's on your hands, stick a straw in that non-alcoholic eggnog, and start skanking around the Christmas tree!
Review by Jerred Lazar