First Impressions is a collection of whiz-bang reviews of singles, 7″s, EPs, and LPs which are given a review after a single listen. This is a great way for TGEFM to showcase some of the releases which may not get a full review on their own.
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Zoanoids / Proton Packs – “Split”
Hey Pizza! Records / Mom’s Basement Records, 20 May 2022
Michigan’s Zoanoids and Italy’s Proton Packs are a couple of my favorite discoveries of the past year or two, each dropping great singles and full-lengths. The 4-song Split features the chugging and catchy mid-tempo “Follow The Protocol” and the fast singalong ripper “The End of Everything” from Proton Packs, each cool-good songs. The Zoanoids side includes “Cemetery Nights”, a quick number with stellar lead guitar and awesome synths. The other, “Abandon All Hope” is a severely slowed moody number that is a definite outcast on the split. But its depressive drag hits real right.
Favorite Song: “Abandon All Hope”
Review by RYAN
The Budweisers – “Look Out Below!”
Family Spree Recordings, 13 Jun 2022
Spain’s The Budweisers play super melodic Ramones-inspired power pop punk rock, most of it pretty mid-tempo. Look Out Below! has lots of catchy songs that will be ready for singalongs upon further listens. It’s mostly not off-the-rails fast, but a bit more deliberate, digging into the pop/power pop elements the band has mined on previous releases. Songs like the title track and “Deepest of My Heart” are hooky gold. If you like more mid-tempo pop including bands such as The Methadones, then this might work for you.
Favorite Song: “Look Out Below!”
Review by RYAN
The Malphs – “Asio”
Endless Detention Records, 20 Jun 2022
“Asio” is the first I’ve heard of The Malphs, but it sounds pretty darn accomplished for a first go. The song is well-produced with all the requisite parts getting their space, being played well, and sounding right in the mix. More importantly, the song is really cool. It’s got great lead guitars, super catchy vocal hooks (especially on the chorus), and pretty perfect backing vocals. Fans of catchy pop punk, here you go.
Review by RYAN
The Cretins – “You Don’t Give Me Strawberry Trees No More”
Self-released, 21 Jun 2022
This remix of a re-recording of a 90s song sounds about how I’d expect. The Cretins “You Don’t Give Me Strawberry Trees No More” has lots of quick pace, hooky rhythm guitars, and lead vocals that pull off a pretty addictive melody. I listened to this not long after waking up, but I needed my coffee to hit faster to be ready for this. This is a good song.
Review by RYAN
Smelters – “Dance All Night”
Mom’s Basement Records / This Is Pop! Records, 01 Jul 2022
“Dance All Night” is the first I’ve heard from yet another new Mom’s Basement addition, Calgary’s Smelters. The song goes by in a blur and fits well on the Mom’s Basement roster. Opening with a pulsing bass and a raw lead vocal take, the song has a nice “dance all night” hook at the end of certain lines and surprises with a couple of melodic choices that get away from the almost-cheery major chords of most of the song. And it’s all done with a Ramones-style vigor that works when it’s done well. Here, it is.
Review by RYAN
ryan is a reviewer and news editor for TGEFM. He’s very secretive, he might be an alien.
