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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Symphony of Distraction – “Pick A Space”
Self-Released – 8 October 2021
Symphony of Distraction don't skip a beat from their prior release “Time Is Not On My Side,” blazing into ripped double time, killer riffs, and Steve's vocal analysis of our (now) broken society. The single, and homage-heavy artwork, fulfill promises of a collection of unreleased material from “Faster Space!” and “Horse,” tentatively entitled “Horse Shit,” and we love to see it. Spectacular song.
Review by Mike Elfers
Lesser Creatures – “Leslie and Thomas”
Laptop Punk Records, 6 October 2021
I love Lesser Creatures, and the completely endearing synth line that opens “Leslie and Thomas” does nothing to dissuade that. The song has great alternating chugging and buzzing guitars and simple drums to anchor the whole thing while Nick Spoon sings like he's been chainsmoking for thirty years, dropping in lots of vocal melodies and bringing the ridiculously catchy synths back for more as the song goes on. It's another winner.
Review by RYAN
Black Russians – “Dig Up Her Bones”
OUTLOUD! Records, 5 October 2021
Black Russians always torch a path of destruction, and it's no different on this cover of Misfits “Dig Up Her Bones”. The song buzzes and rampages through the song with guitars that wiggle and worm into my brain and drums that bash away while the ravaged vocals deliver the goods like I hope for. The song's a sketchy killer and it's a bunch of fun to hear the sorta tortured vocal rasp singing along instead of Michale Graves croon.
Review by RYAN
The Atoms – “I Hope She Dies”
ProRawk Records/Council-Pop Records, 30 September 2021
The Atoms are always good for a hook. “I Hope She Dies” (with Joe Queer singing) just piles hooks on top of hooks. Guitar riffs stamp my skull and the vocal hooks sear my brain, leaving scars and a vivid memory that I think will last long after the first go-round. I'm pretty confident I'll be humming this melody for days and going back to it repeatedly after writing this up. Oh, and nice touch with the cut-out and come back in the final 10-second stretch. Tricked me for a second and gave me the goods one last round.
Review by RYAN
Cassie – “Don't Let The Music Stop”
Self-released, 13 September 2021
Cassie's first new music since 1983 is a pretty and catchy sort of pop rock song. The guitars play pretty clean and some bells (maybe?) and lead guitar bring in the melodic goodness while singer Debbie Coles sings the hooks with an unwavering confidence. And when the song peaks with the music dropping for a second while she sings “don't let the music stop”, it feels like a sort of mission statement before closing out with a nice little coda. Buzzsaw angst this is not, but it's a good and simple pop rock song.
Review by RYAN
