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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Guided By Voices – “Dance Of Gurus”
Rockathon Records, 8 September 2021
GBV opens this newest single from their upcoming album with some melody from Pollard and a little rhythm guitar. Then the song bursts into the open with drive and guitars that are total earworms. The stop-and-go’s serve as hooks and the melodies are at times surprising and always engaging (something GBV has pretty much mastered at this point). They also throw in some cowbell for good measure, right before a brief spoken word moment. It’s weirdo pop just how I like it.
Review by RYAN
Jade Dust – “Margin Of Error”
Extinction Burst, 7 September 2021
Do you like 80’s DC hardcore? If so, “Margin Of Error” might be your newest jam. Jade Dust would be right at home on Dischord. The song has a good pace, with pounding and steady drums, big and caustic guitar riffs, and yelled vocals that take on issues of homelessness in America. Some gang vocals to boot. I’m not always a hardcore sort, but I wanna listen to this again. I really like the raw production, aggression, and yells (instead of growling). Good stuff.
Review by RYAN
The Thorazines – “Dead Fish On The Banks”
Self-released, 4 September 2021
I like The Thorazines a bunch, but I don’t know Goodnight Loving, whose song they cover here. “Dead Fish” is a banger, with a pacey tempo and consistently buzzing and melodic guitars and leads that work as terrific hooks. I love the “I just won’t be afraid” refrain that gets shouted over the top and the melody is endearing. The persistent drive and raggedness of this sort of reminds me of rambunctious early Replacements weirdly enough, and a little of Japandroids (who Thorazines recently covered as well), too. This one is pretty dope.
Review by RYAN
Brad Marino – “Monkey Man”
Self-released, 3 September 2021
Brad Marino (of The Connection, The Rydells, and others) covers The Rolling Stones with “Monkey Man” on this newest single. With all the swagger of the original, Marino saunters through the song, riding along the killer groove and skittering over the piano and organ. The lead guitar sounds great tossed overtop, too. This one has a slight bit more pace and bounce than the original and Marino’s vocals sound pretty right, a bit more refined and a bit less ragged and angsty than Jagger’s. This is a fun one.
Review by RYAN
Zebrahead – “A Long Way Down”
MFZB – 10 September 2021
Zebrahead return with their second single since the abrupt departure of lead singer Matty Lewis and the introduction of his replacement, Adrian Estrella. While the band had a bit of an emo edge to them under Lewis, Estrella has been upping the emo a notch since he joined, with this song sounding not unlike a rap-rock Fall Out Boy song. It’s got some gorgeous pop hooks that address dark issues but the song comes out the other side bursting with optimism, making it possibly the feel-good punk song of the year.
Review by Julie River
