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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The No! – “001”
Laptop Punk Records, 16 August 2021
Japan’s The No! start off 001 with a bashing melodic handful. The guitars have a sharp edge and the vocals track with something that makes me hum along, especially on the chorus. And there’s some angst-ridden attitude to them, too. Some herky jerky rhythmic parts add to the pile of hooks. The second song is a buzzing rendition of Chixdiggit!‘s Born On The First Of July song “Quit Your Job”. It’s done with all the drive and maybe a touch more speed in the original. Good stuff.
Favorite Song: “Off to Gainsville”
Review by RYAN
Colleen Green – “Someone Else”
Hardly Art Records, 18 August 2021
Colleen Green‘s “Someone Else” is a meandering song, one that takes it’s time to go places and oozes confidence along the way. Pretty melodic guitars frame the introduction and fall away when the verses start up with some hushed vocals, drums, and bass taking front stage, only to have guitars come back up again and again. It’s all a little woozy and hazy and ends up another nice, melodic single.
Review by RYAN
Militarie Gun – “Big Disappointment”
Self-released, 17 August 2021
Militarie Gun plays a kind of hardcore that often puts an emphasis on drive and rhythm and stomp, abrasive without seeming intentionally off-putting. “Big Disappointment” is the first single from their upcoming All Roads Lead To The Gun II EP and it’s going to drive an icepick into some brains. It’s a rhythmic aggressive stomper, opening methodically with guitar and bass stabs and shouted vocals that maybe bears a slight resemblance to something from Shellac or Jesus Lizard. At least, that’s what I think I’m hearing.
Review by RYAN
The Copyrights – “Halos”
Fat Wreck Chords, 17 August 2021
The Copyrights newest, “Halos”, is a really cool melodic ripper in the vein of lots of good Copyrights songs. A loud melodic burst goes into a simmering verse that lets the bass do some damage, and then back to the melodic bursts again. It’s gonna be a real singalong after a few more listens and the melody is already seared into my brain. This is a good sign for the band’s first full length in a while.
Review by RYAN
Parquet Courts – “Walking at a Downtown Pace”
Rough Trade Records, 18 August 2021
“Walking at a Downtown Pace” opens with some hypnotic pop rock bounce that comes with a bunch of insistent lead guitar that bends melodically overtop earworm bass. The vocals are a little more sing-songy and upfront than I expected, but then the chorus hits and does that whole group-shout vocal thing that Parquet Courts does well. On a whole, it kinda reminds me of Brian Jonestown Massacre for some reason. I’ll say it’s not hitting me as immediately as some of their stuff, but it’s got me interested in the upcoming album it’s drawn from.
Review by RYAN
