First Impressions is a collection of whiz-bang reviews, primarily of shorter albums (EPs and singles) 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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MEGA – “The Day My Heart Stood Still”
Self-released, 21 May 2021
Italian band MEGA get all lovesick on the new single “The Day My Heart Stood Still”. It digs into what they do best: sort of melancholy, melodic, and harmonizing pop punk that keeps a quick-but-not-blistering pace with guitars that are fairly refined with a nice bit of buzz to them. They toss off a nice and tasteful lead guitar during the bridge and end up with what will surely be a singalong when I hear it again.
Favorite song: “The Day My Heart Stood Still”
The Bruce Lee Band – “비 엘 티 (BLT)”
Asian Man Records, 6 May 2021
The Bruce Lee Band’s newest single “비 엘 티 (BLT)” is a super melodic ska punk blast that flat out exudes energy. And while I can’t sing along with the lyrics, I can catch on to the “whoa-oh-oh” quick enough to start going right away. I love the shifts between jittery ska and blasting punk and the horn accents are rad. In and out in a minute and a half, there’s no fluff here. Just a song that plants itself firmly in your brain and gets you excited about the ride.
Favorite song: “비 엘 티 (BLT)”
Covert Flops – “Shadow Play / The Midnight Sun”
Eccentric Pop Records, 19 May 2021
I love Covert Flops, so naturally I was excited to hear these two songs from the upcoming Eccentric Pop released Twilight Zone: Volume 3 7-inch. “Shadow Play” is pure pop punk catchiness with good pace, a cool guitar riff and lead, and matter-of-fact vocals. “The Midnight Sun” opens with a fantastic guitar riff and the song surely builds for a minute plus before going all in. I like the “ahh’s” in the backdrop and the drive out of the build is great. If you like their other stuff or bands like Lillingtons or Proton Packs, this one’s for you.
Favorite song: “Shadow Play”
Grim Deeds – “Clean”
Self-released, 19 May 2021
What the shit is this? Grim Deeds is weird. “Clean” is a blippy electronic number with some very different (for Deeds) vocals that warble and remind me a little of David Byrne going on about the sort of purity of doing and saying things in a vacuum (per usual, Deeds lyrics get you thinking). An intriguing practice following the great and recent pop punk/metal/skate punk songs. It’ll be interesting to see if we hear more from this particular direction, but this is a fun step.
Favorite song: “Clean”
The Linda Lindas – “Racist, Sexist Boy”
Epitaph Records, 21 May 2021
I’m starting to think The Linda Lindas are the cool shit. “Racist, Sexist Boy” pulls no punches, opening with a sludgy stomp that plays with a menacing guitar riff and shouted vocals that repeat the title with a real animosity. Then, a few drum stick clicks and the song takes off in a sprint that is straight up poppy and hook laden. Back and forth it goes like this, and it’s great. But the lyrical content takes it next level, apparently using a real happening to inspire them to go after close-minded doofuses with aplomb.
Favorite song: “Racist, Sexist Boy”
ryan is a reviewer and news editor for TGEFM. He’s very secretive, he might be an alien.
