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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MxPx – “Can’t Keep Waiting”
Self-released, 16 April 2021
Early on, MxPx kicks into a sprint with a nice rhythmic change on the chorus. Mike Herrera’s vocals are prominent in the mix and sound really good, as do the quick shots of backing vocals. The pace is there, though the guitars are refined and lack some of the buzz I like. The melodic bass and layered guitars near the end remind me of later-era Blink and they work okay. I haven’t listened to much MxPx since way back with Slowly Going The Way of the Buffalo, but I ended up enjoying this a bit.
Favorite song: “Can’t Keep Waiting”
Dickie Devil and the Deviants – “Stephanie is a Succubus”
Self-released, 12 April 2021
“Stephanie is a Succubus” is a mid-tempo chugger with a lot of Ramones influence. The bass is really cool and melodic, especially on the singalong chorus, and the alternately chugging and stuttered guitars sound good over the reverbed drums. And the vocals sound pretty decent, carrying along a contagiously repetitive “Stephanie is a succubus” chorus while “ooh, wah-wah-wah-ooh” backing vocals doo wop across the backdrop. Nothing earth-shattering, but a good and fun song.
Favorite song: “Stephanie is a Succubus”
The See-Saw – “Get A Chance!”
Secret Mission Records, 15 April 2021
Japan’s The See-Saw have a really blown-out garage pop thing going for them. There’s a bunch of hooks that come out through great melodies and some almost bubblegum backing vocals that sound played out of some absolutely destroyed speakers. If you want polished stuff, look elsewhere. But you’d be missing out. The opener, “Get A Chance”, is a real earworm and the follow up “I Can’t Do It” sounds like Poly Styrene (of X-Ray Spex) fronting a fantastic garage band sans the sax. The closer, “Don’t Cry Anymore” slows things down a bit, but it’s okay, too.
Favorite song: “Get A Chance”
Los Tourettes – “Flash EP”
Self-released, 10 April 2021
Bogota’s Los Tourettes mess around with some really cool buzzsaw guitars and lots of energy on Flash EP. Opener “Yo no sé” is a blast with really cool hooks and singalongs and humalongs and is probably my favorite on here. Follow up “Soy un robot” gets by on rhythmic hooks and closer “Esmeraldas” throws a ravaged tantrum, even with some throat-shredded screams tossed in – hardcore garage, maybe? Oh, and check out the cover. I like it. A lot.
Favorite song: “Yo no sé”
The Биты – “СТАРОСТЬ”
Self-released, 11 April 2021
Okay, so I first heard this song with the release of it as a video recently, but apparently it originally came out back in 2014. On “СТАРОСТЬ”, I don’t know what they’re going on about in this song because of my own language limitations. But the song swims in angst and fed-up attitude. The music is done with a Ramones-style simplicity, but on the more aggressive side of that spectrum (I’m thinking a Too Tough To Die sort of sound). It’s nothing new, but it’s a good way to work through some dread.
Favorite song: “СТАРОСТЬ”
ryan is a reviewer and news editor for TGEFM. He’s very secretive, he might be an alien.
