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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Colleen Green – “I Wanna Be a Dog”
Hardly Art, 23 June 2021
Colleen Green goes easy breezy on “I Wanna Be a Dog” (from her upcoming Cool album, due in September). There’s some pretty and melodic guitar figures chiming over a just-so-slightly fuzzy rhythm guitar. As with much of her music, things stay simple. The drums are completely straight-faced and the vocal melodies and rhythmic phrasings are endearing and hooky. This is some great summer pop and I’m gonna be singing along. Superchill good time.
Review by RYAN
Neon Bone – “I wanted you to know”
Jarama 45RPM Records, 24 June 2021
Neon Bone is gonna give out some quick buzzy pop punk with some Ramones sounds mixing in with some Weezer echoes. “I wanted you to know” hits both of these marks quickly and the guitar lead sounds just right. “Put it on a rest” is a slower snare drum two-tap song that gives room for some pop sugar while “Why did you go away” has a bit more pace and no fewer hooks. Closer “Island of dreams” is no slouch either, reveling in a sort of nostalgia and dealing a melody that reminds me of some church/gospel song.
Favorite song: “I wanted you to know”
Review by RYAN
Quicksand – “Missile Command”
Epitaph Records, 23 June 2021
Ahh, Quicksand, I’ve missed you. “Missile Command” opens as a simmering builder before relenting and bursting forth towards a new-noise summer. When that chorus hits, the guitar sounds diabolical and the squawking guitar noises are a hook all their own. Quicksand does this real good and then they go back to the downtime. Back-and-forth it goes, and I like it. It’s also romping around with a swagger that kinda reminds me of Girls Against Boys in parts, too.
Review by RYAN
Real Sickies – “Love is for Lovers”
Stomp Records, 24 June 2021
Real Sickies new one, “Love is for Lovers”, comes from an upcoming album of the same name. It opens with a guitar lead that reminds me a bunch of NOFX’s “Liza and Louise”. Then, some chugs and slightly past mid-tempo drums. The vocal hook on the chorus is pretty penetrating, sure to stick around for a bit. Same goes for the cool lead guitar on the back end of the chorus. This is just a good simple song with lots to rattle around in my brain.
Review by RYAN
Chubby and The Gang – “Coming Up Tough”
Partisan Records, 15 June 2021
Chubby and The Gang hit a groove on “Coming Up Tough”, the newest single from their upcoming The Mutt’s Nuts. The song rides the bass, pulsing and throbbing beneath angsty shouted vocals and short blasts of guitars. Then, when the chorus hits, the song opens into something a bit bigger with banging insistent drums and full-on guitars stepping away from the almost-AC/DC riff rock in the verses. A not-so-hardcore song (though the hoarse vocals might convince you otherwise) and pretty hooky.
Review by RYAN
ryan is a reviewer and news editor for TGEFM. He’s very secretive, he might be an alien.
