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 Anti-Bodies – “Hollywood Werewolf”
Laptop Punk Records, 26 September 2021
The new Anti-Bodies has a positively infectious pop thing going with “Hollywood Werewolf”. The vocal hook is terrific, as is the guitar. The lead guitar is a great melodic pop punk thing, and it even shreds a bit in a bridge. Backing vocals harmonize along the way, a musical drop out refocuses me part way through, and they even throw in the obligatory spell-out thing (“H-O-double L-Y, W-double-O-D”). And the lyrics are funny, wondering why they’re howling at the moon and using favorite words of my like buffoon. (and even an actual howl or two). This is a good time.
Review by RYAN
Classic Pat – “Long Way Back From Hell”
OUTLOUD! Records, 1 October 2021
Classic Pat (of The Putz) covers some Danzig on the new single for We’re A Fiend Family, an OUTLOUD! Records comp. On “Long Way Back From Hell”, Classic Pat swaggers through the song with an admirable vocal confidence that does sort of approximate Glenn’s own delivery. It’s got the big guitar hooks and a kind of bluesy stomp and all-in-all it’s well done. I’ll admit that the original song isn’t my favorite (I love Misfits, but I tend to be a little more lukewarm on Danzig’s stuff), but I appreciate this one and enjoy it for what it is.
Review by RYAN
Wild Sandals – “Outta Reach”
Self-released, 29 September 2021
Right away I’m hooked with the “ooh-ooh-ooh” backing vocals, a terrific intro, indeed. The song gets going with a sort of stuttered guitar riff, a lead vocal take that stretches the closing line words out to sea and, some nice double-tap drums (a personal favorite), and some earworm synth leads that are gonna be hard to exorcise from my brain. It’s simply another fun summertime pop song from Wild Sandals, for fans of Andrea Manges and the Veterans, The Travoltas, and Don’t Back Down-style Queers. I’m smitten.
Review by RYAN
Angel Du$t – “Truck Songs”
Roadrunner Records, 29 September 2021
Angel Du$t freaks me out Since releasing the fun Rock the Fuck On Forever, they just keep getting weird with lots of experiments and acoustic jangle guitars and pop hooks. “Truck Songs” is all over the place, with some pretty moments and a sweet vocal take that really lands the melody. It shifts into guitar freak outs and noise sounds before going back to the jangle, eventually morphing into a sauntering romp with some oddball organ leads, superfuzzy guitar leads, and western “ooh-aah” vocals. I’m not sure what the hell I just heard, but I think I like it.
Review by RYAN
The Copyrights – “Stuck in the Winter”
Fat Wreck Chords, 21 September 2021
“Stuck in the Winter”, the second single from The Copyrights upcoming Alone In A Dome, is a driving up-tempo stomper. The guitar riff drills into my brain just right before ringing out during the bridge and returning during a singalong chorus that comes from the sky. Lead guitar adds some charm along the way. I do like the song pretty okay, and the chorus is really catchy and endearing, but the song goes on a bit longer than I tend to like. But if you are a Copyrights fan, you’ll likely find yourself singing along to this quickly enough.
Review by RYAN
