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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Descendents – “Nightage”
Epitaph Records, 2 June 2021
The second 9th & Walnut opens with the burbling Lombardo bass line and has the desperate tinge that lots of great early Descendents songs do. The lead guitar fits in right and the song crashes and falls all over itself, with Milo’s vocals having an aggressive angst to them that helps the feel for the song come across well. We’re two songs into this upcoming release and I’m already hooked and ready for more. This stuff is destroying my brain. – Ryan
Destroy Orbison – “Dick”
Self-released, 28 May 2021
Destroy Orbison rip through “Dick” with back-and-forth melodic vocals that sort of remind me of Jeff Ott’s from Fifteen. The song pops and thrashes, too with collapsing-cardboard-fort drums, buzzing guitars, and lead guitar dropping over top of the whole shambolic mess, again reminding me of some of Fifteen’s stuff. And he really sounds like he means it when he starts screaming a ravaged melody near the end. Really good stuff, I like it a lot. – Ryan
Joey Cape – “It Could Be Real”
Fat Wreck Chords, 21 May 2021
This past year has been rough for many, and it sounds like Joey Cape is no exception. His melodic weathered voice sounds a little tired but also a little resolute as he sings over this pretty and sort of melancholy acoustic guitar and drums number. Cape’s got a real way with a melody and the song is a gentle run-through that sounds really nice listening to it on a stifling humid day, but with a summer breeze in my face. – Ryan
Lauren Banjo – “Hang In There”
Laptop Punk Records, 2 June 2021
With “Hang In There”, Lauren Banjo has a great catchy song on her hands. It’s got a really cool rock ‘n roll boogie guitar riff with just a bit of angst playing a catchy riff, and the lead guitar is spot-on. But the real star is Banjo’s vocals. They sound untrained and genuine and sing a great warts-and-all melody. She even throws in the slightest of Kim Shattuck-style snarls around the 2:20 mark. And I dig the closing, pleading line “hang in there, please hang in there, it’s okay”. – Ryan
Smart Shoppers – “Socket”
Self-released, 21 May 2021
Here’s another weirdo pop number sure to rummage through my brain. On “Socket”, Smart Shoppers once again get all herky-jerky, channeling their inner Devo and going on about Johnny the special bot. The backbeat has a sort of syncopated rhythm going that reminds me of a rudimentary Rage Against The Machine beat and the synth lines and melody are obnoxiously tuneful in their repetitive, fitful glory. I like this one even better than the previously released “Double Dutch”. – Ryan
Weaver Street – “Introvert’s Anthem”
Self-released – 04 Jun 2021
Weaver Street is a project made up of a bunch of guys who have played, off and on, for decades. They also do two COVID-era cover acts (one for Descendents/ALL, and once for general covers). As such, you’d think they know their way around a song, and you wouldn’t be wrong. “Introvert’s Anthem” appears to be their first new music in their current iteration since last June’s “Wondering.” It’s full of 90’s era pop/melodic punk hooks and, while it doesn’t break any molds, it definitely hits all of the buttons that made you love your summers in the late-90s. This track is a tease of what to expect from a forthcoming LP and I, for one, am stoked to hear more. – Jeff Sorley
