Review: Radio Blast – “Radio Blast”

Mom’s Cellar Dwellers, 31 Oct 2022

Radio Blast offers up a great spartan take on the Ramonescore aesthetic.

I’m gonna be up front right outta the gate.  Radio Blast (by NYC’s Radio Blast) is a blistering bunch of Ramones-indebted street punk songs that don’t really need a bunch of written words, so I’m planning on keeping this brief and to the point (like any good Ramones song).  If you don’t wanna read further, just know that this album rips with a bunch of no-nonsense punk rock that doesn’t care about sounding different, only sounding right.  Keep all the concepts, complicated drum fills and rhythms, and guitar leads (mostly) to yourself – Radio Blast doesn’t need ‘em.

After opening with a fitting instrumental number, the band tears into a bunch of propulsive street punk rock that is spartan (both in its to-the-point songwriting and in its perfectly raw yet clear production) and memorable as can be.  The album has lots of fast would-be “radio blasts” (see what I did there?) that have catchy hooks that won’t get outta my brain no matter how hard I try (and admittedly, I don’t try all that hard, cos why would I want ‘em out?).  Lead single “Latchkey Kids” is one of my favorites, with an obvious guitar riff that checks all nuance at the door, but other fast buzzers like “Lefty (Doesn’t Own a Leather Jacket)” and “I Can’t Stand It” are nearly as catchy with cool backing vocals and chainsaw guitars that jump outta the speakers.  In the second half, “Bad News” rips things up with some fantastic popping bass and a singalong chorus and “One Track Mind” is as straightforwardly simple as can be, but it’s so good and does this quick hesitation thing at the end of a line on the bridge that feels like a gasp before jumping back in head-first.  “It Doesn’t Make Sense” plays around with a cool guitar riff that plants a flag in my brain – same goes for the second pre-release single “King of the Block”.  Closer “Back To Coney Island” buzzes with purpose.  The guitar riff cuts just right and a couple of quick stop-and-go moments are executed expertly.  And while these songs maybe work as highlights after listening a bunch of times through, there’s not a bum one in the 13-song bunch.  I’ve had this on constantly for a week now and whenever I’m listening, I just start with the first song and let it go from there.  Each song is recorded pretty spot-on, with the right electricity from the guitars, the right pop from the bass, the bare bones horsepower from the drums, and vocals that fit in just right over the buzzing racket.  

If you’re a Ramones/Head/Vapids fan, Radio Blast is gonna feel just right to you and it’s a must-hear.  And if you’re not, this one won’t do anything to convert you.  As for me, I’m obsessively in the first camp and I can’t recommend this one enough.

Favorite song: “Latchkey Kids”

Favorite moment: the gasps in “One Track Mind” is weirdly exhilarating to me

Favorite whatever else: Radio Blast aren’t out to fool anyone – that Ramones-style cover is a clear statement of intent