August is here and gosh darn it was jam packed. We were at Hevy and at Reading winding up the end of the UK festival season with style. We saw a lot of brilliant bands from all genres of the alternative music scene so if anyone complains punk is dead tell them to shove it. Here are the best of August picks.
The Smith Street Band – ‘I Scare Myself Sometimes’
The Smith Street Band can do no wrong in my eyes, they were a joy at Reading. This track, which features Lucy Wilson, tugs at your heartstrings. Full of emotion and passion, it starts off sort of haunting and then comes in towards the end packing a punch. The blend of Lucy and Wil’s vocals is just perfection. This was played on repeat for many many journeys to and from work in August. [Maryam Hassan]
The Flatliners – Straight American Slave
Originally released on a 7″ split EP with Dead to Me in 2011, it’s nice to see one of my favorite covers show up on a full album. The Flatliners released “Division of Spoils” on August 7, and this collection of B-sides and rarities is perfect for those of us who are eagerly awaiting their next record. “Straight American Slave” is one of my favorite Rocket From the Crypt tunes, and the Flatliners do it great justice. They take out the horn section, but it really doesn’t need it in their version– it’s a cover, but it’s also very clearly the Flatliners. As a nice treat, the band go into the next track from the original RFTC album at the end of their cover, and we get to hear a bit of their version of “Carne Voodoo,” as well. The Flatliners fellas are obviously big RFTC fans and it’s extremely evident that recording this was a lot of fun for them, which means it’s a lot of fun for the rest of us, too.[Sarah Scanlon]
Don Broco – ‘Nerve’
Second album, ‘Automatic’, is likely to divide opinion among fans hoping that Don Broco would simply churn out a replica of 2012 début ‘Priorities’. Instead, the Bedford lads disappeared into a cocoon with ‘A’ front man and pop-rock producer extraordinaire Jason Perry (McFly, Kids In Glass Houses) before emerging as a beautiful, 80s-inflected synth-rock butterfly. They’ve always been something of a marmite band, thanks in no small part to Rob Damiani’s distinctive vocals and tendency toward catchy-but-vapid lyrics; while it’s true you’ll find little in the way of poetry here, one listen to ‘Nerve’ and you’ll be singing its arena-ready chorus for days. [Rob Barbour]
Worriers – “They/Them/Theirs”
The song has a great melody and great hooks, and even stronger lyrics. The song talks about gender identify, and the desire to label people, even if they don’t want to be labeled. “Neither nor, both and me, in between in between.” It also seems to question the loud protesting over the matter, with the lyrics, “We are fighting between a rock and why bother / You are floating between two ends that don’t matter.” These lyrics are delivered in a clear, almost deadpan manner, as if to remove emotions from the discussion, leaving that to the anger of the distorted guitars and the hopeful bounciness of the melody . As more people begin questioning concepts of gender norms, this song makes a powerful statement, and is just a great listen.[Paul Silver]
Royal Headache – ‘Another World’
The concept of the punk love song runs into a wall, at least with me, when the lyrical themes rest on the laurel of “I’m a heap of trash but the object of my desire is a perfect person.” On High, the new album from Royal Headache, the Australian punks attempt to remedy that with their motown-punk tracks. Oddly enough, the record lands somewhere in between all-out love and all-out hate and I think “Another World” jams itself perfectly in the middle. It’s a throttling punk song with these soulful vocals on it that sink into the drum track. Lyrics are obviously a huge component of every love song and this one’s about wanting love from someone who might be a little hasty in their assessment of you. It’s “I’m not trash and you’re not perfect, but i think we can make it work.” In the end, it’s the soundtrack to the classic end of summer basement show punk romance and I think that’s something everyone can jam to.[Jay Papandreas]
Iron Maiden – ‘Speed of Light’
Yes, anyone who wants to hear this already has. Nearly 5 million plays in a week. You know what it sounds like already if you remotely care about Maiden. It’s a rocky, retro sounding affair; a crooning nod to ‘Somewhere In Time’ era Maiden that isn’t as immediate as ‘El Dorado’ was ahead of the last album, but is still classic Maiden. Let’s be honest, we’re all a bit worried the new album is going to be self-indulgent and flabby, but ‘Speed Of Light’ makes me think it might not be. I’m quite excited for September 4th now. And fuck it – if it is a disappointment, Slayer’s album is out a week later.[Mike Scott]
Donovan Wolfington -“Basilisk”
Donovan Wolfington’s sophomore album “How To Treat The Ones You Love” is packed with emotion and angst filled lyricism. Their song “Basilisk” is the poster child for all that. The track has a post hardcore meets Weezer tone with a hearty dose of social criticism. With lyrics like “…everyone’s all the same here, well can’t you tell?/you’re in your own personal hell…” The band snaps you back into reality with some damn good riffs and vocals. While the lyrics state that “everything’s not fine” this song, and record, are. [Daniella Heminghaus]
The Murderburgers -“The Waves”
It’s been a while since we last heard new songs from The Murderburgers and this demo to their new material has got us excited all over again. Think Houseboat meets Copyrights with a Scottish accent, these guys are definitely flying the flag for UK punk. Coming just at the peak of summer, ‘The Waves’ just gives us a glimpse of the brilliant knack of writing skills these guys have, and how they can easily sing about heartache yet make it sound so catchy. New album coming out soon, and we simply can’t wait! [Mark Gadong]
The Atom Age -“It’s A Mess”
Raucous. Rowdy. Explosive. Rock N’ Roll! All of those can be used to the describe the new record Hot Shame by the Oakland, California band The Atom Age. The album’s their third effort, their second for renowned punk label Asian Man Records and boy does is wail. Mixing an fiery blend of punk rock, soul, garage and straight up rock n’ roll, The Atom Age grab you by the neck with the record’s opener “It’s a Mess” and don’t let go until the final notes of closer “Wastoid” (which by the way, has a rad video featuring an Elvis impersonator). If you like The Hives, Rocket From The Crypt and New Bomb Turks, this album is a must have. It’s a strong contender for Album of the Year for me.[Jeff Takacs]
Foxing- “The Magdalene”
Foxing premiered the first single on their sophomore album on NPR with great accompanying details into the honest influence behind the song. While it can be fun to guess at the meanings behind new tracks or twist them into your own personal relief, having known the details going into this first listen made it all the better. With no lack of emotion, Foxing presents “The Magdalene” as an expression of the guilt associated with sexuality in catholicism, a very personal topic exposed through the ever-so poetic, Foxing style of lyricism. The melodies pop over crisp percussion and clean, atmospheric synth and guitar riffs that cast an angelic mood, setting the tone of sweet sexuality. At its peak, guilt-ridden tones strike through the beauty and the story is truly told in the sounds they’ve created. I’ll admit, I was nervous Foxing would slip into a far-out, overdone indie territory in their next record, but all faith is restored with this song. This single brought me back to listen through Foxing’s Triple Crown reissue of ‘The Albatross’ three times consecutively in anticipation of the new record, ‘Dealer,’ out October 30.[Tori Pisco]
Mutts – “Crazy Pills (Archie Powell & the Exports Cover)”
Art zine, Midwest Action has come up with a brilliant plan: take two bands, have them cover each other’s songs, write a brand new one, put it out, and watch it all pay off. For the premier release, Chicago favorites Mutts covered their spirit animals Archie Powell & the Exports’ “Crazy Pills.” If you’re the kind of person who finds Tom Waits to be too subdued, fear not because Mutts will set you straight. Anchored by singer/pianist Mike Maimone’s distinctly gruff voice and keyboard work that seems to come easier to him than breathing does to most, “Crazy Pills” goes from a rollicking rock anthem to a song fit for the darkest, most whiskey soaked, cigarette stained lounge bar in town. Employing gospel style backing vocals in the bridge and a massively high energy closing, Mutts perfectly capture the original spirit of the song and make it distinctly their own. This is definitely a band to keep an eye out for if you are heading to FEST this fall and looking to have all the fun.[Mat Stokes]
The Wonder Years – “I Don’t like Who I Was Then”
It’s a scientific fact that The Wonder Years can only write amazing songs, and ‘I Don’t Like Who I Was Then’ is another tantalising glimpse of what to expect from their very soon to be released fourth album ‘No Closer To Heaven’. Wrapped up in the textured guitar tones that really came to the fore on ‘The Greatest Generation’, ‘I Don’t Like Who I Was Then’ combines Dan Campbell’s intelligent lyrics with a typically perfect chorus. As cathartic as it is catchy, it’s further proof that The Wonder Years are kings of the genre and genuinely deserve all the plaudits that come their way. [Chris Hilson]
Chain Of Flowers – ‘Crisis’
Now that summer is over, you are probably looking for a soundtrack to shorter days, cold lonely nights, and something to complement the sound of rain at your window. If so, then look no further than Welsh post-punk band Chain Of Flowers, because their new single ‘Crisis’ is just what you need. The first track to be released from their long awaited debut album shows a bolder sound and more refined production, helping them capture the sullen essence of new-wave pioneers Joy Division and The Sound, while remaining vastly original in todays climate. The repetitive drumming, lush synths, and shrill lead lines match vocalist Joshua Smith’s bleak narrative that runs through ‘Crisis’, and is the perfect pre-cursor to an album that will push them out of the shadows when its released later this year.[Glen Bushell]
Iron Chic- ‘YS’
Two years ago, Iron Chic released The Constant One, a brilliant, magnificent masterpiece that seemed nearly impossible to top. Somehow, through sheer force of will, maybe magic, they managed to do just that in just one song. “Ys” is everything amazing about Iron Chic, kicked into an even higher gear from a band that already sets the bar incredibly high. Intensely melodic, Jason Lubrano’s vocals are the best they’ve ever been, and the lyrical content that perfectly articulates your existential crisis with a small dash of hopefulness remains firmly in tact. As the a-side to a 7-inch that is accompanied by a Dead Kennedys cover, it’s incredibly tragic that this release isn’t a full length, but that’s life. And what better way is there to cope with life’s tragedies than an Iron Chic song?[Nicole Carter]
Deafheaven – ‘Brought To The Water’
Having exploded into the public sphere with their debut full-length ‘Sunbather’ in 2013, ‘Brought To The Water’ is the first slice of doom-laden riffery to appear from their forthcoming follow-up, ‘New Bermuda’. Building upon their epic sound, the track is at once heavy as fuck and mesmerizingly beautiful. ‘Brought To The Water’ is a stunning eight-minute immersive masterpiece.[Ben Tipple]
Upset – ‘Glass Ceiling’
As the opening track to Upset’s latest full length release, ‘ ‘76’, “Glass Ceiling” does an incredible job of letting you know what you’re getting yourself into. The track opens up with a nostalgic punk feel of the power-driven drums played by Hole’s Patty Schemel and a guitar hook that continues throughout the song. Singer Ali Khoeler’s sweet voice full of gumption describes what seems like the inevitable end to a relationship, and you can’t help but cheer her on as she finally calls it quits to do her own thing. It’s something I think most of us can admit we wish we had the courage to do. Like the chorus says, “…and I won’t wait for you to catch up, cause I’m already there,” the ladies of Upset are quickly on their way to being the best thing around and they’re not waiting for anybody to try and stop them.
[Michelle Lopez]