Firestarter – First Album LP (Secret
Mission)
Wow, it’s been
twenty years since the original release date of First Album, I can’t believe it. There are a heap of modern bands
that sound like this. Hmm, I wonder? Firestarter is three out of four members
from Teengenerate, but sound nothing like them. Yes, Firestarter is the
Fifi/Fink combo, but Fifi is the lead songwriter in this band. Firestarter
leans more toward Raydios and Tweezers and writes ’77 punk/power-pop that rank
right up there with The Boys, The Jam, and other greats of the era. If you only
thought this family produced Teengenerate, you have been missing out for years
and missed this underrated gem. – Ed
Stuart
Gloom Sleeper – Luminous Galaxies LP (Dirt
Cult)
Oh those Germans
dipping into their Cold War past have definitely unearthed the sounds of the
era. Gloom Sleeper plays a post-punk/dark wave set in the ‘80’s, but doesn’t
seem to stick on the melancholy side of it. Yes, there are notable Echo and The
Bunnymen, Cure and even Smiths-y guitar and moody keys, but surprisingly, some
the songs are upbeat and danceable. Too often these bands go straight for the
Bauhaus gloom and doom, but Digital
Galaxies isn’t afraid to get upbeat and add a little more punk to it’s
post-punk songs. – Ed Stuart
Proud Parents – S/T LP (Dirtnap)
Dirtnap has
officially released their first release from their new hometown of Madison,
Wisconsin. Proud Parents, who I already mentioned are from Madison, filled
their debut LP with plenty of jangle-garage-lo-fi-pop-punk lite songs.
Originally started as a side project from Tyler (Fireheads) and Claire, the
guitar/vocalists of Proud Parents, formed into a full four-piece band. Proud
Parents, you could argue, could fit into Martha territory, but it’s earlier ‘80’s
REM meets quirky pop. – Ed Stuart
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