On January 12th 1981, it was reported that the White House had expanded its record library. The library added albums by Bob Dylan, Kiss, and the Sex Pistols. I think I would bet money that the incoming president a.k.a. the orange moron will not be listening to any of those. Although “Liar” from the Sex Pistols ‘Never Mind The Bollocks’ album would be appropriate! Trump’s a “YMCA” fan, right?
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This is an unusual one to feature for me, but I have to say that I love “IT Girl”. It is the new single from Jade, former member of Little Mix. This is her third solo single since leaving the group with which she had five UK chart toppers. “IT Girl” tells the story of how extremely misogynistic the music industry still is. It has some very dark emotions: anger, frustration and perhaps hope too. The track starts of relatively subdued for a very short while then kicks into a glorious electronic dance psych out. Jade gives a great performance in the video too. Lyrically it is wonderfully venomous. I particularly like “Kitty got fangs and kitty got claws. Clause in the contract, contract gone. Gone is the girl that you could con“. This is a co-write from Jade and I suspect that this is a deeply autobiographical song from her. Maybe I am becoming more accepting of pop in my old age. I love Harry Styles. I am growing to appreciate Robbie Williams. Now, I absolutely adore the new song from a former member of Little Mix. Become less of a music snob (I am trying), accept the inevitable, songs like “IT Girl” paint the future brightly! If this does not top the charts everywhere then the world is even more broken than I thought!
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I was sent the first FangSlinger’s single, “The Lost Souls Saloon”, for review back in October. Sadly I never got around to it. Which is a pity because it was a truly colossal track! I believe that the first single began a tale which may run for some time. The blurb for single number one was “In the heart of Death Valley, an ancient evil roams. FangSlinger, once a man seeking fortune during the California Gold Rush, now leads a band of outlaws terrorising the West. The band’s lore is rich and immersive, drawing fans into a world where reality and myth blur.” This story deserves a graphic novel! Apparently each member of FangSlinger has their own dark story. They each have a reason for joining the quest. This makes their performances more than just music. It becomes a theatrical experience. FangSlinger, the lead vocalist, Hangman Frost on guitar and backing vox are joined by on backing vocals, keys and percussion by BloodRose.
I am pleased to announce that I have heard their second single “Blood Curse.” It was released a few days ago and is phenomenal. It carries the story along really well. It rocks like a beast from hell, hard enough to wake the undead! Apparently it is about a deal struck by FangSlinger with an ancient evil which led to their condemnation to eternal life and a debt of 100,000 souls to the Devil. It has metal, melody, grunge and riffs and hooks to die for. It reminded me at times of Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, Alice Cooper and Evanescence to name just a few. It has some great spaghetti western horror vibes going on. If the vampire TV series ‘True Blood’ ever returns, FangSlinger should provide the soundtrack. They should at least write the theme tune. The video for “Blood Curse” directed by O. D. Collins is rather good too. I am truly hooked on this band and the ever unfolding tale. I am proper excited for the next single!
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Probably Harrisburg, PA’s finest band, Jellybricks are rapidly becoming one of my favourite bands. This is the third of their singles that I have reviewed so far and every one has been high class. the other two were “That Way” and “Age Of Stupid“. The new one, “Devil’s A Day Away”, was released on January 3rd. It is delightful pop punk with some almost Beach Boyesque harmonies. I know it is still January, but I can see this one featuring on my summer playlist. But it is not just great harmonies, musically it rocks like a motherfucker. Lyrically it might seem a little dark, but I also sense a lot of hope too. On the chorus I was reminded of Semisonic in their prime. The emotion is switched up to 11 too. Everyone needs some Jellybricks in their life. Why not build your music house out of Jellybricks?
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On January 11th 1964, “Louie Louie” by The Kingsmen topped the US Cash Box music chart. For a while, a handful of US radio stations banned the record. They cited indecipherable lyrics as the reason. Rumors suggested these lyrics contained some naughty words. The FBI investigated the song for two years, from February to May 1964. They analysed the song, played it at different speeds, and even had a spy follow the band on tour. The FBI finally concluded that they could find nothing wrong. Click here to read the rather extensive FBI document about the song.
The song was written and composed by American musician Richard Berry in 1955. The song tells a tale, in the first-person of a “lovesick sailor’s lament to a bartender about wanting to get back home to his girl“. The song is widely understood to be one of the most covered rock songs, with more than 1,600 versions registered. The Kingsmen recording of the song is seen by writers, musicians and journalists as the song that all garage rock and punk can be traced back to. That is not bad for a song that cost no more than $50 to record!
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John Lennon appeared on the Peter Cook and Dudley Moore TV show. ‘Not Only But Also’ aired in the UK on January 10th, 1965 (or possibly 1966). Lennon appeared in a sketch in which he played Dan, the doorman of a trendy nightclub. This club was situated in an underground men’s lavatory.
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Milan rock band Used To Be Apes have just hit the streets with a new single, “New Waves”. It is a classy emotive three and a half minutes of perfect pop rock. The track is fuelled by melancholy but hopeful lyrics. I can sense elements of REM, Prefab Sprout and New Order. But this band are not copyists, they are very original. I can see this song making my songs of the year list in December. In the olden days when pop charts mattered this would have been a huge hit.
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Italian metal legends Lacuna Coil have just released “Gravity.” It is the fifth single from their forthcoming album ‘Sleepless Empire.’ The album will be available via Century Media Records. I believe that the song explores the rise and fall of life, the importance of resilience and fate. I felt that it conveys hope and that things will get better if you stay strong. The band said this of the new song: ““Balance is so difficult to keep as we navigate through desperate times, feeling lost and gasping as we ask for help. How do we deal with tough times? Do we ask for a hand? Or do we isolate ourselves from everything else to recollect in our own misanthropic golden cage? I hope you will love Gravity as much as we do and that it will help you to reflect on the time we have left and how to use it wisely.” The video that accompanies the release is monumentally epic, I love it! Live your life well good people and soundtrack it with Lacuna Coil!
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Elana Carroll from Chatham, New York is a singer-songwriter, artist, musician and producer. She goes by the name of Party Nails. She has just released her third album, ‘Pillow Talk,’ on Eye Knee Records. The album kicks off with “Same Old Song”. It is a mid paced ballad style song. It evokes early Taylor Swift and oozes emotion, from blues to ultra happy. This is one of the three singles taken from the album so far. Next up is another single, “First Responder”. This is a gorgeous slice of percussive synth pop with some great vocals. I really love “D.R.A.M.A.” it is a quasi rap beat driven pop construction. It reminded me equally of Kelis, Gwen Stefani and Charli XCX. The call and response elements and harmonies with Emma Kern elevate this song into something very special. If you like classy pop with 80s synth styling you will love “Movie Scene”. I can imagine Abba covering this, or if not the Swedish megastars then maybe Erasure! The dark synth riffs of “Bull In A China Shop” add some great musical tension to a fabulous brooding tune. This track was included on the 2023 Party Nails EP ‘Someway Somehow’.
Another single, “Trigger Warning” is next and this is probably my favourite track on the album. It features some delightful electronic sounds. These perfect sonic explosions ebb and flow like the best early Giorgio Moroder forays into pop music. Party Nails finds time for a mostly acoustic guitar driven ballad with “Dirty Water”. This showcases the fragility that Elana can project in an almost ethereal vocal performance. If grunge had embraced more synth sounds, it would have sounded like the title track of the 2023 EP ‘Someway Somehow’. This track would have led the way. The hard edged riffage is offset by a voice that has the clarity and honesty of Karen Carpenter’s best moments. “Do You Know How?” gives the album its most rock moment. There is a frantic, frenetic feel that harks back to the early releases of Lene Lovich. The incessant post punk style riff is mesmerising. The album closes with “Puppet.” It feels like a Stevie Nicks outtake. But it’s one that Stevie really ought to have used. The PR blurb that arrived with the album for review described it as “a genre-bending timeless yet forward thinking album featuring an intoxicating mix of retro synthwave, futuristic electro-pop, and lush indie rock.” It is hard to disagree with that description. It is only January 9th as I type this, but I believe this is a potential contender for album of the year!
If you are in the USA you can catch her supporting Bad Bad Hats on the following dates. You should go it will take you away from the prospect of four more years of the orange moron. Can we get Party Nails to come to the UK please?
Jan 09 Los Angeles CA at The Echo Jan 10 San Francisco CA at Bottom of the Hill Jan 11 Sacramento CA venue TBA Jan 12 Bend OR at Volcanic Theatre Pub Jan 14 Baker City OR at Churchill School Jan 15 Tacoma WA at Elks Temple (Spanish Ballroom) Jan 16 Seattle WA at Barboza Jan 17 Portland OR at Mission Theatre Jan 18 Boise ID at Neurolux Jan 19 Salt Lake City UT at Kilby Court Jan 21 Cheyenne WY at The Lincoln Jan 22 Denver CO at Lost Lake Lounge Jan 23 Colorado Spring at Vultures Jan 24 Omaha NE at Reverb Lounge
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On 8th January 1981, Linda Ronstadt made her Broadway debut. She performed alongside Rex Smith and Kevin Kline. They starred in the revival of The Pirates of Penzance, which ran for 787 performances. Linda could clearly tackle any genre; country, rock, folk, pop, swing/ big band and light opera among many other styles. I love her voice, even in opera, which is a genre I am not very fond of!
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