Curated by Monk
It’s been another busy couple of weeks here at the clubhouse, with a succession of ‘banging anthems blasting from our death decks and worming their way into the darkest recesses of our aural consciousness. Our new #DailyPick feature has proven to be enormously popular, allowing us to showcase many more rising artists and in a more timely way than the fortnightly opening of the main club permits… but, there are always tonnes of quality tunes that are grabbing us by the lugholes, and so here’s another eclectic playlist of the ones that are currently warming the cockles of our wizened old rock ‘n’ roll hearts…
The Cocktail Slippers – ‘I Still Dream You’ (Wicked Cool)
The fiesty and formidable Norwegian five-piece fuse garage rock, punk and 70s rock in energetic style with this latest offering, penned by the one and only Stevie Van Zandt:
Wildstreet – ‘Come Down’ (Golden Robot)
The party rockers ensuring we ain’t comin’ down quite yet with this latest preview of their forthcoming fourth album, due for release on 26 April:
The Plot In You – ‘Don’t Look Away’ (Fearless Records)
It’s going to be hard to ignore Ohio ‘bangers TPIY this year, what with a new album dropping in May and a tour planned for September:
Supermodel Taxidermy – ‘Lipstick’ (Punishment 18)
The Canadian thrash/hardcore punk crossover trio, who win this week’s award for “best band name”, are preparing to release their second album in May:
Destroy Boys – ‘Plucked’ (Self-Released)
The Sacramento quartet deliver a tenacious piece of shimmering pop-rock that slowly veers into post-punk territory with their first release of the year, with the promise of plenty more to come our way over the coming months:
Royal Republic – ‘Lazerlove’ (Odyssey Music)
The Swedish power-disco quartet declare that every party needs a slow song with their first ever power ballad, the debut taster from their forthcoming new album. ‘Lovecop‘, due in June:
Steve Conte – ‘We Like It’ (Wicked Cool)
We don’t like this latest offering from the former New York Doll – co-written by XTC’s Andy Partridge and featuring backing vocals by Ian Hunter, Michael Imperioli, Marshall Crenshaw, Steve Lillywhite, Danko Jones, Nasty Suicide, Glen Matlock, Marc Broussard, Jessie Wagner and many more – we fucking love it! Needless to say, we’ll be more than happy to take a trip through the back alleys of ‘The Concrete Jangle‘ when the power-pop maestro’s new album emerges next month:
Shotgun Mistress – ‘Shot Down’ (Self-Released)
The Aussie hard rockers are preparing to shoot down the opposition with their upcoming new album, ‘Kings Of The Revolution‘, due for release on 14 May, from which this is the declarative opening salvo:
Missiles – ‘Living In A Nuclear Town’ (Svart Records)
The Swedish post-punks are preparing to ‘Wesaponize Tomorrow’ with the launch of their debut album in May, with the first strike being delivered right here right now:
The Loyal Cheaters – ‘Can’t Go Out’ (Go Down Records)
The German/Italian action rockers are preparing to unleash hell with their second album, from which this serves as a more than appetizing first course:
The Story So Far – ‘Letterman’ (Pure Noise)
The emo-pop punks may want to disappear with their fifth album, but they’re not about to do so any time soon, as this latest single defiantly proves:
Shannon And The Clams – ‘Real Or Magic’ (Easy Eye Sound)
A grainy, doo-wop meets psych-rock contemplation of reality following the death of vocalist Shannon Shaw’s fiance, with vocals that echo her Sixties namesake, this is the first taste of the dream-pop combo’s upcoming new album, being released in May:
Chief State – ‘Metaphors’ (Mutant League)
The Vancouver pop punks are once again stripping things right back with the second single to be released from their appopriately titled ‘The Acoustic’ EP, which sees them redefining some of their biggest pops:
Bridge City Sinners – ‘Break The Chain’ (Flail Records/SBÄM Records)
This Oregon dark folk/bluegrass band mix traditional Americana music with punk, metal, New Era jazz and dark themes a la Amigo The Devil, to produce a blend that definitely, and defiantly, breaks the chain of compartmentalized musical mediocrity:
Daughtry – ‘Pieces’ (Big Machine)
There was nothing #artificial about Daughtry’s return to form with their first #1 single in 15 years, and they’re definitely picking up the #pieces of their hard rock roots with this latest, highly emotional ‘banger:
Atomic Life – ‘Incense And Aries’ (Self-Released)
This New York hardcore supergroup – made up of former members of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Ho9909, Thoughtcrimes, Glassjaw, and NK – first hit us up when they were one of our #DailyPicks last month. Now they return with their second single, which singer Adea Frances describes as “a foreboding shadow and chilling reminder to tread carefully amidst the beauty of this world”.
The Morrison Project – ‘Crack Cocaine’ (TLG ZOID)
Billy Morrison is best known as having been the rhythm guitarist in Billy Idol’s band for the past 15 years. For his debut solo album, he has teamed up with long-time bandmate Steve Stevens and a host of guest contributors including Idol himself as well as DMC, Corey Taylor, Al Jourgensen, Steve Vai, Linda Perry, Tommy Clufetos, John5 and more – including the Prince Of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne, who co-wrote and recorded this second single in just one session:
Palooka – ‘F Mind’ (Self-Released)
While it would be easy to lump these guys in with the Seattle grunge revival, there is a lot more going on here, with traditional metal, classic and alt-rock and post-punk all injected into a heady mix which bodes well for their first new release in 13 years:
Fortune Teller – ‘Drop The Act’ (Self-Released)
Rounding things off this time around, we return to ÜR’s birthplace of the Welsh Valleys, from where rising pop punks Fortune Teller are giving us ‘Premonitions‘ of great things to come with the imminent release – this very week in fact – of their most excellent debut EP… this is one act we won’t be dropping interest in any time soon:
And there you have it, another eclectic selection of what we feel are the hottest new tunes tickling the airwaves at the moment – with most of them being completely ignored by the mainstream media, of course. We’ll be back with the full-blown Club in two weeks’ time, but don’t forget to tune in each and every day for out #DailyPick… Until then, keep ‘er lit, keep ‘er between the hedges and keep on Über Rockin’ baybee \m/