601. Agent Orange

September 14, 2024 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(September 2024) Episode 601 is AGENT ORANGE. They are written up as pioneers of surf-punk so I thought they’d be what The Cramps are to rockabilly-punk. And my college roommate had a big poster of them on his dorm wall. Both these things made me expect something more than I found. The surf thing seems limited to (decent) covers of “Pipeline” and “Miserlou,” and beyond first two EPs the rest bored me. Mushy pop-punk, like the Blink 182 of the 1980s, but with even less kick.

Favorite album: Living in Darkness

Favorite song: Bloodstains

Compared to expectations: ↓

Recommendation: The Bloodstains and Bitchin’ Summer

519. The Muffs

September 2, 2023 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(September 2023) Episode 519 is THE MUFFS, the perfect combination of pop-punk and power-pop,* melding the tone of the former and the melodicism of the latter. Kim Shattuck’s snotty snarl hits just the right attitude which, along with the unadorned delivery, makes it endearing. Their kicker tempo is what brings you in, but it’s Shattuck’s gift for melodic lines (and lyrics) that will keep you and make you want to revisit.

Favorite album: Blonder and Blonder

Favorite song: Agony

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: I do. I wish I had known them (and seen them) in the 1990s rather than finding them decades later.

* I know some people might say one is a subset of the other, but it’s my blog = my definitions.

508. Shonen Knife

July 8, 2023 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(July 2023) Episode 508 is SHONEN KNIFE, a reminder of the simple joy of uncomplicated rock-n-roll. That they are a trio of women singing in Japanese or accented English adds to the charm and shows the universality of the rock idiom. Their style is labelled pop-punk, but I’d also say garage rock. It’s apt to call them the Ramones of Japan, and they own it, putting out an excellent cover/tribute album. They broadened their sound over four decades (including a good album released this year), but they always keep the core approach, including silly lyrics as odes to ordinary things (“Banana Chips,” “Rubber Band,” “I Am A Cat,” “Spicy Veggie Curry”). It’s spunky fun.

Favorite album: Pretty Little Baka Guy

Favorite song: Twist Barbie

Favorite fast tempo song: Economic Crisis

Favorite ballad: Sunshine

Favorite covers album: Osaka Ramones

Compared to expectations: ↑

Recommendation: Highly recommend. It puts you in a good mood.

273. The Dollyrots

July 5, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(July 2020) Episode 273 of the “opus project” is THE DOLLYROTS. Peppy, energetic pop-punk with plenty of hooks and a bubblegum attitude. Wife-and-husband team. I recommend the first two not-yet-overproduced albums.

Favorite album: Because I’m Awesome

Favorite song: Because I’m Awesome

Best cover: Brand New Key

Compared to expectations: same

Because_I'm_Awesome

253. Buzzcocks

February 16, 2020April 16, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(February 2020) Episode 253 of the “opus project” is BUZZCOCKS. WOW! those first three late-70s punk pop albums kick ass! Buzzcocks near the top of my “regret” list: bands I should have been listening to at the time instead of the crap I was listening to. Their later output (90s-10s) is decent but unremarkable guitar-driven rock.

Favourite album: Another Music In A Different Kitchen

Favourite song: No Reply

Special sauce: Pete Shelley’s guitar hooks

Compared to expectations: ↑

Buzzcocks_-_Another_Music_In_A_Different_Kitchen_album_cover

205. Green Day

March 11, 2019April 11, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2019) I have completed episode 205 of my “opus project.” This edition: GREEN DAY. Based on their radio play, I had dismissed them as safe-space punk for the masses. But with this review, I was selling them far short. The rhythm section is *chef’s kiss* and the guitars are hooky and loud. Early on, the over-production was unsuited to the genre, but as they grew the songwriting caught up and broadened into power pop and guitar rock. Billy Joe’s affected vocals, once irritating and dominating, got better integrated. Green Day is a model for how a band matures and adds dynamism without letting go of their foundational tone.