FIDLAR - Down N Out

 

1. Who are FIDLAR?

FIDLAR are an influential garage/punk/surf rock band from Los Angeles, California. They have played together since 2009 and have never managed to better their high-tide mark of the lead single from their second album 40 Oz On Repeat (2015). Down N Out (July, 2024) is one of a few singles from their fifth album Surviving The Dream (Sept, 2024). 

2. What has Down N Out got going for it? 

Down N Out is a little bit of a return to form, a sweet surf-pop Beach Boys-style tune done by a garage band that have lost relevance and the sun is setting down on their backs. The spoken-word breakdown is putrid and indicative of a band stripped clean of ideas.  The lyrics are fucking whiny too. But all told Down N Out isn't completely vile; it remains passable for the intro that has a spectral sense of urgency, it's playful bouncy pop tone, and for the ghostly echoes of the excitement this band once conjured. 

3. Which bands do FIDLAR sound like? 

SWMRS, WAVVES, Bass Drum of Death, and The Frights. 

4. Which bands influenced FIDLAR? 

The Black Lips, Beastie Boys, Weezer, and The Hives. 

5. What is the word on the street about Down N Out?

"A sunburnt surf punk track with propulsive guitars and tongue-in-cheek spoken-word banter" - Prelude Press. 

"Sounds like classic FIDLAR" - Punk News. 

"An excellent single" - Kerrang! 

"Nodding out in a car,

Cause I don't give a fuck"

Twin Peaks - Holding Roses

1. Who are Twin Peaks?

Twin Peaks are garage rock legends from Chicago, Illinois. Creating a racket since 2009 they have three long players in the vault. Holding Roses (April’16)  is the third single release from Twin Peaks' third album Down In Heaven (May’16). 

2. What kind of tune have Twin Peaks rustled up?

Holding Roses is a slow roller with some cranky Mick Jagger style vocals and some rock'n'roll piano thrown in. One for the ladies but it'll worm it's way into anyone's affections.

3. Who do Twin Peaks sound like?

The Frights, Public Access TV, The Orwells. NPR compared Twin Peaks to The Replacements, Velvet Crush and Teenage Fanclub. Panty sniffers.


4. What have the press said about Holding Roses? 

“Immense and infectious” – Stereogum. 

“Has a charming, Stones-ish, mid-tempo grace” – NPR.  

“A mid-tempo, romantic melody with a swelling chorus” – Tenement TV. 

5. Who put the grime in Twin Peaks garage rock?

Twin Peaks are influenced by bands like Jay Reatard, T. Rex, The Strokes, The Stooges and The Rolling Stones. 

6. Why should I give Holding Roses a whirl?

Holding Roses is good value for a change of pace and the authentic garage vibe of Twin Peaks remains true throughout.

7. Do Twin Peaks have any more sound tracks?

Flavor is pure unadulterated genius. Songs don't get better than that. A bonafide garage anthem. I Found A New Way isn't too shabby. 

8. Any more words?

The new album Down In Heaven was produced by R. Andrew Humphrey who produced and engineered Twin Peaks' last album Wild Onion. 

“I can feel my heart beating,

As the tears roll down my tongue”

The Orwells are the real deal. Bastards to bleed for. This garage rock band is from Chicago, Illinois, too. Kicking arse and taking no prisoners since 2009 they have two long players on their roll of honor. Who Needs You was the lead single from their second album Disgraceland (2014). Who Needs You gives the militaristic U.S. government and police state a big serve. Guitarist Matt O'Keefe said, “It’s about being told what to do, what to believe in – which is in a nutshell, the story of America’s youth.” Who Needs You is the sound of The Strokes made better, with a conscience, with the balls of god honest rebellion, and is what real rock'n'roll is all about. Bugger the pretenders.

“You better join the army,

I said “No thank you Uncle Sam”

PARTYBABY - Your Old Man

1.    Who are these bright new things?

PARTYBABY are Noah Gersh and Jamie Schefman and they fight out of Los Angeles, California. Your Old Man (Oct'15) is the second missile fired from these musical marvels.


2. What flavor of wonderful is Your Old Man?

Your Old Man is instantly lovable garage punk that reeks of gut punching honesty. At turns chill and sweet and noisy with an epic chorus that soars free into the stratosphere on gritty glam rock wings.

3. Who have PARTYBABY been compared to?

The consensus is FIDLAR. PARTYBABY are hitting the road in April with SWMRS and The Frights so that is the kind of pool they swim in. A fucking great one.


4. What have the pundits in the press said about Your Old Man?

“Snarling punk rock with a tab of anthemia” – DIY.

“An intoxicating blend of frazzled punk and impossibly infectious melodic refrains” – The Fat Angel Sings.

“Melody and hard rock edge” – Pigeons and Planes.

5. Which bands brought the favors to PARTYBABY’s party?

Everclear, Primal Scream, Fatboy Slim, Sparklehorse, SWMRS and more.

6. Why should I give Your Old Man a spin on the turntable?

Your Old Man brings a fresh, savage, attack to garage punk rock elevating it above and beyond the current crop of fine fucking soldiers battling for a righteous cause. Your Old Man packs the whallop of a steel-capped kick to the taint and is just as satisfying as collecting some sack with the follow through. It has a rich tapestry of musical textures, rhythms and blinding production too.

7. Do PARTYBABY have any more of these blinders?

The debut single Everything's All Right brings the pain and blows out the cobwebs.

8. Any more words fool?

Noah Gersh was a member of Portugal. The Man and Jamie Schefman is a producer and engineer and put his genius to shine on 30 Seconds To Mars last two long players.

“Do you ever talk to your old man?

Does he understand what we do on the weekends?”

It would be rude to ignore 30 Seconds To Mars for the follow-up seeing as how Jamie Schefman shared engineering duites on their last two albums. The alternative rock band roll out of Los Angeles, California and have been on the job since 1998 and sold over 15 million albums. This Is War (2010) screamed off the album of the same name that sold four million albums and a million singles. This Is War is bombastic nonsense but it is fun.

“Raise your hands into the sky,

The fight is done, the war is won”