The Stabilisers "Wanna Do The Plastic Brane Love Thing?"

"Wanna" from the album Wanna Do the Plastic Brane Love Thing?

The Stabilisers are one of the great new Pop-Punk bands from Wicked Cool Records, and their first proper release is nothing short of awesome. These lads from Medway have released a brilliant thirteen song effort, full of high-energy and catchy hits. The album is a sonic assault, with a beautiful combination of garage, pop, punk, and new wave. Released in 2007, "Wanna Do the Plastic Brane Love Thing" is one of the most popular and best albums from last year.


"Do the Brane" from the album Wanna Do the Plastic Brane Love Thing?

Their sophomore effort is full of under-three minute hits, oozing with familiar riffs taken in unexpected directions. Besides "Wanna" and "Belinda", the album is full of up-tempo, kick-ass tunes like "Queen of the Scene", "Born to Kiss Arse", and "My Latest Obsession". The Stabilisers completely get what Rock n' Roll is about. Simple apeing of past bands is not going on here. They have the sound, and the spirit to boot. Every one of their songs is full of riotous energy, a touch of humour, and deserve a lot of listening.



"Belinda" from the album Wanna Do The Plastic Brane Love Thing?

Stone Rider: Concert Videos

I just discovered a few new videos of Stone Rider, who I reviewed back in May. The sound quality is not the greatest, but they are from YouTube, what can you expect?

"Bad Lovin' Never Felt So Good" from the album Three Legs of Trouble

"Juiceman" from the album Three Legs of Trouble

Davie Allan and the Arrows "Restless in L.A."

"The Toxic Terror" from the album Restless in L.A.


"Kick Back" from the album Restless in L.A.

The Woggles "Rock n' Roll Backlash"

"It's Not About What I Want" from the album Rock n' Roll Backlash

The Woggles are one of the best contemporary Garage Rock combos, and will have you shakin' your hips in no time at all. After Little Steven's praise of their last album, Ragged But Right, they signed with Wicked Cool and released Rock n' Roll Backlash in 2006. For the last twenty years, the Woggles have been converting people to the fuzzed-out primitive pop sounds of the 1960s, and their cause is stronger then ever.

I would say that Rock n' Roll Backlash is their best produced album, and has a lot of highlights. There are a lot of catchy tunes here, like "Rock n' Roll Backlash", "It's Not About What I Want", and "I Gotta Go Now". One of the standouts is "Sayonarra Blues", a garage-blues fusion, which sounds awesome. Near the end of the album, "Black Sheep" follows in the footsteps of "Sayonarra Blues", but introduces more jazz elements. Both are very original, and yet classic-sounding. "The World is Falling" starts off with a sweet guitar introduction, and launches into a modern garage-pop beat.

I would recommend this album to all Garage Rock fans, as it will probably be considered one of the genres essential albums of this decade. It is another hit from the coffers of Little Steven, and Wicked Cool, which is cementing its place as the premiere garage rock label.


"There Goes Danger" from the album Rock n' Roll Backlash

The Contrast "Perfect Disguise"

The Contrast are a powerpop band that comes all the way from Peterborough, England. They were formed in 1999, and have released six albums. Perfect Disguise is their latest, and their first album with Little Steven's Wicked Cool records. They have been a regular staple of the Underground Garage, and have been described as one of the coolest bands in the world. The album is a compilation of material from their back-catalogue, including previously unreleased tracks. The Contrast play a brand of short and addictive sonic candy, and it's hard to stop listening.

The music of the band is clearly influenced by the sounds of the 60s, but is quite different, with a modern sound reminiscent of REM. David Reid's voice is immensely pleasant and lends itself well to the short pop songs. Besides the solid vocal work, each track is full of cracking guitar riffs, great backing vocals, and catchy hooks. People looking for a great variety among the album are probably going to leave a little disappointed, as all the tracks are quite similar. But for fans of short and addictive power-pop songs then I would not hesitate to recommend this album. It is the best introduction to the four-part harmonies of The Contrast, which contains all their most infectious power-pop hits.


"Caught in a Trap" from the album Perfect Disguise

Chesterfield Kings "Psychedelic Sunrise"

"Dawn" from the album Psychedelic Sunrise

I would have to classify Psychedelic Sunrise as one of the best-produced garage rock albums that I've heard. Give it a listen and it will totally convince you that garage does not have to be Low-Fi. Released at the tail end of 2007, on Van Zandt's Wicked Cool Label, it's one of my favourite releases from last year. The album is a very solid, well-produced, fantastically-played, and an interesting release. It reminds me of the Stones of the mid 1960s, and the Chesterfield Kings have totally channeled their style, energy, and cool.

The opener "Sunrise" is a great way to kick off the album, and takes you right back to that authentic 60s Garage Rock sound. "Streaks and Flashes" sounds like a 70sish cover of an early Byrds track, pairing relaxing double guitars and some punk vocals. The psychedelic track, "Elevator Ride", moves between pop and garage with ease and grace. In the middle of the album, the Rolling Stones-esque "Spanish Sun" firmly makes itself known. It's a rockin' track in the vein of "Paint It Black". The song "Outtasite" is giving me a strange 80s rock vibe, and I'm finding it hard to pinpoint it. But it is still a killer song.

Their latest effort is surely one of their greatest. It is a full on assault of more then a dozen instruments, played by a band that has never sounded more inspired, dedicated, and focused to producing a quality sound. After a bunch of lackluster releases, it is nice to hear that they are back in form. Psychedelic Sunrise is the best album the Chesterfield Kings have put out in the last twenty years (yes, they have been around since the 1980s). It's awesome and highly recommended for all Garage Rock fans.

Album Porn

I just picked up a host of new albums (from left to right)

The Woggles - Rock n' Roll Backlash
The Stabilisers - Wanna do the Plastic Brane Love Thing?
Dave Allan & The Arrows - Restless in L.A.
The Contrast - Perfect Disguise
The Chesterfield Kings - Psychadelic Sunrise