20 BEST TRACKS OF THE MONTH – MAY 2024
The best of the best of the past month
ALL TOGETHER
.
TRACK-BY-TRACK
1. ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’ by AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS (Australia)
Press photo by Zac Bayly
This Australian rawk ‘n’ roll tornado released their second LP ‘Comfort To Me‘
already 3 years ago and they’re still touring it. It calls popularity and success.
But they found some time recently to record this belter. U Should Not Be Doing
That bounces forth and back, and funks and punks with big beats, schreeching
guitars, a sexy sax and Amyl ‘s sneering vocality.
Amyl rules.
Instagram
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2. ‘Help Me, I’m Spiralling’ by SPRINTS (Ireland)
Press promo
2024 is supersonic Irish post-punk turbine Sprints‘s breakthrough year.
Their rad riff ‘n’ roar debut LP Letter To Self, caused/causes exciting waves
among critics and old/new fans.
To keep the momentum going they dropped this new whirlwind stroke.
Instagram
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3. ‘Psychopath’ by BODY COUNT (NYC)
Ice-T and his earsplitting gang are back.
They bagged their 8th LP, and titled it
Merciless. Release date TBA.
For the first slam dunk, they get help from growling loudmouth
Joe Badolato from deathcore band Fit For An Autopsy.
They’re all psychopaths if you ask me.
Instagram
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4. ‘Repeat After Me’ by RAPTUROUS (Kent, UK)
Rapturous is an English Hip-Rock-Hop squad that erupt here like
if Cypress Hill is fronted by Zack de la Rocha, rattling like a rapid-fire
riot-gun.
If you’re looking for an avid anthem that celebrates freedom,
then this is the very loud and very clear one you can go berserk
to in the streets.
Repeat after them.
Linktree
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5. ‘Crumbs, Chaos And Lies’ by PIG (UK)
Industrial Goth-rock crusader Raymond Watts
has his new cast iron LP, baptized Red Room
out.
It features this flabbegasting sledgehammer
you can pulverize concrete with.
.
Instagram
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6. ‘A Foretold Ecstasy’ by MADAME MAYFLOWER (Oslo, Norway)
Truly hypnotizing from start to finish with velvety vocals and darkwavish synths
in the back adding a twilight tone. Top-tier tune. The on-repeat button was invented
for this kind of arousing thrills. Don’t miss this ecstatic MM jam.
“In and out
Inside again
I’m passing out
To ease the strain”
Instagram
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7. ‘Don’t Go Making Plans’ by HARD-FI (UK)
Press pic
The British pop/rock team that scored three successful albums between 2003 and 2014 returned in 2022 for some live action. They all got in the mood again and wrote/recorded thsi brand new song Don’t Go Making Plans.
It’s an infectious, brassy tune that swings around with a dance-inviting oomph.
“Where’s everybody? Where’s everyone? / I’m coming out tonight, I wanna have some fun /
But these empty streets and shut-up bars/ Too broke to eat, to nowhere to dance.”
Instagram
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8. ‘A Good Man Died’ by CUT THE KIDS IN HALF (New Jersey)
Photo credit: Francine Silver
This rotating riff-ripper is just irresistible. It’s a head-spinning stomper that gets under
your skin from the get-go. A fervid upper with a jump-up-and-down with your fists in the air chorus that doubles your adrenalin production for 4 and a half banging minutes.
Think of the early zealous gusto and the buzzing drive of NYC’s celebs The Strokes.
In a normal world, this revved-up stunner of a tune should top all indie charts
all over the globe.
Cut it here!
Linktree
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9. ‘Cover It Up’ by TYPHOID ROSIE (Brooklyn, NY)
Photo: Janier De Jesus, via Typhoid Rosie
Rosie Rebel and her robust retro rock combo do it again. This one is for their beloved dog of six years and tour companion, Canaan, who now rocks his tail off, up there in the sky.
As we experienced before Typhoid Rosie always storm full steam ahead from start
to finish. This punked-up, harmonious chant with its sickly sticky chorus triggers your
best zigzagging moves. It’ll feature on their 5th album, called Last Words, which lands
on June 21.
“We’re not gonna leave you in this shithole town!
Get in the car, let’s go!”
.
Instagram
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10. ‘Nothing To Report’ by FOLD PAPER (Winnipeg, US)
This far-out trio is masterminded by the Nigerian-born, Michigan-raised and
Winnipeg-based Chell Osuntade, who delivers almost-spoken-word lyrics searing
with intent. They produce a raw, jittery and energetic brand of post-punk.
Nothing To Report is a glorious cacophonous jackhammer going everywhere fast.
It rattles and rambles, motorized by schizophrenic guitars, a mean bass/drum
tandem and Chell Osuntade‘s sloganesque chant. Almost 5 minutes of razzle-dazzle turmoil, revved-up dynamics and jazzed-up rhythms. Think British mavericks black midi.
Touchdown.
Instagram
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11. ‘So Desperate’ by SALEM WOLVES (Providence, Rhode Island)
Photo Credit: Black Cherry Creative
With this new piece, Salem Wolves taps into the human
psyche and a lost wrestler’s supernatural ambition.
Gray Bouchard (songwriter): “‘So Desperate’ is about recontextualizing what should be a moment of triumph as something grimy. If you’re ambitious or a dreamer, it’s easy to just focus on the goal, the stage, that moment in the spotlight when all eyes are on you. You tune out the noise, ignore your screaming muscles and tired bones, and march toward victory.”
Expect a riveting mid-tempo flare-up pushed by an agonizing vocalist,
an ironclad rhythm section, and mental guitars. Vehement emotionality.
Linktree
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12. ‘Cold’ by CRENSHAW PENTECOSTAL (North Carolina, US)
This North Carolina outfit formed, fuelled by late-night jam sessions, where the only
rule was to keep the spirit of Tom Petty alive, with members who found themselves
veering away from their roles as backing musicians for solo artists.
With Cold they hit bullseye. It’s a bittersweet epic Americana
symphony that touches heart and soul. Splendid score!
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13. ‘Shark-Shark’ by JOHN CALE (Wales)
Press photo
The 82-year-old VU legend JOHN CALE is one of those artists who’ll never stop
making music until his final breath. Back in January 2023 he released one of the
finest records of that year with Mercy.
And he has already another one to offer.
It’s called POPtical Illusion and he will share it with the world
on June 14. The songs were written around the time he worked
on Mercy.
While you wait for the LP find
out how old(er) dogs still rock.
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14. ‘Cyanide Soul’ by ALAN VEGA (US)
Tomorrow, 31 May, another previously unreleased
Alan Vega (1938-2016) album, titled Insurrection will
hit our ears.
This otherwordly and enigmatic synth-psych groove will be on it.
Spooky stuff.
Linktree
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15. ‘Taking Hold’ by COMMON CULTURE (England)
Common CultureCommon Culture is a rousing, fiddle-driven alternative folk band from Barnsley, England who fuse traditional and contemporary elements into an upbeat and energetic sound.
From the very start their new pîece Taking Hold explodes like a firecracker. Peppy, bustling
and stimulating. It’s a highly encouraging mind-and-body booster incited by a dizzying pace, flaming violin play, electrical rapture, pepped-up vocals, and a delirious chorus.
There’s always a common culture light at the end of the tunnel.
Folk rock veterans Levellers should take them on tour.
Here’s why.
Linktree
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16. ‘All That School For Nothing’ by JOHN GRANT (Michigan, US)
Press
The boy from Michigan has bagged his 7th album, baptized it
The Art Of The Lie, and he will share it with the world on June 14.
Ahead of it, we can funk ourselves dizzy to this peppy dance floor knockout.
Instagram
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17. ‘Need’ by THE GREETING (Ireland)
This act is a collaboration of Irish bands Big Generator and pMad
“War, Hate, Distrust, Propaganda, Bullying and all the horrible attributes of life,
we don’t need it!! We have seen it all and it does not make us happy, let us break
the cycle and stop the unhappiness!!”
Wow! What a powerhouse debut smack this is. Terrifically vigorous
and puissant, with a titanic guitar-blazing and drum-hammering chorus.
Play it!
Facebook
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18. ‘Bye Bye Sunday Afternoon’ by SMITT E. SMITTY & THE FEZZTONES (Boston, US)
This Boston collective knows how to shake their booty. They did it before and
they do it again with this instantly working booster and exultant chant.
A rotating bass riff dictates the jumping-for-joy pace, alternating female/male vocals add some more jubilation and on the chorus, we all can go nuts. And let’s not forget that brisk violin with a jocund vibe.
Party time!
Instagram
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19. ‘Lunch’ by BILLIE EILISH (USA)
Press photo
Mega superstar (I bet she has fans on the Moon) Billie Eilish
has her new, 3rd album Hite Me Hard And Soft out.
And she eat girls for lunch on it.
Yummy!
Instagram
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20. ‘Garawek Khaos’ by CEMENTO ATLANTICO (Italy)
Cemento Atlantico is the electronic project of Italian
producer and DJ Alessandro “ToffoloMuzik” Zoffoli.
His new single is a mid-tempo techno boomer that spellbinds from start to finish.
Magnetic vibrations interwoven with hip-swaying synth eurhythmics and echoing
vocals.
Dance here.
Linktree
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