BEST OF THE REST

Other new releases out this month.

Blondie

Vivir En La Habana

Inexplicably truncated (to a six-track EP) OST to the soon-come film of the iconic CBGBers’ 2019 live Cuban debut. Spiced with local horns, vocalists and percussionists, it’s pop-rock so bright you’d best slap on the factor 30. 7/10

Eden James

All The Good Blank Are Taken

In places the most clearly Lou Reed-influenced record since Mink DeVille’s Australian journeyman James’s fourth album oozes urban cool and Springsteen swagger. A concise collision of catchiness and class. 7/10

Greg Antista & The Lonely Streets PRIMAL BEAT

Under The Neon Heat

Boasting new recruit Adolescents guitarist Frank Agnew, Antista’s Lonely Streets sound as identi-SoCal popcore as you’d expect. There’s obvious maturity here, but its overridden by an inbuilt frat-punk MO that does them no favours at all. 6/10

The Hornets

Heavier Than Stone

Ostensibly garage rock, but intrinsically new wave in the most postCheap Trick-y cerebral power-pop sense, The Hornets sound perpetually stilted by their trademark cleverness. An album ripe with potential that really ought loosen its tie. 6/10

Rich Ragany And The Digressions STORY HIGHWAY

Beyond Nostalgia & Heartache

Appropriately rich in traditional songwriting goodness, London-based Canadian (and ex-Role Models vocalist) Ragany leads his reliably jangling Digressions through an assured Tom Petty-esque debut. 7/10

Mondo Generator HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS!

Live At Bronson

Captured live in Italy shortly before lockdown, Nick Oliveri’s desert rocking power trio blaze through a slick, if brutal, set encompassing favourites from his years with Kyuss and QOTSA. 7/10

DZ Deathrays

Positive Rising: Part 2

The closing chapter of the three Australians’ sci-fi saga, apparently. (Don’t worry, new listeners, each allegorical chapter of hook-driven, soaring punk-laced pop rock works perfectly well in isolation.) Uplifting. 8/10

James Stevenson

The Other Side Of The World

Punk-spawned journeyman guitarist (ex-Chelsea, Gen X, Cult, currently The Alarm, Holy Holy, International Swingers) returns with a second guest-speckled solo LP that sparkles and swings, but – vocally unremarkable – rarely truly zings. 7/10

1919

Citizens Of Nowhere

The stalwart Peel-sessioning post-punk Bradford Goths’ third album since their 2014 reanimation (and first with bassist Ding Archer) offers no real surprises, but sometimes seasoned generic reliability is all it really takes. 7/10

Shotgun Mistress CRUSADER

Shotgun Mistress

A change of direction for ex-Akercocke guitarist Matt Wilcock, as he parks his usual death metal chops, to unveil a more traditional, 80s-based rock sound alongside Weiland-style vocalist Glenn Patrick. Concise, incendiary stuff. 7/10

Don Powell’s Occasional Flames

Just My Cup Of Tea

Spanish Stroll,

As the sharply-witted lyrics (Monochrome Set via Smiths-era Morrissey) play out, it’s easy to forget that it’s Slade’s drummer’s name above the door, but this is excellent stuff. Wry, midlife crisis musings that raise an actual smile. 8/10