THE FUTUREHEADS - "Christmas Was Better In The 80's" (Single)

A holiday-themed song from The Futureheads. The song starts off slow, with a single piano and lyrics that reminisce about the singer's youth and how, as the title suggests, "Christmas was better in the eighties". The song then kicks into the tight post-punk/new-wave you know these guys for, with harmony vocals, chimes, and a propelling drum rhythm. The chimes really give the song a Christmas feel. After the band kicks out the jams, they return to the solitary piano and vocal at the end, which neatly wraps up the song. This is a solid single, props to the band for this one.

www.thefutureheads.com
www.myspace.com/thefutureheads

KIMBERLEY REW - Bible Of Bop

Kimberley Rew was the guitarist for both The Soft Boys and Katrina and the Waves. Although many don't recognize his name, most are familiar with the big hit song he wrote while with Katrina and the Waves: "Walking On Sunshine". Bible of Bop was released in 1982, a year after the Soft Boys broke up and a year before Katrina and the Waves would release their first album. The album was composed of eight songs; three of these songs were recorded with the Soft Boys serving as the backing band: "Stomping All Over the World," "Nothing's Going to Change," and "Fighting Someone's War". Another three songs put the dB's to work as the backing band: "My Baby Does Her Hairdo Long," "Walking in the Dew," and "Fishing". The remaining two songs, "Nightmare" and "Hey, War Pig!" were recorded with the Waves. Through this set of songs, we see just how good a songwriter Rew was. He was well at home with the post-punk/new-wave crowd; at times, his songs are reminiscent of the work of Television or The Cure. I've listened to this album a bunch of times and I think I like it more each time. Great stuff.

www.kimberleyrew.com

THE WAVES - Shock Horror!

The Waves were the predecessors to Katrina and the Waves. Shock Horror, their 1983 debut EP, was recently re-released to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the hit single "Walking On Sunshine" which was found on 1985's Katrina and the Waves. Shock Horror is chock-full of guitar-driven pop and New Wave music. I like it a lot. It has a "We recorded this in our garage and it still sounds awesome" vibe to it and it just seems really badass. I also have to mention the fact that there is a song on here called "Strolling On Air" - I guess it just didn't have the right ring to it to be a hit song but at least they tried again.

www.katrinaandthewaves.com/

DEVO - Something For Everybody

DEVO!!! How could you not be excited? This is their ninth studio album and first since 1990. It's fantastic, ridiculous new-wave pop music. Great lyrics. Catchy stuff. It's DEVO! How could you not like it?

www.myspace.com/devo
www.clubdevo.com

The Virgins - The Virgins

Following the release of their excellent, albeit somewhat lo-fi, "Virgins EP" at the end of 2007, they return with their first full-length album. Hailing from NYC, they might as well be the new Strokes. Great tunes combine with good looks and the swagger that a band should have. They have realized that the secret to making danceable rock music lies in bass lines that could have been at home on a 1970s funk record or a 1980s new wave album; their bass player is truly their secret weapon. The songs are catchy and fun and could be the soundtrack to your next fashion party.

www.myspace.com/thevirginsnyc
www.thevirgins.net

The B-52 - Funplex

The B-52s return for their first full-length in 16 years. The sound is still instantly recognizable as theirs, though they don't sound outdated by any means. It is just updated for the 21st century. Fun, upbeat pop/rock/dance. Female vocals with Fred Schneider's spoken verbal eccentricities thrown in for comedic and awesome effect. If you don't take music too seriously, this album is probably for you.


www.myspace.com/theb52s
www.theb52s.com

The B-52s - Funplex single

The first single from their first studio album in sixteen years (!!!). This is highly exciting for any B-52s fan, 1980's New Wave Revivalists, and lovers of rock lobsters. If this single is any indication of the new album's sound, it will have been well worth the wait. 'Funplex' is great. I listened to all three versions they've packaged together on the single (the album version and two different edits) and was not bored once, oh no no no. Cindy Wilson handles most of the vocals with Fred Schneider providing bits of hilarity as well. Totally gnarly, dude!

www.myspace.com/theb52s
www.theb52s.com

The Gentz - Rock City

This band hails from New York but recorded this album in Detroit. This album is awesome! A throwback to 1980's pop/rock with a power-pop/New-Wave edge and romantic feeling to some of the songs; guitar solos and keyboard flourishes on some tracks. Excellent. I need a Camaro to ride around in and blare this from the sound system. Recommended if you like The Cars, Rick Springfield, maybe even Cheap Trick.

The Gentz on Myspace
www.thegentz.com