The Barreracudas - Can Do Easy LP - White Vinyl (/100)

Oops Baby (2015)

The Barreracudas are another refugee from the sadly missed Douchemaster records.  They have paired up with Oops Baby records for their sophomore album Can Do Easy.  It's a very strong follow-up to their debut, with more party-garage anthems and buckets and buckets of hooks.

While their sound is definitely rooted in a poppier garage rock, the band shows some real diversity on this album.  From the pogo punk blast of "Playliens" to the Tom Petty style rambling of "Cut Me Loose" to their tried and true pop of "Promises,"  Can Do Easy certainly covers more ground than they did on their first album.  It's just hit after hit, though I will say one thing has started to stick in my craw a bit about the lyrics to "Promises."

I probably should have mentioned this when I reviewed the "Promises" 7" a few weeks back, but I've listened to this album many more times than that 7".  Part of the lyrics to "Promises" go: "I've got a pocket full of quarters now/and I'm your Donkey Kong."  I don't know what that means.  If the singer is the actual Donkey Kong, why would he need a pocket full of quarters for anything?  If the singer is the game Donkey Kong, first off, where would these pockets be? And again, to what end would having a pocket full of quarters benefit him?  If he wanted someone to 'play him' wouldn't they need the pocket full of quarters?  I'm probably trying to read way to much into a line that just fit in the rhyming pattern, but every time I hear the songs I start thinking about this now.

Anyway, Donkey Kong confusion aside, Can Do Easy is a top notch Barreracudas album.  It has so many catchy songs and good times; it was absolutely worth the wait.

The Barreracudas - Can Do Easy LP:

https://oopsbabyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/can-do-easy-lp

Barreracudas - Promises, Promises 7"

Oops Baby (2014)

This isn't the most timely of reviews as this 7" was released nearly a year ago, but I finally picked it up when I ordered the new Barreracudas LP that just came out.  Barreracudas are another refugee from the Douchemaster records roster.  I really miss that label, they had quite the knack for putting out records that I loved.

This 7" was meant as a teaser for the band's new full length.  The A-Side "Promises" is from the album and is a bouncy, catchy song with a sing along chorus.  I don't think that lyrically it's best song I've ever heard from the band, but if they was looking for an early 60's pop throwback they definitely hit the mark.

On the flip side is "Young & Dumb."  This song is exclusive to the 7" and I actually like it more than "Promises."  The verse is built over a three chord guitar riff with a frantically pounded keyboard part in the background.  The whole song drops down to vocals and a slower drum beat as the song builds to the chorus.  Once that chorus hits though, this song just soars.  Really great stuff.  

As I mentioned, I picked up this 7" when I ordered the band's new album, so I'll be reviewing that pretty soon as well.

Barreracudas - Promises, Promises 7":

https://oopsbabyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/promises

Windian Records Subscription Series #1 7" Box Set (/200)

Windian Records Subscription Series #1 7" Box Set (/200), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Windian (2013)

It was only a couple of days ago that I expressed my love of 7" singles series, and here is another example of a label doing it perfectly. In addition to being able to subscribe to a 7" series featuring for sure 2 bands that I love (Barreracudas & Heavy Times), getting to hear 3 other bands I wasn't particularly familiar with and a very affordable price; this series also came as a fancy box set with a big booklet and a pin. The art of the whole set is fantastic and I absolutely love the zigzag sleeves of the individual records.

Music-wise, I knew going in that Barreracudas and Heavy Times were great bands, and neither disappoint, delivering stellar songs for their 7"s. Of the 3 new bands I think the one I liked the least was Static Eyes. Though certainly not bad by any stretch of the imagination; the vocals are a little scuzzier & shouty than I typically prefer. Suns of Guns serve up swampy, lead guitar driven stomp-punk songs that sound like they could derail at any possible second. And I mean that in the best possible way.

The big winner here for me is the last band, Terry Malts. A band I had never even heard of before, but a band that really impressed me with their contributions. Fast and catchy punk with a singer that reminds me a bit of a less bass-y Calvin Johnson. Just a great set of records and Windian is even nicer than a lot of labels and if you want to buy just individual records, they'll let you do that too. But do yourself a favor and pick up the box set, amazingly it looks like they actually still have some left in their store.

Windian Records Subscription Series #1 7" Box Set:
soundcloud.com/windian-records/sets/windian-subscription-...