First Base - Together Again 7"

La-Ti-Da (2016)

This is the seventh and last of the 7"s that I bought as a bundle from La-Ti-Da records.  There have been way more good than bad and I would buy another bundle like this without hesitation.  The best part has been discovering some new bands and the last 7" in this set, by First Base, is one of the best.

The funny thing is, I actually thought I had a record by First Base.  Either I'm confusing them with another band that I can't remember or I've somehow lost a record of theirs.  It's probably the former, though I have misplaced the occasional album.  Regardless, this La-Ti-Da 7" is a corker.  Both songs are tightly wound, harmony soaked, power pop gems.  With the bouncy bass lines you want and the singalong backing vocals that you need.

This is a band that looks to have a bunch of records out, including an LP on HoZac and a couple releases on Hosehead (which is for sure why I know the name of the band at the very least).  You can bet I'm going to be checking out those records soon, this 7" is fantastic.

First Base - Together Again 7":

https://latidarecords.bandcamp.com/album/together-again-if-i-see-you-with-that-girl-again-ltdr023

Low Culture - Hard To Stay 7"

La-Ti-Da (2016)

A companion piece to yesterday's review of the Places To Hide LP, this is a new 7" from Low Culture on the wonderful La-Ti-Da records.

A side "Hard To Stay" is one of the best of the current crop of Low Culture songs.  It leans to the power pop side of the spectrum, particularly with the chord progressions and the generally bouncy beat.  A real killer song.  B side "Lonely Summer" is also on the new LP. It's slightly different from the album version, but not really all that dissimilar. It's just as good of a song as it is on the album, a little slower than the band usually churns out, but still a good time.

That's it for the review today.  No time for a lengthy outpouring of silly adjectives.  Stop reading and go vote.

Low Culture - Hard To Stay 7":

https://latidarecords.bandcamp.com/album/hard-to-stay-lonely-summer-ltdr026

Market East - Orange & Me 7"

La-Ti-Da (2016)

When the needle first hit the vinyl on this Market East 7", I was immediately interested in the sounds emanating from this record.  It started off with a gentle, soulful bassline with some really nice vocal harmonies.  I figured I was in for a Ballantynes-esque soul party, though that wasn't quite meant to be.

While I enjoy A side "Orange & Me," it just kind of stalls out after the promising start.  I kept waiting for the song to kick into a higher gear that it apparently didn't have.  The end result is a perfectly serviceable 60's style throwback with truly some of the better harmonies I've heard in a long whole.  It never reaches that next level that would really win me over.  It's alright, but kind of a little boring.

Unfortunately things don't really improve on the B side.  It's not bad, but the sort of low key, vaguely psychedelic rock and roll that these guys are playing just isn't all that interesting to me.  "Our Love Will Always Win" is slower than "Orange & Me" and not quite as catchy.  It's a decent enough little 7", but it's not the kind that will keep me going back for repeated listens.

Market East - Orange & Me 7":

https://latidarecords.bandcamp.com/album/orange-me-our-love-will-always-win-ltdr024

Talkies - Never Fear 7"

La-Ti-Da (2016)

Another new band courtesy of the La-Ti-Da singles pack I bought and this one is a keeper.  Talkies are playing the sort of upbeat power pop that I really dig.  There are certainly nods to the hits of the 70's, but unlike a lot of power poppers, Talkies aren't a nostalgia band living in the past, these guys take those older influences and bring them up to date.

A side "Never Fear" is an upbeat toe tapper with jangly guitar riffs and really catchy backing harmonies.  There's even a nice little shredding guitar solo towards the end, but it is brief and doesn't wear out its welcome.  On the B side is "Hollow," a slightly more subdued number.  This one actually reminds me a lot of Warm Soda, though with completely different vocals.  It's laid back, but still a catchy song that I dig.

I definitely want to hear some more by this band, but I think this is their first release.  Google isn't helping much anyway and there appear to be at least two other bands called Talkies.  Regardless, I'll be on the lookout for anything else these guys put out.

Talkies - Never Fear 7":

https://latidarecords.bandcamp.com/album/never-fear-hollow-ltdr025

Patsy's Rats - Rock N' Roll Friend 7"

La-Ti-Da (2016)

Another La-Ti-Da single and another band that's new to me.  Patsy's Rats hail from Portland, OR and have crammed two songs worth of poppy, catchy rock and roll into this 7".  Led by singer Patsy Gelb, the band combines 70's power pop guitar noise and instantly hummable vocal melodies.  

The A side is the highlight for me (which it should be, that's the whole point of an A side, right?).  "Rock N Roll Friend" is fast paced and bouncy, juggling upbeat guitar riffs and a thumping rhythm section.  Things slow down slightly with "Hard Time Karen."  Though just because the tempo is a bit more low key, it doesn't really make the song any less formidable than its companion on side A.  It's another tremendously catchy song with a big hooky chorus.  

All in all a very enjoyable 7" and one that I'm not sure that I would have ever heard if I hadn't picked up the big pack of records that La-Ti-Da offered as a bulk purchase.  It may not have been a singles club in the traditional way, but it still achieved the same goal, getting me a bunch of new bands to listen to.  That's something I can always get behind.

Patsy's Rats - Rock N' Roll Friend 7":

https://latidarecords.bandcamp.com/album/rock-n-roll-friend-hard-time-karen-ltdr027

Strange Things - Higher Anxiety 7"

La-Ti-Da (2016)

Next up from the batch of La-Ti-Da singles that I picked up is a band from Vancouver called Strange Things.  All I can do is think of the show Stranger Things when I see their band name.  An unintended consequence I'm sure.  I often talk about why I like singles clubs and while the La-TiDa blind buy I did a while ago wasn't a club exactly, it was me committing to purchase a bunch of records that I didn't know if I'd like.  It often works out great, but there is the occasional dud.

You can call this particular dud Strange Things.  There's nothing inherently bad about them, if you like this sort of thing.  The problem is I do not like this sort of thing at all.  Strange Things are playing the sort of 60's tinged psych throwback nonsense that made me stop buying records from Trouble In Mind.  There is so much great music from the 60's, why bands insist on mining this particular strain is something that I don't really understand.

The recording of the songs is cavernous, the band sounds like they're about a mile away from the nearest microphone and all of the sounds sort of blend together into an indecipherable drone.  The vocals are buried, but since they are pretty monotone, I suppose that doesn't really matter all that much.  With all of that said, these guys could be the best band in the world at playing this type of music, but I'd never know as it just isn't the sort of thing I like listening to. 

Strange Things - Higher Anxiety 7":

https://latidarecords.bandcamp.com/album/higher-anxiety-gather-believers-ltdr022

The Flintettes - The Choice Is Ours 7"

La-Ti-Da (2016)

Quite some time ago I pre-purchased a big batch of records from the label La-Ti-Da.  They were offering a discounted rate and I was pretty confident I'd like what I received considering that the label has done good by me over the years.  I got a few full lengths last year and frankly, I kind of forgot about it.  Then I received a box with eight 7"s in it the other day.  A nice surprise and I'm currently making my way through them.

First up is The Flintettes.  I'm not really familiar with them, but that's also one of the reasons I make purchases like this; to be surprised by new bands.  On "The Choice Is Ours," The Flintettes are tapping into a slightly less new wavy version of The Cars.  It has the sort of vocal inflections you'd expect from Ocasek, some decent guitar riffage and a couple of oddly placed, synthetic sounding handclaps. 

On the B side we have 2 more songs.  "Same Faces" is a faster tempo, straight ahead rocker.  It still reminds me a lot of The Cars, particularly in the verse with its chugging guitar.  The backing harmonies accentuate the chorus along with some punchy drumming.  Next up is "To Hold You Close."  It's a more laid back affair then the prior two songs with lots of 'ooohing' backing vocals .  Nothing about this song really stands out.  It's not bad or anything, but it quickly fades into background noise.

As a whole it's a decent enough 7".  I don't love it and wouldn't say it's a must buy, but I do like some of the songs and might be worth picking up if you're grabbing some other records.

The Flitettes - The Choice Is Ours 7":

https://latidarecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-choice-is-ours-same-faces-to-hold-you-now-ltdr028

Just Jeffrey - Coffee, Tea & Me LP

La-Ti-Da (2015)

The man behind this Just Jeffrey album is Jeffrey McCloy, familiar to me (and maybe to you) from his work in Tranzmitors.  While McCloy recruited some musicians to help flesh out the tracks on this album, this is essentially his solo album and very much plays like one.

It's not unusual for someone who is used to the dynamics of being in a band to let loose a little when they start up a new project.  You can see lots of examples of this going well, but you'll find even more examples of this not working out at all (hi Eric Bachmann!).  Just Jeffrey kind of runs the gamut over the course of this record.  I really enjoy the more upbeat, mod leaning songs on Coffee Tea & Me like "Hello Eleanor" and "Disposable Culture".  He's tapping in to a catchiness that always gets my attention.  

Less successful are the handful of songs that are sparser and more introspective. There are times where I'm very much reminded of bands like So Cow and The 'Tone over the course of Coffee Tea & Me, but there are some times where it just sounds like some dude dicking around by himself.  Those are the songs that I don't get as much mileage out of.  Still, at eighteen songs there is a lot to like on this record.  A little editing probably could have made it tighter, but it's worth checking out regardless.

Just Jeffrey - Coffee Tea & Me:

https://latidarecords.bandcamp.com/album/coffee-tea-me-ltdr-lp005

Maniac - Demimonde LP

La-Ti-Da (2015)

La-Ti-Da records is becoming a label whose taste in music I simply trust.  When they offered an opportunity to preorder a group of new releases at a discounted price (even though they didn't say what those new releases were), I jumped at the chance.  The first batch consisted of the incredible Ballantynes LP I reviewed a few weeks ago and this album by Maniac.

The Maniac LP is a little bit of a mixed bag for me.  I really like a lot of it, musically.  The band has a knack for mixing stuttering guitar riffs in the verse with big old catchy hooks in the chorus.  Songs like "Wendy, Same Thing," "Dans Le Sang" and "When I'm Gone" deliver the goods, but even on my favorite songs I can't say that I'm a huge fan of the vocals.  They're not bad necessarily, but the delivery leans on the nasal side of things.

It's not a deal breaker by any stretch as Demimonde had a frequent turntable presence on my turntable.  It's worth checking out if you're into some catchy tunes that have just a bit of garagey fuzz.

Maniac - Demimonde LP:

https://latidarecords.bandcamp.com/album/demimonde-ltdr-lp003

Steve Adamyk Band - High Above 7" - Black Vinyl & Orange Vinyl (/150)

Steve Adamyk Band - High Above 7" - Black Vinyl & Orange Vinyl (/150), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

La-Ti-Da (2013)

Wrapping up my week of La-Ti-Da singles with my favorite of the bunch and one of my absolute favorite current bands. The Steve Adamyk Band can almost do no wrong as far as I'm concerned, but despite my lofty standards for them, they still manage to blow the doors off of this record.

This is a band that has put out quite a few great 7"s in the last year or so. High Above is the best of the bunch. The 2 originals on the 7" are instant classics. Fast, full of energy and the hooks this band churns out are just insane. In particular "High Above" is yet more proof that no band can write choruses as catchy as these guys. But for me, the main event is the 3rd song, an unsuspecting cover song that I imagine most people outside of Canada probably have never even heard of before.

"A Promise Is A Promise" is one of my favorite songs of all time. It was written by a Canadian band called Bum. It was first released on a 7" in 1991 that came out on Lance Rock Records. It also ended up on the full length album Wanna Smash Sensation. That record came out in 1993 on Pop Llama/Munster records. Wanna Smash Sensation is easily in my top 10 records of all time. They never amassed the biggest following in America from what I could tell, but there were a group of us in New Jersey that really loved this band. Just go buy Wanna Smash Sensation, please.

The Steve Adamyk Band take on the song is just perfect. Don't fix what isn't broken. The band plows through it full speed ahead, picking out all of the buried lead guitar parts & background harmonies. They also brought in some guest vocals from one Chris Page. Chris fronted The Stand GT many moons ago and is still cranking out hits both solo and with his other great band Camp Radio.

There are rumors of a Dirtnap Records showcase in NYC this year. One would think that Steve Adamyk Band might play that show as they have NEVER come to the NYC area. All I'm saying is it would be pretty great if they pulled out A Promise Is A Promise while they were playing. I never got to see Bum play. But anyway, go get this 7", it's great!

Steve Adamyk Band - High Above 7":
latidarecords.bandcamp.com/album/high-above-hate-myself-p...

Needles // Pins - Outta This Place 7" - Clear Vinyl (/150)

Needles // Pins - Outta This Place 7" - Clear Vinyl (/150), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

La-Ti-Da (2013)

Outta This Place is the Needles//Pins entry into the La-Ti-Da singles subscription, and if you're getting the feeling I'm saving my absolute favorites for last, you'd be right. I truly believe that Needles//Pins are the Canadian all star team. Not because of the individual folks in the group; but because they manage to harness the best parts of some of my favorite bands into their songs.

For starters, I can't fathom you not liking Needles//Pins if you don't like Mother's Children as the bravado they take to their songs strikes me as being very similar. Do you like your pop music with straightforward hooks and a slight retro vibe like something the White Wires might do? Well, all you need is one listen to the B-Side "Date Night (You Bring The Napalm)." Wrap all of this up in a high energy, crunchy guitar sound not too dissimilar from The Steve Adamyk Band or Sonic Avenues and you've got a band that has really cranked out some great records over the past few years.

It's really a must have 7", and La-Ti-Da also just reissued the band's debut full length from a couple of years ago, so you'd be a fool to not grab that as well while you're at it.

Needles // Pins - Outta This Place 7":
latidarecords.bandcamp.com/album/out-of-this-place-date-n...

The Wild Ones - Day Drunk 7" - Green Vinyl (/150)

The Wild Ones - Day Drunk 7" - Green Vinyl (/150), a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

La-Ti-Da (2013)

I decided that I'll spend the rest of this week catching up on the remaining La-Ti-Da singles subscription releases I've recently received. Today's entry comes from a band called the Wild Ones. I wasn't familiar with them prior to hearing this 7" and I don't know that they would have ended up on my radar otherwise. But that is what I love best about signing up for a series of singles. It's the surprises and discoveries that keep me coming back. Even if I've been burned by some labels that just never fulfilled what I subscribed for, I'll probably always be a sucker and come back for more. I just love the discovery process.

The Wild Ones immediately remind me of the old Douchemaster band The Baby Shakes. They play a similar jangley, 60's girl group influenced style of guitar pop. The songs are infectious and the vocals are so much stronger than what you'll get out of your run of the mill garage band. The first song, "Day Drunk" is a faster, carefree track that really harnesses the bands energy. It's an immediate attention grabber and I can't think of a better first song to hear by a band.

The B-side, Come Around, slows things down a bit, but really captures that 60's style song of yearning better than anything I've heard in quite some time. La-Ti-Da is becoming particularly adept at finding bands who can cull the sounds of 50 years ago; but present them in a fresh and exciting way that holds up with anything being released in 2014. I wish them continued success in this endeavor and offer more money flung at them for future singles subscriptions.

The Wild Ones - Day Drunk 7":
latidarecords.bandcamp.com/album/day-drunk-come-around-lt...

The Jay Vons - Night (Was Stealing From The Sun) 7"

The Jay Vons - Night (Was Stealing From The Sun) 7", a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

La-Ti-Da (2013)

Part of the 2013 La-Ti-Da singles subscription, The Jay Vons seem to be coming from a similar place as their equally fantastic label mates The Ballantynes. The Jay Vons are playing organ laced, 60's style soul. They have a real attention to detail when it comes to production as both songs sound less "retro" and more like an actual product of the time frame that they obviously have a great affection for. I've thought for a long time that old soul music was ripe for a renaissance and it's great to see La-ti-Da leading the charge.

The one thing I find confusing is that the record I received was on black vinyl. I thought as part of the La-T-Da singles subscription, I was supposed to get a limited colored vinyl variant, but I'm wondering if that ended up not happening as I couldn't find a reference to what color it was supposed to be anywhere on the La-Ti-Da website. If anyone out there knows if there is another version of this 7" floating around, please let me know.

The Jay Vons - Night (Was Stealing From The Sun) 7":
latidarecords.bandcamp.com/album/night-was-stealing-from-...