See-Saw - Get A Chance! 7"

Secret Mission (2019)

I'm having some sort of bizarre deja vu with this record.  I thought I wrote about it already, but I keep looking around and I can't find what I wrote.  I vividly remember this cover artwork, but I don't think I've done anything with it yet.  I even thought that maybe the band had another 7" I'd already reviewed, but I can't find that either.  What I'm getting at here is if I have somehow written about this record before and you find it before I do, you are much better at searching that I am.

Anyway, on to the record.  See-Saw are from Japan and play fast and catchy garage-y pop-punk.  If that sounds like a good mix of descriptors to you, I don't imagine you would be disappointed popping this record on your turntable.  The two A side songs are blazing fast with a slightly distorted guitar tone that still lets some of that nice power pop jangle shine through.

The B side song, "Don't Cry Anymore," slow things down a little bit but still has that same inherent hook-iness that the two faster songs have.  Now, is this a band that ranks as highly as some of my favorite Japanese bands?  No, they are more on the garage end of the spectrum whereas I prefer bands keep things more rooted in pop punk sounds.  That said, I do think this is a pretty good little 7".  I like all three songs and would be interested in hearing some more from See-Saw.

See-Saw - "Get A Chance!":
https://soundcloud.com/secretmissionrecords/get-a-chance-by-the-see-saw

David Quinton - Overlook Road LP

Secret Mission (2019)

Secret Mission is a label that I always look forward to receiving a package from.  I'm not exactly sure how my website ended up on their radar, but I'm glad it did and am grateful to get a handful of records from them every so often.  They tend to mine jewels from sectors of music I have very little familiarity with.  When they put out a record by a Japanese band, it's always one I've never heard of, despite my passionate interest in Japanese punk rock.  The other scene that they tend to release a lot from is from 80s power pop musicians that I'm not familiar with.

This David Quinton record is a prime example of the latter of these groups.  While the bio references his work with Stiv Bators, David Quinton is a name that I'm uncertain I've heard before.  In listening to Overlook Road, it surprises me that he isn't significantly more well know.  This is an album filled with ultra catchy power pop.  In some instances it reminds me of The Cars and certainly has that jangly, punch guitar sound that I would associate with middle-era Ocasek productions.

What is consistent song after song are the stellar vocal melodies that weave through this album.  They are instantly hummable and play nicely with the aforementioned guitar jangle.  Even though the cover artwork might make you think of the older brother from Mr. Belvedere, this is a great listen and certainly one that would appeal to folks that are super into 80's power pop.  I'm just a sometimes visitor to that scene and even I can get down with this album.

David Quinton - Overlook Road"
https://secretmissionrecords.bandcamp.com/album/david-quinton-overlook-road

Flashlights - Shadows and Lights LP

Secret Mission (2019)

Over the last couple of years, Secret Mission records has been giving me a real education.  I have often felt that I was reasonably tied in to Japanese punk rock.  At least more so than your average bear here in America.  Yet with release after release, Secret Mission drops a band I have never heard of into my lap.  Flashlights are another great one to add to the list.  This album originally came out in 2016 on Stay Free records in Japan.  That is a label that I know as the band Three Minute Movie put out a couple of records on Stay Free.  But it makes it all the more perplexing that I haven't heard of Flashlights before popping this on the turntable.

Anyway, this is fast and jangly power pop at its very best.  Sonically, I think they are somewhat similar to Ron Ron Clou, though probably leaning a little poppier and less of that punky energy that Ron Ron Clou harnesses so well.  That said, the pop that Flashlights churn out is pretty perfect.  Wonderful harmonies wrap themselves around the band's hooks and really elevate the proceedings.

Top to bottom, Shadows and Lights is a fun listen.  Perfect for a sunny weekend morning while you are kicking around the house, not really wanting to do much other than take in the tunes and relax.

Flashlights - Shadows and Lights:
https://secretmissionrecords.bandcamp.com/album/shadows-and-lights

The Outcasts - Tell Me The Whole Story 2xLP

Secret Mission (2019)

I was born in December of 1976, so the while the whole '77 punk thing wasn't technically before my time, from a practical standpoint it absolutely was.  I would have to go back and study up in order to be up to speed on such a historically significant time in music.  Though honestly, that's not something I've ever really done to any sort of extensive degree.  I know a bit of the really obvious stuff, but as far as the bands that stayed underground, I don't really know anything if I'm being truthful.

The Outcasts are not a band I've ever listened to.  Until this record arrived from Secret Mission, I'd never even heard of them.  But I'm learning to trust the folks over at Secret Mission as they have sent me quite a few records over the past year or two that have really impressed me.  You can add The Outcasts to this list.

The Outcasts are very obviously late 70s/early 80s UK punk rock.  They have that sort of sound that you would expect with a high pitched, razor blade guitar attack combined with poppier basslines and vocals.  You can tell they were around at the same time as The Clash and Sex Pistols and while I wouldn't say they really sound too much like either of those bands, there is a commonality between the three that lets you know they are certainly of the same era.

This double LP is full of songs compiling all of the bands singles as well as track by track liner notes with recording history and anecdotes.  The Secret Mission here was to make sure that the Outcasts were not lost to the sands of time.  This is a band that I would have never heard if they didn't rerelease these songs, so at least for me I would say mission accomplished.

The Outcasts - Tell Me The Whole Story:
https://secretmissionrecords.bandcamp.com/album/tell-me-the-whole-story

Ruler - Jeanie Jeanie Jeanie 7"

Secret Mission (2018)

This is the second 7" by Ruler that Secret Mission has sent over to me.  I'm really grateful that they are putting out these records as it's a window into a Japanese punk scene that I'm just not very familiar with.  Sure, I know Fink from a prior band he was in, Teengenerate, but there's so much of this garage-y style rock that isn't on my radar.

The first song on the 7" is "Jeanie Jeanie Jeanie."  Of all the Ruler songs I've heard so far, it's probably my least favorite of the bunch. It's not a bad song, but I think the vocals are a bit off putting for me.  There's a little too much growl in the delivery that distracts me from the otherwise fun guitar chugging.

The B side is the sort of song that is more my speed.  "(It's Not) Saturday Night" has a much more obvious power pop edge to it and the growling vocals are significantly more subdued than they are on "Jeanie."  There's great stutter stops in the breaks of the verse and a really catchy chorus.  This is the best song I've hear by Ruler so far and I hope I'll be able to hear more from them in this vein.

Ruler - Jeanie Jeanie Jeanie 7"
https://secretmissionrecords.bandcamp.com/album/second-single

Firestarter - First Album LP

Secret Mission (2018, Reissue)

This LP is a reissue of a nearly twenty year old album from the Japanese band Firestarter.  I can't say I know much about them.  Honestly my knowledge of Japanese punk rock has always been more focused on the poppier, melodic side of things and I've never paid much attention to the Japanese garage rock scene.  Admittedly, I know that scene is huge and way more visible to our side of the ocean than the pop punk that I like, but I've never really listened to much of it.

I'm not sure I'm going to do that deep dive now, but I will say that if I hear of any other bands like Firestarter, I'm certainly going to pay a little bit more attention.  Yes, this definitely has a garage vibe to it with the sort of lead guitar riffs here and there that you'd expect.  That said, more than anything this is a pop record.  Pop in the way that you'd expect from Marvelous Darlings or The Barreracudas. Sickly sweet melodies and hooks blasted in your face as loud as they can get their guitars to go.

Songs like "Trashy Dreams" have that perfect combination of catchy guitar riffs with a killer chorus amplified further with perfect backing vocals.  Amazingly it can segue directly into a song like "Flex Your Muscle."  That one is just a straightforward, short explosion of tough guy guitar.  Yet the two songs live side by side perfectly, giving the album a dynamic flow.  This is one of two Firestarted reissues that I have and rest assured I'll be firing up Livin' On The Heat real soon.  I wanted to spend more time getting familiar with their debut before I moved on to the other, but if it's half as good as this one is, I'll be pretty excited.

Firestarter - First Album:
https://secretmissionrecords.bandcamp.com/album/firestarter-first-album-lp

Ruler - Tiger 7"

Secret Mission (2018)

Ruler is a new band featuring Fink.  You may already know Fink as he was in Teengenerate.  I, of course, know Teengenerate first from their split 7" with Bum.  That 7" has some of my favorite artwork ever.  Good tunes as well.

Back to Ruler.  They are playing the kind of fast buzzsaw punk rock that Fink has always made his calling card.  Equal parts timeless and stuck in the 70s, "Tiger" hits all the marks you'd expect of this kind of song.  Savage riffs and howling vocals that peak to a singalong chorus.  

"Gimme Some Noise" starts off with a lead guitar riff that sounds like the theme music to The Munsters, but quickly starts chugging along.  Everything builds until it hits the chorus, complete with 50s style callbacks.  Both songs are totally fine and I'd even go so far as to say pretty good, but neither song is anything that new or particularly exciting.  Still, there's something to be said for nice, consistent punk rock.

Ruler - Tiger 7":

https://secretmissionrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ruler-7

Boys Order - Do The Wildcat LP

Secret Mission (2017)

This Boys Order LP was sent to me to review by Secret Mission records.  It's one of a few records they sent over, all by Japanese bands that I had never heard of.  I'm fairly tuned in to some of the great Japanese bands out there, but this package was a bit of a slap to the face and a reminder that I'm always going to be painfully unaware of what's really going on over there.  I'll try my best to keep up.

Boys Order are playing a hyperactive strain of punky power pop with quick tempos, manic drumming and a penchant for playing lots of high bass notes. It's undeniably catchy and a pretty fun listen.  Whether it's the buzzsaw pace and killer chorus of "Midnight Triangle" or the the straight up pop punk of "Blue Blue Red," Boys Order have their share of hits on Do The Wildcat.  The vocals are definitely going to leave an impression, they're very up front in the mix and I think you'll probably love them or hate them.  For me it depends on the song, but for the most part I think everything comes together pretty well.

There are a handful of songs that slow things down just a little bit on here like "Out Of Sight Out Of Mind" and those are probably less successful than the rest of the album.  But they are few and far between.  The bulk of the album is sugar fueled, dynamic punk rock that I'm pretty glad I had the opportunity to check out.

Boys Order - Do The Wildcat:

https://secretmissionrecords.bandcamp.com/album/do-the-wild-cat-lp

The Fadeaways - Sick and Tired 7"

Secret Mission (2017)

I'll be the first to admit that while I love a ton of Japanese bands, I've always been focused on the pop punk and melodic punk scenes over there.  I've never really delved too much into their garage rock bands and while I know Guitar Wolf, I can't say I've ever spent much time looking into anyone else.  When I opened up the package that Secret Mission sent me containing this Fadeaways 7", I was definitely intrigued.

I can say without question this is a really fun and energetic single.  The Fadeaways harness the spirit of stomping garage rock bands of the 60s.  They actually remind me quite a bit of the Schizophonics in that they sound like an authentic band from that era that was somehow frozen in time, rather than a group paying homage to these sounds.  

The guitar is bracing with big riffs and the occasional blaring solo, while the rhythm section keeps things bouncy, yet pummeling all at the same time.  The vocals are a bit gruff, but they fit the aesthetic of the band perfectly; keeping the melody in tact, but still sounding a bit like they're going to go off the rails at any moment.  I'm super impressed by The Fadeaways and if you dig upbeat,  garage-y fun, this is something worth checking out.

The Fadeaways - Sick and Tired 7":

https://secretmissionrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sick-and-tired-7