I’m not entirely sure I’m ever going to catch up… August is already in flight and here I am sharing my June singles…Anyway. Here they are, with playlist at the end.
Single of the Month
Junk Pups – Spoonfed
The June released singled from their Ball and Chain EP (full EP reviewed here)…
…Spoonfed….“for anyone who misses the off the wall duo, The Bikini Bottoms, this bouncing garage rocker will fill that hole. A hauntingly mysterious melody unfolds into glorious dual harmonies from Jack and Dylan. This mesmerising slice of psych/garage rock, and it’s lyrical ode to dysfunctional relationships, comes replete with some blisteringly face-melting triumphant wah-wah riffing as the song reaches its dazzling zenith courtesy of guitar goddess Ishi. A joy to behold.”
Top Ten
Tina Sandwich – I Want
Channelling the same anti-consumerism spirit as Cockwomble’s 2019 single Want Stuff, Buy Stuff, but with a vibe that everything is outwith our reach in the current financial climate. Tina’s June offering continues to cement Tilly as one of Scotland’s top songwriting talents, and her band as one of the live circuits hot properties. This is an effervescently vibrant song packing an energetic punch, if you must buy stuff, buy the new Tina Sandwich EP.
Big Girls Blouse – Sleepy Girls
By the time I publish this list, the brilliant Big Girl’s Blouse will have released, or about to release (depends how quickly I can get my finger out..) a further couple of songs (Day & Night and Token Girl) from their Sleepy Girls EP. The title track is unequivocally Big Girl’s Blouse, both in the lyrical messages and the Pixiesesque slow-fast-slow melodies all topped with Emmy distinct vocals. I’ve missed too many gigs over the years by this band, I’ll be pulling out the stops to catch them again at their EP release show in one of my favourite local venues, The Rum Shack in September.
Giftshop – Astoria
From the album Bunch of Singles (full review here)
“The sentiment of this song is the cement that holds life together sometimes when everything around you is turning to shit. This song sums up the feelings I get when I’m in my “happy place”, slap bang in the middle of a crowd of like minded music fans watching my favourite bands and people with a huge Cheshire Cat grin on my face singing my heart out to my favourite songs in my favourite venues. The fantastic accompanying video sums it up succinctly. I actually feel a pang of longing and maybe even jealousy watching it. This is the reason I love music, and the reason I love this band. Life is the disease, music is the medicine.”
Tulsaqueen – Best Time of My Life
Tulsaqueen aka Wiggy (Catriona) from Curdle/Dorothy Hale, fittingly releases her second album October, in, funnily enough, October (her favourite month)… with a red vinyl version following in November. The title track featured in a previous singles round up, and ahead of the album release we have been treated to another taster from the album, the hauntingly beautiful Best Time of My Life. On the strength of these two Tulsaqueen tracks, October is going to be a treat, the month and the album…
The Zebecks – Roseisle
The Zebecks follow up to the Medicate single is a song and video that brings back so many childhood memories of holidays in the North of Scotland, and in particular visits to the forest and beach at Roseisle, that it is like a form of medication for the soul. How could I not love it and feature it in the top ten singles of the month of June? I haven’t planned any holidays yet this year…
I, Doris – Not Done Yet
Self confessed “mummycore” band, the magnificent I, Doris are joined by the former Chumbawumba member and Interrobang?! frontman Bruce for their latest venture, a single which sticks the proverbial two fingers up at the societal pressure to grow old gracefully. Fuck that. I’m all for pushing things as far as I can, even if my body can’t keep up with what my 19 year old brain wants to do…
Savage Cut – Tecumseh
Savage Cut never fail to impress. This time around taking the passionate 1811 speech by Chief Don Cloud made to a joint council of the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations and putting it to music. A speech that many today could learn from, especially those white anglo-saxon knuckleheads who have taken to the streets to riot against immigration to their country. Oh the irony…
The Crails – DDT
The Crails distill their dramatic live energy into 1 min 45 seconds of energetic trashy garage rock, in the form of the frenetically charged DDT, with added sax, blink it and you’ll miss it, so just go back and press play again.
Milange – Sing
Milange have built a fierce live reputation in the Glasgow music scene, one which, due to a variety of unfortunate circumstances I have yet to witness. Until I get another opportunity, I will continue to enjoy the fantastical darkly majestic vibe that their single Sing evokes, reaching an almost sinister conclusion swathed in throbbing grungy guitars.
Rest of the Best
Port Sulphur – Bill Nelson
To follow up the excellent Fats boys and Factory Girls, Port Sulphur teamed up with Paul Research (Scars/Voicex) on this release from the hotly-anticipated new album, Metal Guru, due out in October. The band are joined by the superb Quad 90 for a gig in September.
YUNGBLUD – Breakdown
Regular readers of the blog may be surprised at the inclusion of Yungblud, but I have a lot of time for Dominic Harrison and his engagement with his fanbase, especially with his recent acknowledgement of the ridiculous prices of festivals by launching Bludfest and offering cheap and sometimes free tickets to music fans. If you know the origins of this blog you also know that the sentiment behind the lyrics of this particular song are entirely relatable, more so recently that they have been in a long time.
Fontaines DC – Favourite
Fontaines DC have a fourth album, Romance, due for release in late August. If the singles like Starbuster and this one, are anything to go by, the title of this song suggests how I may be feeling about the new record from one of the best acts, alongside Meryl Streek, to come from across the watter in recent years.
The Stolen Moans – Bard-Inspired Treachery, Chaos and Heartbreak
The charms of The Stolen Moans are not to be ignored, the trio having previously graced the singles round ups with their 2022 single Falling Into, and more recently Dada Catapult. B.I.T.C.H. lodges itself in your ears with its Ruts like punky riffs and chant-along chorus. Guaranteed you’ll be singing this in your head when you least expect it…
The Twistettes – Tory Cunts
Jo D’Arc is no stranger to these pages, both with The Twistettes and Minerva Wakes. She guaranteed inclusion once more by re-releasing a single to coincide with the General Election and to celebrate the demise of the Tory Cunts… It’s just a shame the Red Tories already seem to be showing their cards. New single required? 1984 is knocking at our doors… The result of Brexit, Tory rule and Reform giving fascists a mouthpiece reared its ugly head this weekend. As a collective, we need to show these cunts they’re not welcome and don’t speak for the majority.
devices – Summerai
devices follow up their excellent 5 track Husbands EP with this guitar riff heavy ode to these balmy summer days we all remember from our youth, play it loud this summer to try to blank out the fact that summer 2024 has been non-existent.
Vardy – Waster
Vardy returns with yet another belter of a song, in his own inimitable style, its dichotomy of a chorus “nobody likes me when I’m wasted, but I’m only happy when I’m getting wasted” sung through a wall of frenetic guitars.
Mungo’s Hi-Fi – Born with It
The Glasgow founded bass heavy dub sound system are joined on Born With It by regular collaborators Gardna and Eva Lazarus, with the collective also joined by Aziza Jayne (Nubiyan Twist), and moves away from their signature dub/dancehall sound into a more of a garage/dance oriented vibe. One of the sounds of summer 2024.
Self Esteem with Moonchild Sanelly – Big Man
With Rebecca Lucy Taylor and Co. taking a bit of a hiatus from live shows, I was fortunate to witness Self Esteem performing in Stirling with the superb Young Fathers, one of only a couple of shows this year, which coincided with another Self Esteem classic in Big Man exploring the theme of masculinity and turning it on its head and refocussing on what it really means to be a “big man” in today’s world, and booting the outdated version of toxic masculinity to the kerb.
Shed Seven – Speakeasy
A band who shine on the live environment, Shed Seven are returning to Glasgow later in the year to play their classic debut album Change Giver in full, in the meantime releasing a reworked “Liquid Gold” version of one of the albums 4 (or 5 if you count their debut double A side Mark/Casino Girl) singles from the album that hasn’t lost any of it’s shine over the years.
Daddy Long Legs – End Times Boogie
Returning to Glasgow for a gig in November, (thankfully as I couldn’t make their last date) garage rockers Daddy Long Legs single End Times Boogie is eerily appropriate as I’m typing this on the back of England (and Belfast) wide riots by right wing fascists intent on causing trouble under the banner of “taking back their country”. Time all we right minded (and I don’t mean right wing) citizens stood up and reminded them they are in the minority and should crawl back under the rock they came from. Not Daddy Long Legs, I’ll welcome them with open arms.
Sohodolls – Napoleon Baby
Sohodolls continue to hit a golden vein of addictive electro-pop singles with their latest offering in the shape of Napoleon Baby.
The Mysterines – The Last Dance
Afraid of Tomorrows is on my backlog list of albums to review, one of several that I’ve been absorbed by in 2024 but just not managed to write about, their second album is the follow up to 2022s Reeling, from which this single The Last Dance comes and is packed with phenomenal tunes, including the previous single, the glorious romp that was Sink Ya Teeth, the album has a soaring epic quality, but with dark undertones, and what a voice leads singer Lia has. I was too late to get tickets for their upcoming October headline show in Glasgow…. if anyone wants to help a guy out….
Novelistme – I Want You Here
Another Novelistme song in the singles round ups, I Want You Here is packed with spiky angular art-rock riffs with a laidback 1960’s USA West Coast vibe in the vocals, with a positive message “Live in the moment”.
Desert Kites – Holiday
Desert Kites singles Holiday has a feeling that you’d immediately associate with a holiday, a laidback groove, Feeder-esque riffs, a soaring chorus and a summery vibe with a message similar to Novelistme about living in the moment “time is all we have, its a gift that doesn’t last”.
Kim Gordon – ECRP
Following up the album The Collective comes a non album single, a slice of jarringly rasping discombobulating discordant noise from the queen of avant-garde no-wave rock, matched by her instantly recognisable coolly nonchalant vocal style.
The Youth Play – If We Just Ever Were
If We Just Ever Were starts with a driving urgency that never lets up for the duration, a boundless energy is emitted from this London based quartet whose post-punk aesthetic sits seamlessly beside bands like Fontaines DC.
Teenage Waitress – Cry Cry Cry
Another band who have graced these pages on numerous occasions, Daniel Ash once again creating another slice of soaraway melody heavy pop perfection, this time bolstered by a glorious brass and strings sections.
Chiara Berardelli – Can I Be Me?
Another soul-baring heartrendingly beautiful song from the wonderful Archaeology album from Chiara Beredelli, a question many of us probably regularly ask ourselves, the response to the question raised in this song is a resounding yes, giving cognisance to anyone who ever experiences crippling self doubt.
The Third Cut – If Your Arms are Empty
Unintentionally following that wonderful Chiara Berardelli song is this beautifully reassuring pop gem from The Third Cut wrapping itself around you like a warm hug , “…but if your arms are empty, wrap them around, if your arms are empty, you don’t have to talk.”
The Bellrays – I Fall Down
A band who never disappoint, the raw punk-blues energy from the California duo hitting the mark once again with this cut from their upcoming Heavy Steady Go album. I was gutted to miss their last visit to these shore, I hope they grace us with their presence again soon…
The March Violets – Hammer the Last Nail
If Punk’s not Dead, then is Goth Undead? Post-punk/goths The March Violets are far from having the last nail hammered into their coffin with this atmospheric single from their latest album Crocodile Promises.
Thorbjorn Risager & the Black Tornado – Already Gone
Thorbjorn Risager takes the blues baton on from the earlier single from The BellRays and swaps the punky vibe with a more traditional blues rock vibe on this addictive foot stomper.
Beaux Gris Gris & the Apocalypse – Wild Woman
Sticking with a theme, Wild Woman is a stonking rock n roll behemoth of a tune, a strident self assured vocal matching the robust power of the strident guitars.
Beaux Gris Gris & the Apocalypse
Starless – High Tide
High Tide brings the pace and volume of the preceding tracks down a little, with Emily Smith providing vocals this time, this is another gorgeously textured classical/folk cut from the sublime Returning Home album.
Asian Dub Foundation & Iggy Pop – No Fun
Asian Dub Foundation team up with Iggy Pop to create an awesome bhangrafied version of The Stooges classic. Absolute genius.
Sour Widows – Big Dogs
Big Dogs starts with moody and understated slow ambling guitars, that soon build and layer into a mellifluous cacophony as the song reaches a climatic zenith before stripping back the layers again and reaches its quietly reflective close.
We hate you please die – Stronger Than Ever
French punk band We hate you please die (band name of the month) bring a message of empowerment to the downtrodden and specifically one of female empowerment “she doesn’t need your validation” through their wall of sound fuzzy frenetic guitar driven punk.
The Martial Arts – Exploding Crushing Inevitable
By the time you read this, The Martial Arts will have released their latest album In There Like Swimwear from which this single with its uplifting summery power pop vibe comes.
National Playboys – No Feeling
No Feeling is packed with angsty emotion, the raw vocal delivery and personal lyrics paired with an empathetic powerfully stirring arrangement and melody.
The Cathode Ray – No Uncertain Terms
The Cathode Ray follow up previous single Travelling in Style with the equally stylish and smooth indie pop of No Uncertain Terms.
Signo 13 – Surf do Convo
Sublime surf rock all the way from Brazil from Signo 13 in the form of Surf do Corvo. It does what it says on the tin…
The Elegant Chasers – The World is Lost at Midnight
I’ve featured a few singles from The Elegant Chasers before, this one The World is Lost at Midnight lives up to the bands name, with soaring elegant riffs and a vocal to match both coming together any rising to their zenith during the chorus.
Mrs Frighthouse – DIY Exorcism
Glasgow experimental avant-garde noise rock duo return to the singles round up with the sinister throb the doom laden operatic-electro-punk that is DIY Exorcism.
The The – Cognitive Dissident
I realise I’m typing this in August despite this being the June singles round up, but Matt Johnson’s songs and lyrics never fail to hit the mark. The Beat(en) Generation this week was appropriate in the rush of those to post their “prejudice and misinformation” on social media, revealing much about themselves and their cognitive dissonance as they ignore facts to ensure the stories align with their own storyline. Cue Cognitive Dissident, once again Johnson hits the nail on the head, with his stream of consciousness-like lyrical pairings and clever play on words of the songs title.
The Petal Falls – Will the World Stop Turning
The Petal Falls seems to be omnipresent in the singles round-up in their ceaseless cycle of releasing dramatically emotion packed classic rock singles with an 80’s vibe.
Jewel Scheme – Spectral Index
A new band for The Ginger Quiff is Glasgow’s Jewel Scheme, formed by members of De Rosa and Knockout Ned with this their enchanting debut single Spectral Index from their upcoming debut album due on 13th September. The band launch the album with a gig in the Glad Cafe on 15th September.