Punk Rock Record Reviews: The Best of 2024, Part Five.
Links: Punk Rock Record Reviews Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four.
I listen primarily to punk, with my preferred sub-genre being street punk. Speed rock, garage, skate punk, hardcore, pop punk, oi! ska, grindcore, and even rockabilly fit the bill if done right. If I can catch a live show, it gives the release an edge. Here are a few releases from 2024 that I recommend you check out. These are in no particular order, however, I’m only reviewing releases in contention for the year's top releases. If I’m reviewing it, I liked it. When the New Year rolls around, I’ll put them in order, and do a final article of the best of the best. Drop a comment at the bottom if there is a 2024 release you think I should check out; I most definitely will.
The Putz - On and Up and Out
Released: May 24, 2024
Format: 7” vinyl, digital download
Label: Memorable But Not Honorable Records
From: Indiana/Michigan
Another local band that I have yet to see live. I’ve been spinning their records for years, and drummer/vocalist Dougie Tangent (Multi-Grain, Devious Ones, Stroker Ace, The Dewtons, Norcos Y Horchata) is a local legend, so they are on the very top of my list. This is pop punk at its best, and one of the best overall bands out of Detroit right now. Every song is good (literally all four songs made my monthly playlist), and spoiler alert: this is only a preview of what they have in store this year. If you are a fan of The Queers, Screeching Weasel, The Jasons, Sloppy Seconds, The Ramones, Angry Samoans, The Lillingtons, Teenage Bottlerocket, or Masked Intruder, you will want to get this immediately and then look for their full length that was also released this year.
The Putz “Too Little Too Late”
Released: August 16, 2024
Format: digital download
Label: Mom’s Basement Records
From: Indiana/Michigan
As mentioned above, The Putz released a four song single earlier this year. It’s great, but if I had one critical thing to say… it would have been to add at least a couple of shorter, faster songs (not necessarily changing their style, just shorter and faster because that’s what I prefer). Well, soon after they released digital singles for “Sleeping In” and “Elise Called The Police” from the upcoming full length, and they were just that. And the full length has even more, including one of my favorites, “Frank Hates Punk.” I don’t want to downplay the slower songs though, these guys are incredible songwriters, and they get the harmonies and the whoas just right. The guest vocalist Leah Putz does a great job on the few songs that she guests on, and keep in mind that this is a three piece band with singer and songwriter Billy Putz also playing bass. If they aren’t already doing national tours, they will be soon.
Citric Dummies “Trapped In A Parking Garage”
Released: August 9, 2024
Format: 7” vinyl, digital download
Label: Feel It Records
From: Minneapolis, MN
This has a distinct garage / speed rock sound, which are genres that I’ve been spinning a lot lately. I certainly wouldn’t argue with straight up punk rock, though; this smokes. All four songs made my monthly play list after just a few plays. “Look Out World (I’m Eatin’ Arby’s)” caught my attention first, but in the end all four songs were just as good. Fans of The Hookers, The Hives, The Humpers, The Oblivians, Supersuckers, or Throw Rag will want to add to this to their collection right away. There is even some “Static Age” era Misfits and Turbonegro in there. Props to no minimum on Bandcamp, so while I recommend you that you pay what you can, there is absolutely no excuse not to at least grab this for free and throw it on your iPod. It looks like they have been around since 2016 and have at least 5 other releases, so listening to them is in my near future as well. Honestly, I couldn’t stop playing this all day. I planned on doing two or three more reviews, but that was out the window.
Punk Rock Karaoke “Manny, Moe and Jack”
Released: August 2, 2024
Format: 7” vinyl, digital download
Label: Cleopatra Records
I almost didn’t listen to this, for a couple of reasons. First, this is on Cleopatra Records, and they send me way to many “new release” e-mails with bands that are just not good (or not punk, which is the same thing to me). I’ve started to just delete them without even looking at them. And then it has “karaoke” in the title, so I didn’t realize it was a legit band (they played at Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas this year, and just let people from the audience take the microphone). And finally, another cover of “Pay To Cum”? I could fill an entire CD with covers of that song, and not a one is as good as the original.
But I took a peek, and saw that Milo Aukerman (Descendents) is on vocals. Also, Stan Lee from The Dickies is in the band, and the main cover is “Manny, Moe, and Jack” by The Dickies. There are also members of Bad Religion, Goldfinger, and Pennywise, so that gave it promise. I’m glad I did, because it’s really good. Both of the originals are better, but they are timeless songs, and I guess one more version can’t hurt. Honestly, these are pretty great covers, and I don’t mind them at all. The one thing that ruins a punk song is slowing it down, and they definitely did not do that. If they keep putting together supergroups like this one, and picking stellar tunes to cover, I’ll keep buying them. Fans of Me First and The Gimme Gimmes will love this gimmick, and yes, I’m a fan of them too.
Poison Ruin “Confrere”
Released: August 2, 2024
Format: Vinyl 12”, CD, Digital download
Label: Relapse Records
From: Philadelphia, PA
I really wanted to like this (and I did), considering that they have a show upcoming at a local bar with another band that I really want to check out live (Fen Fen). I gave this a few extra listens, given that I couldn’t really peg them as punk (which is pretty much all that I like). It did start to grow on me, similar to years ago when I first spun Christian Death’s “Only Theatre of Pain.”. It’s mostly slow and somewhat gothic sounding, but it did pick up a later in the release with “Execute” and “Laid Waste” (giving it enough of a thumbs up for a review). At times it even sounded like some of the slower songs by Snuff. I’m going to try to check them out live, and then give this a few more spins.
Down By Law “Crazy Days”
Released: July 12, 2024
Format: Vinyl LP, CD, digital download
Label: Cleopatra Records
From: Tampa, Florida
Down By Law have been around for over 30 years, and are considered one of the most influential bands of our time. I’ve been listening to them for decades, and songs like “Haircut” and “Put The Boots In” are all time favorites that helped to solidify my love for punk rock. I was devastated to hear that singer Dave Smalley was fighting cancer last year, but this year he is cancer free and back to making music. Not only did they release this new album, “Crazy Days," but I was able to see them live (for the very first time) at Punk In The Park Orlando this year.
This new release is a studio recording, new songs, and they still have that same Down By Law sound that we know and love. The songs may not be as crazy as their early days, but it’s good, and the song “Crazy Days” is a standout. If you are a fan, you will want to snap this up… and also support the band by doing so, as they seem to be going through some hard times.
Monkie Mind “Ocean Road”
Released: April 1, 2024
Format: 7” vinyl, digital download
Label: People Of Punk Rock Records
From: Newcastle, UK
Another great release from People of Punk Rock Records. This one appears to be a two song single, currently only available as a 7” vinyl (several different colors) or digital download (I got mine on Bandcamp). A three piece band from the UK, and when I watched the video for the first time, I almost thought that the bass player was Olga from The Toy Dolls. The title song is about an Indian restaurant that they frequent, and there is well done video available as well. “Surrealio” slows it down a bit, and also has a video on YouTube.
It took a few listens, but “Ocean Road” is catchy and reminds me of The Offspring. It looks like they may have changed the spelling of their name from “Monkey Mind” to “Monkie Mind," so it was a bit tricky to find them on discogs. They do appear to also have a full length from 2021 on People of Punk Rock Records. I’m going to go back and check that one out when I have time, and I’ll be looking forward to more releases from them in the future.
Pest Control “Time Bomb”
Released: August 9, 2024
Format: Digital download
Label: Quality Control HQ / Triple B Records
From: Leeds, UK
One of my favorite new crossover/hardcore bands (ex-Implement), they have a demo from 2021 and an amazing full length that came out in 2023 (check out “Buggin’ Out”). I try not to review single songs, when I know there is a full length coming out soon (it just says Autumn 2024), but I really wanted to get this one out there. If you love hardcore, you will love this band (and this song).
Screaming female vocals, and fast hardcore that doesn’t let up. Fans of Anklebiter, Colin of Arabia, Suicidal Tendencies, Bad Beat, End It, Scowl, or just really great harcore/crossover/thrash will want to pick this up right away and be on the lookout for their upcoming release.
Success - Second Edition
Released: September 3, 2024
Format: Cassette, digital download
Label: Toxic State Records
From: New York, New York
If you read a lot of my reviews, you know that I like faster hardcore. That genre is not always something that I like immediately; however, it usually takes a few listens, and a lot of it I have to pass on as unlistenable. But when done right, it can be really, really good. When checking out this band, I started by going back to their first S/T single from 2021. I’ll be honest, I didn’t like it at all (it was relatively slow, and not really punk). I persevered and also played their 2021 EP, “First Edition.”. They got a little better, slightly faster, and more eclectic, but still not really my thing. I would not have reviewed either of those, but I’m glad that I listened to them, as it gives me some insight on how they ended up where they are now. This new release, 6 songs in 7 minutes, is solid punk with a hardcore edge, and I liked it immediately. It got crazier as it progressed, and my favorites ended up being “Love Saves The Day” and “Super.22," but check it out all the way though (again, it’s only 7 minutes).
V/A “Yesterday & today: DC does Dischord.”
Released: January 31, 2024
Format: 2xLP Vinyl, digital download
Label: For Love of Records
From: Washington, D.C.
This release reminded me how glad I am that I don’t collect vinyl, with the 2xLP on Bandcamp being a whopping $48. Some of that is donated to charity (We Are Family DC), but it doesn’t actually say how much (just “a portion”). Regardless, that’s a lot. I opted to give it as many listens as possible until Bandcamp wouldn’t allow any more, and then purchased just the tracks I wanted for $1 each. I couldn’t even find this one on YouTube to give it a few more listens, I assume that is by design. Hopefully I still helped out the charity, and I can afford to buy a few more tracks from other bands before payday.
Dischord has a lot of bands that are much too mellow for me, so I haven’t even heard a lot of these originals. This was, however, an opportunity for some of the bands to speed up slow songs and make them better. None of them did that. I was happy to see some bands that I recognized on there though, including Teen Mortgage, Idleminds, and The Pietasters. In the end, the stand out track was “Look Back And Laugh” by The Pietasters, but I also bought the Breezy Supreme medly of S.O.A. tracks, and Idleminds cover of Scream’s “Came Without Warning”. I feel like this was a missed opportunity, but it may play a lot better for those that aren’t always looking for speed and screaming. Since the actual 2xLP is not on YouTube, here’s a live video of The Pietasters covering Minor Threat (the same song that they submitted for this comp).
