The Jelly Bears are great new french garage punk/power pop/psychobilly/punk band. They melted all these styles together into one - Jelly Bears style. Side 1 (Spoon Side) opens "Spoon" great power pop tune with strong 60s influence and really beautiful chorus. "I Tell No Lies" is The Shouters cover and Jelly Bears play it marvelous. "1969 Part Two" is nice power pop/garage punk with harmonica. "Goo Goo Muck" is one more great cover with nice Cramps psychobilly feeling. "BBC" is crazy garage punk songs with crazy lyrics about BBC. It seems it's a cover, but I never heard this song before. Shit that was the end of first side. So flip the record to B side that starts with souly power pop "Monster". "Time Won't Let Me" from US Outsiders is one more well done cover in a bit modern power pop jacket. "Sally" is maybe the weakest song on this side and a bit too long for my taste, but it's followed by "No Good" - nice 60s punk with great riff. I don't know why, but vocal on this song reminds me of guy from B52s. "Whapaa!!" closes this record. It's wild 60s dance instro. This record will give you a lot of fun and it's done very well. I should say The Jelly Bears did the same thing with 60s and late 70s punk and power pop what Mano Negra did with ska, reggae and rap.
 

Mama Guitar is all female neo 60s beat Japanese band. I expected little bit more than just a solid female band. This 7" EP is interesting, but I miss something to say "it's great". First song "I Want To" is a bit too ordinary. But "You Always Say" is really nice beat pop with nice melody, guitar sound and chorus and you can really enjoy it. Vocal is also much nicer and warmer. B side starts again with an ordinary song "Nice Present". But "What Can I Think" is marvelous - it's like Japanese female Beatles and I really dig it. Still I think you should get this 7" and check other Mama Guitar stuff. I'll do that to if I see them in local shops.
 
 

Mikabomb are 3 or 4 Japanese girls + one guy on drums. It's not very clear how many girls play in this band. On the front cover there are 4 of them, but on the back there are 3 listed as band members. Mikabomb sound like Japanese accented punk version of Helen Love. If you read the notes you'll see that all tracks are written by Mikabomb and Niall O'Flaherty who also produced the record. Maybe Niall has something to do with Helen Love too, 'cos Mikabomb songs sound so similar to them. Catchy melodies, bubble gum pop mixed with Ramones and here and there some indie pop influences. My favorite is "Hey Men" which is also A side of their 7". By the way if you have LP you don't need the 7" cos you already have all 3 songs. Also great are: "Heart Attack" (really great punk, power pop with catchy chorus), "Underwear" and funny "Yellow Danger Babies". If you are looking for relaxing summer record full of nice catchy punk tunes - this record is for you.
 

Sorry guys, but I'm afraid you sent your CD to wrong zine. Second Rate play so called emo core and this is not my cup of tea. I really can't review your CD objective 'cos I don't like this kind of music. Next time check the content of zine before you send your stuff for review.
 

Steff And Arno play super sonic fast and trashy surf, but nicely produced with great guitar sound and lot of analogue synth - spacey effects. It's all instrumental, but I don't care - I just hate people who ignore instrumental bands. Anyway if you like "open minded" surf bands - Steff And Arno are definitely something for you. On side one you'll find "El Frenetico" - it's very fast and manic surf and "Los Ahorcados" - strange and experimental tune with latin acoustic guitar sounds and horror noises. On B side you have "Jesus Demoniaco" (great title!!!!) and "Nono Coche" - 2 mind blowing fast surf instros. I highly recommend this record to everyone and I hope to hear more from Stef And Arno in the future.