Few days ago I got this promo CD from instrumental surf band Bitch Boys from Slovenia. After first few songs it was obvious that Bitch Boys are great surf band and definitely one of my favorites together with marvelous Los Banditos (I hope they'll make another album soon) and Robert And Roboters. Bitch Boys' surf is also influenced by Eastern European surf sound, that means very melodic solo guitar and technically perfect, but with lot of feeling and passion. Also the rhythm and tempo vary from beautiful and dreamy songs to fast and uptempo. This CD contains all together 24 songs - 18 studio tracks + 6 live. My favorite tracks are: "David's Quest" - an uptempo song with really nice and beautiful melody; "Gargamel S.T." - also very melodic with nice dialog between 2 guitars; "Road Racer" - with theme which sounds like "Brand New Cadilac" rip off but then mixed with a little bit middle east melodies; "Blejski Wenc'k" - also rockin' surf with driving and hypnotic sphere; "Amor" - really great song, pretty fast with very fresh arrangement; "Paint It Black" - is definitely the first surf version of this song I heard and it sounds really great, they used the classical theme from "Fuer Elise" or "For Adelaide" (or something like that) for middle part and it gives special dimension to song; "Theme from Otpisani" is great cover of very famous old Yugoslav partisan action series from 70s - I really like Bitch Boys' version. "Hungarian Dance No 5" closes studio part of CD and it's really marvelous. Live part is recorded on FV Music Festival. Unfortunately it doesn't contain any new songs, but we can hear that live Bitch Boys sound almost the same like in studio. Oh how I would like to see them here in Holland 'cos this CD is really so great and all you can do is to press play button again!!!
 

Bad Afro keeps going on with good music. Here we have the 2nd Burnouts' album "Close to Breakevil". This record is even better than "Go Go Racing". Songs are more the way I like it, very punky garage punk (more 77 than 66 influences), very fast and dirty r'n'r with catchy tunes. "Bad Blood" is the real killer, second song "Just Like You" has nice background keyboard and it's very catchy. That's also the place where you have to take a deep breath 'cos the next few songs won't give you any chance to do it. "What I Won't" is really fast garage punk mixed with good old 50s r'n'r. "Return Of The Action Man" and "Out Of Control" are more early 70s high energy punk with female backing vocals. They step on gas again on "I Can't Afford It" till "You Shake Your Butt" (last song on this great album). There is also Ramones cover which Burnouts did in their own way - doesn't sound Ramones like at all - and I really like it.
 
 

After I heard "Born To Rock'n'Roll" (great track) on "Pushing Scandinavian Rock To The Man Vol.2" compilation, I had to get this LP. There is also "Born To Rock'n'Roll" + other 11 great tracks. It's super sonic "hardcore" garage punk full of energy and so fast that I sometimes think that guitar strings must be burning and the drummer is not a human. Songs are catchy, actually I think that punk'n'roll is the best name for Columbian Neckties' music. They have very strong r'n'r roots, but they play it on 21st century way - very fast, strong and without compromise. Vocal is also great. If you like "Some Kinda Girls" from Real Kids, then you must be Columbian Neckties fan. The whole "Abrance!" LP sounds like I always wanted Real Kids to sound (don't have anything against Real Kids, they are great band). So it's almost impossible to say which are my favorites, 'cos on this LP all songs are killers. There is slight difference in speed here and there, but that only makes this record more enjoyable and marvelous. Columbian Neckties have great feeling for timing, changing tempo and keeping your attention trough whole album. Listening to all these Scandinavian garage punk bands I'm really sorry I'm not there to enjoy them live more often. I'm so sorry I missed Columbian Neckties live when I was in Belgium, but I hope they'll come again and maybe also to Holland.
 

A side of this 7" - "Buffalo Bates" is pure mod/power pop tune. Well, it also sounds a bit brit pop. It remainds me the most of many UK mod bands from late 70s/early 80s - strong Jam influences. But I found B side of this 7" more interesting. "Fahrenheit" is nice psych pop. The flute and organ give another dimension - a nice and warm (old fashioned) sphere. "Sure To Fail" is great instro with nice organ melody, pretty groovy. Anyway side B has more unique sound and that's why I enjoy it more. I hope The Dilemmas won't be in dilemma and their other releases will sound more like B side of this 7".
 

Fortune And Maltese have that 66 punk sound that I like so much - you know what I mean - fuzz guitar + organ. Production is also great and in style. And now few words about songs: "Fiddled While Rome Burned" is wild raving 60s punk while "Wrong From The Start" is more folk punk with nice chorus. Actually it's a cover and I know this song, but can't remember the band's name. On side B there is one more Fortune And Maltese's fuzz guitar/organ punk song - "Mindreader". It's also great song with good riff. "I'm Crying" (cover of famous Animals' hit) is really great, wild, fast with great vocal. This 7" is issued in 2000 so if you don't have it yet, grab it 'cos it could be late.