Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by "Banding Together 2024 Compilation, Rhonette Smith, Tod The Mod, The Successful Failures, Chris Fox & the Beasts, Paul Rosevear, knumb the geek, and Big Rips. Plus a look back at "New Tattoo" by The Blakes.
Various Artists - "Banding Together 2024 Compilation". This year marks the 17th annual Banding Together benefit for the Spondylitis Association Of America. From October 18th-20th there will be 32 artists performing 30 minute sets on BlowUpRadio.com while we raise money to find a cure for Spondylitis.
For every $10 or more donation at https://www.spondylitis.org/webathon you will receive a download of the Banding Together 2024 Compilation, featuring 35 previously unreleased songs. The artists on the compilation are: Anthony Walker, Autophobes, Bern Strong, Blisstique/ pK Solo, Bruce Donnola, Catherine Wacha, Colie Brice, Coolparadiso, Crosstalk Club, Diego Allessandro, Dr Void & The Death Machines, erase:rewind, Ferocious Designs, Frank Patrouch, Hello Whirled, Jason Didner, Mark Owen Nutto and the Unemployed Teachers, Mark Parker, Matthew Mirliani, Michael Aquino featuring Declan Remus, Mind Your Manners, Monda, Renee Maskin, Sad About Girls, September's Ghost, Shotgun Bill with the Tango Kid, Squirrel, The Accelerators, The Dust-Ups, The Fisherman & The Sea, The Mighty Alrighty, The Random Hubiak, Tony Tedesco & The Monroe Saints, Vincent Brue, and Zugswang (featuring Scott O'Neil)
You can find out more about the compilation and benefit here: https://blowupradio.com/spondy.html
Rhonette Smith - "Exhale". It has been five years since we've heard any new music from Rhonette Smith, but she is back with the new single "Exhale". It rocks, and has an important message too. The single was released on October 10th, World Mental Health Day, and "explores the physical sensations that come when experiencing anxiety and relief."
Tod The Mod - "Ghosts in the Rearview". Despite the name, Tod The Mod's new EP, "Ghosts in the Rearview", isn't "Mod Music", but it is a wonderful collection of five songs (well four songs, there are two versions of one song) in the Americana and Indie-Pop-Rock realm.
The Successful Failures - "Enemy Sublime". "Enemy Sublime" is the 11th full length album from The Successful Failures, and while I have enjoyed all of their albums, this one may be my favorite to date. Their sound has always been somewhere between Power-Pop and Americana/Alt-Country, but here they merge the sounds together better than ever to create some of their most hook-laden songs.
Chris Fox & the Beasts - "Rubatosis". Ruby Bones front man, Chris Fox, shows his more Peppy-Folk-Americana side on Chris Fox & the Beasts' new album, "Rubatosis". I had to look it up, but Rubatosis means, "the unsettling awareness of your own heartbeat"... which hopefully I will not fixate on like I am this highly enjoyable album.
Paul Rosevear - "Sisters". "I never intended to release these songs as an EP. They're just home recordings", Paul Rosevear says of his new 3 song EP, "Sisters". I'm glad he released these folk tunes (with a hint of the blues and country). The home recording makes gives it a feel of a small fireside concert, and the lyrics are stories, told by a mast storyteller.
knumb the geek - "This Is It!". The name knumb the geek probably does not make you think you are about to hear some beautiful, mellow folk balladry, but that is exactly what the 5 songs (6 if you download the EP, which you should) on "This Is It!" are.
Big Rips - "Remain Sad Forever". Big Rips describes "Remain Sad Forever" as, "A chaotic collection of songs about quitting your job, being sad, Elden Ring, being even more sad, and quitting your job even more." Lyrically that is correct, but they filter those lyrics through some infectious music that reminds me of 90's alt-rock.
Not New, But Memorable Corner
The Blakes - "New Tattoo". The Blakes were something special back in the early 00's. Some of the most infectious harmonies over their special blend of power-pop. They only released one EP, "New Tattoo", during their short time together (though Paul Rosevear and Gay Elvis continued to work together, first with Readymade Breakup, then with The Vice Rags). The entire EP is incredible, but the title track is such an earworm that it randomly pops into my head all the time.
That's all for this week.
Remember BlowUpRadio.com, plays these and many other New Jersey based artists on our internet radio station, so please check us out. #SupportGoodMusic - If you like any of the above artists, please purchase their music from their site. And if you would like to be part of BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable, please send downloads or contact Lazlo at Lazlo-at-BlowUpRadio-dot-com. We're also on Mastodon at https://gardenstate.social/@BlowUpRadio
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