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 Evil6, Fairmont, Loose Panic, and Miracleworker. Plus a look back at "Syd Barrett" by Dipsomaniacs.
Evil6 - "You Against Me". Evil6 has been on a tear in the last month releasing 3 singles. Their latest, "You Against Me", is my favorite so far, and a real rocker and an earworm!
Fairmont - "Everything Is Fleeting". Fairmont marks 25 years as a band with their new release, "Everything Is Fleeting". The album kicks off with a very personal song, "Buy More Records", about Andy Applegate. He was their long time drummer who last succumbed to a long-term health problem. The whole album actually feels pretty personal, with lead singer/songwriter Neil Sabatino saying the album is "looking back on past and recent interactions, navigating difficult relationships, personal boundaries, and moments left unsaid. I almost hate to admit how relatable I found the lyrics on, "In the End I Only Hurt Myself", while the music is quite possibly the greatest earworm Fairmont has done so far (and they have many memorable catchy songs).
Loose Panic - "The Cruelty Is the Point". "The Cruelty Is the Point" is the first single from Loose Panic's forthcoming album. It is a powerful song, that would be easy to believe was just written for this moment in time. However, as the singer/songwriter Jarret Crawford points out, "This is a song I wrote in the early days of the pandemic, reflecting my anger at inhumane family separation policies and government disinformation on COVID-19. The song is even more maddeningly relevant six laters later, just after we have witnessed two Americans gunned down for protesting even crueler policies and tactics, and the administration's slanderous lies about the victims."
Miracleworker - "Temporary". "Two songs of hope to start the year. They are short and end abruptly.", that how Miracleworker describes "Temporary", which contains the title track and also "Luck". Both songs are insanely catchy (I'd say earworms, but I think I've overused that word this column), power-pop tunes. The country, the world, and this cold icy winter, may seem bleak, but these songs will bring you joy for 5 minutes, and forget about all that. I only wish this was an album because I'd like to forget all that darkness for longer... maybe even a double album.
Not New, But Memorable Corner
Dipsomaniacs - "Syd Barrett". Back in the fall of 2005, released their "Whatever Planet" album. Among the wonderful power-pop songs on the album was, "Syd Barrett". Less about the musician and more about losing touch with an old high school friend, the song resonated with me both lyrically and musically (earworm!)
Here we are over 20 years later, and there is a new music video for the song. The video is below. For the story of why there is a video now, and more about the song itself, you will have go to lead singer/songwriter Mick Chorba's Substack page.
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 (and bridged on BlueSky).
