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 Above The Moon, Teen Idle, Jason Didner and the GSP's, Brian Erickson, and Kay Roman. Plus a look back at "All Very Well In The End" by The Baby Seal Club.
Above The Moon - "Valentine's Day". I know this column is going up just after Valentine's Day, but unlike most Christmas songs, Above The Moon's "Valentine's Day" is fun to listen to year round! It's a fun song, and video, which masks the lyrics being about the holiday being, "just another way, To make you feel like shit all day"
Teen Idle - "Infinite Sea". "Infinite Sea", the second single from Teen Idle's forthcoming album "A Heart So Tender", is infinitely beautiful. The song is modern, but has influences of the crooners and 60's pop stars all over it. It's absolutely wonderful! As it says on the Bandcamp page, "This is a song for the lovers, the tender hearts." Don't pass up checking this one out.
Jason Didner and the GSP's - "Dear Faye (feat. Diego Allessandro)". The latest single from Jason Didner and the Drive, "Dear Faye", was inspired by the film "Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere." There are definitely cues to Springsteen's music within the song, and a vocal collaboration with Diego Allessando, an artist who at times has worn his Springsteen influence on his sleeve. But even non-Springsteen fans should enjoy this song.
Brian Erickson - "Everyday Forever (Brian's Version)". In 2018, the Brian Erickson fronted band The Paper Jets released "Everyday Forever". With the release of "Everyday Forever (Brian's Version)", for the first time we hear the demos that Brian recorded in 2015 that would become The Paper Jets' final album. Often when you hear the word "demo" you expect to hear a raw bedroom recording, often recorded as a single track, live. This is not that. These are full on recorded versions of the songs with multiple instruments on each track, and vocal effects. Mixed and mastered and a real joy to listen to.
Kay Roman - "TAKE IT!". Oh hell yes! New Kay Roman track is a great punk/synth-dance-pop track! "TAKE IT!" and listen to it now.
Not New, But Memorable Corner
The Baby Seal Club - "All Very Well In The End". Back in my college radio days I did a local music show at WMCX (Monmouth College/University), a precursor to BlowUpRadio.com. While I amassed some of my own local music for the show, I also relied on local releases that were part of the station's collection.
One of those releases was from The Baby Seal Club. In the early/mid 90's they were playing all over the place and seemed on the cusp of bigger things. Unfortunately, like so many local bands they never quite made it to the next level and eventually called it quits.
When I graduated I no longer had access to their music in WMCX's collection, and as the band stopped playing out, had no way to get their albums.
For 30 years I had the memory of their song "All Very Well In The End", and could hear the chorus in my head, but could not hear the song itself. It was a song I played many times at WMCX.
Then this week both of their albums went up on Bandcamp (https://thebabysealclub.bandcamp.com), and now I own them... side note, this is a good example of why it is best to own music instead of relying on streaming sites.
It was so good to hear to hear that song, and both of their albums, again (though I discovered "All Very Well In The End" does unfortunately have a word in it that did not age well, and is now correctly deemed offensive, though was not considered such back when the song came out)
[a longer version talking further about our archive and owning music appears on BlowUpRadio.com under the newsletter for week of 2/16/26]
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)
