Top Tens: Top Ten Unreviewed Albums (Part 1)

Recently I've been on a massive binge of trying to listen to as many albums from 2019 as I can. I mean, doing CPRW I feel like I've listened to a lot but, when you look at just how much punk rock has been released this year, our reviews are only really scraping the barrel. To help myself work through all of the punk releases of 2019, I've made a mega playlist which currently contains 3733 songs and is almost 186 hours long (you can check it out here). So to make this new binge addiction of mine productive, I've decided to start a new series of top tens. I'm going to run through some of the favourite releases I've discovered recently, from earlier in the year, that the CPRW team haven't reviewed. Hopefully you'll find some hidden gems like I have!

Dollar Signs – I Need Some Space
Dollar Signs’ 2018 album This Will Haunt Me was one of my favourite albums of the year so I have no idea how I managed to miss their next EP I Need Some Space which was released by A-F Records in January. Here we have four older Dollar Signs songs that have been given a fresh lick of paint with the band’s current line-up – and they're sounding great. This EP is a cool introduction for new fans of Dollar Signs to get a feel of their history whilst being exposed to their current sound.

Celebrity Hangover – Upon Reflection
Originally from Ireland but now based in San Diego, Celebrity Hangover released Upon Reflection on New Year’s Day. The album features sixteen highly infectious melodic punk rock songs. From start to finish Upon Reflection is full of sing-along fist in the air moments that you instantly pick up. The band also released an EP titled Older in June which also fantastic.

A Crash Republic – Homewreckers: Sweet Apathy
I wasn’t sure I was really going to like A Crash Republic after reading they were influenced by bands such as Neck Deep and Knuckle Puck but I was pleasantly surprised by Homewreckers: Sweet Apathy. What really stood out to me was the vocals. They were so much rawer than the clean cut polished vocal I expected and really help A Crash Republic stand out from other modern pop punk bands. They remind me of one of my favourite bands Problem Daughter and are definitely worth checking out.

The Specials – Encore
Despite being a fan of The Specials it took me eight months to listen to Encore, which was the legendary ska band’s first new album in over twenty years. It took me so long to listen because I couldn't see how it would match up to all those classic songs the band had written during their career. It doesn't match up, but it doesn't try too. This is a different sounding Specials tackling the issues of today in their own distinctive way. Given the reach that The Specials have, this could be one of the most important political albums of the year.

Good Shade – Way Out
Ohio's Good Shade is the ambitious solo project of Shane Natalie. Shane writes, composes and plays all of the music in Good Shade themself and gets friends to help perform it live. In February, Good Shade released a new album named Way Out. Twelve songs of energetic indie/power pop goodness that is a breath of fresh air.

Millencolin – SOS
Swedish skate punk legends Millencolin released their ninth studio album SOS back in February to quite the fanfare. Why it took me so long to check it out I don't know as I thoroughly enjoyed their previous album, True Brew, from 2015. SOS continues that new found form the band had with their previous album and, for certain, it doesn't stray from the Millencolin sound we've become accustomed to over the past twenty-five years. When such an influential band from the scene continues to put out such accomplished work it does make me happy.

Lenny Lashley's Gang Of One – All Are Welcome
You might know Lenny Lashley from his days fronting Darkbuster or from playing guitar with the Street Dogs. All Are Welcome is the title of his new solo album performed under the pseudonym of Lenny Lashley's Gang Of One. All Are Welcome is a powerful and emotional album combining Americana and folk with a slice of punk rock. Lashley proves just what a fantastic songwriter he is on All Are Welcome as he manage to grab your attention without having to resort to blisteringly fast and loud punk rock.

Coral Springs – Always Lost, Never Found
Always Lost, Never Found is the debut album from Dutch pop punk band Coral Springs. Released in February on Umlaut Records in the UK, Coral Springs continue to show why they are one of the most exciting bands in mainland Europe. Imagine if you take Rise Against and add Agent M from Tsunami Bombs’ vocals, that's what you get from Coral Springs. This is an album I really regret sleeping on for so long as it's very very good.

Bony Macaroni – Bony Macaroni
I first listened to Bony Macaroni whilst travelling around the North Wales coast in early October. The weather was pretty bleak and I was a bit tired, then this EP came on and it really raised my spirits. Playing poppy emo punk tunes with jangly guitars and a stunning vocal, it was hard not to take notice. They quickly reminded me of one of my favourite UK based bands Toodles & The Hectic Pity. One to keep an eye on for sure.

Clarkkent – Stranger Than Fiction
I discovered Clarkkent thanks to F.O.D's Lode De Feyter. The Finnish skate punk act’s latest album Stranger Than Fiction is on the heavier side of skate punk and I found this refreshing. It managed to hook me in immediately with some soaring vocals, technical guitars that at time verge on metal riffs and some ferocious drums. If all punk rock from Finland sounds like this then I best do some more research into the country's scene.

This top ten was written by Colin Clark.

Album Review: Nailed It! by Knuckleball

When a band describes themselves as "Upbeat 90s flavored pop punk that makes you want to mosh and laugh at the same time. If nothing else, it reminds of the days before Green Day became Broadway stars" you have to know I'm going to be interested in checking it out. The band in question are Waco, Texas' Knuckleball. At the beginning of September, the four piece released their debut EP Nailed It!

The six track EP Nailed It! begins with the song Emily. The opening of the track shows that Knuckleball definitely weren't lying about their style as the track is filled with youthful energy immediately. It really does take you back. When lead singer Andrew French comes in he has this great melodic style vocal rather than the fast paced, urgent style I expected. This gives the whole song a mature sound. The track is about being in a relationship where things are getting progressively worse and deciding to end it. High Anxiety could easily be from a late 90s Green Day album. One, because it has that sound that is so associated with that era of Green Day and, two, because it's really good. Wasting no time in getting started, the vocals kick in straight away giving the song a startling beginning. Doing this immediately gives you a bit of a rush and you're excited to see where the song goes next. The song is about struggling with your mental health and not really understanding it. The third track is named Rent-A-Hero. This song tells a story of a security man who does a wonderful job. The track is a fitting tribute. I really like the storytelling style of the song, it paints a great picture. Rent-A-Hero is a mid-tempo melodic song that doesn't really hit any highs or lows but just goes along in a pleasant manner.

Insomniac is another track that really reminds of classic Green Day. It's about living your life as an insomniac and what that's like. The line "I'll watch The Office Until 3am, maybe I'll be tired by then" is a line I really related with. Except watching Cheers instead of The Office. The song has quite an upbeat feel to it despite it being quite a sad topic. The penultimate track, White Trash Beach Party, has more of a throwback sound. More so than the 90s pop punk sound, this is more along the lines of the Ramones’ unmistakable sound. There's even a "hey ho! let's go!" thrown in for good measure. I love this Ramonescore style so the song really stood out on Nailed It! for me. It describes what a White Trash Beach Party is like with plenty of humour. The sixth and final song on Nailed It! is titled Frankly, My Dear. This song is the most hooky of all the tracks on the EP, with the chorus quickly taking up residency in your head. It's one of those songs where you can see the band, the crowd and yourself pogo-ing up and down for the chorus.

If I had to describe Nailed It! in one word it would definitely be throwback. Knuckleball certainly weren't telling tails when they spoke about their influences. They don't just rip off the genre though, they take it and give it their own spin. If you're a fan of 90s pop punk (and who isn't?) then this might very well be up your street.

Stream and download Nailed It! here: https://knuckleball-official.bandcamp.com/album/nailed-it

Like Knuckleball here: https://www.facebook.com/knuckleballofficial/

This review was written by Colin Clark.

Album Review: Hard Pop by Telethon (by Emma Prew)

Where do I start with Telethon… If, like me, you are fairly new to this band (or, indeed, if you’ve not heard of them at all) then I better give you a little background information about them. Telethon are a five-piece from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whose sound is very difficult to describe with just one ‘genre’. There’s obviously ‘punk’ in there somewhere or I wouldn’t be writing about them on this blog but they are far from your average punk band. In 2017, they released a ‘five part rock opera’! I know, what?! Of course, it’s 2019 and I only discovered Telethon a few months ago when they released their fourth album, Hard Pop, on Take This To Heart Records and Halloween Records, their own label. I decided to check out the album because Cold Wrecks – who released one of my absolute favourite albums of 2019 (so far) themselves with This Could Be Okay – tweeted about it. Let’s just say, it was a very, very good recommendation.

Hard Pop was released back in June so I must apologise for my lateness in actually reviewing it. This is partly due to life being busy but mostly due to the fact that I’m a little bit scared that I won’t be able to do the album justice with my words. Every time I put the album on, however, I think to myself ‘Damn, this is such a good album. Everybody should to listen to this – punk fans or otherwise.’

Hard Pop kicks off with a 6 minute epic two-parter in the form of Loser / That Old Private Hell. Opening with the lines ‘The magic of being a loser, is that nobody has to find out.’ and hitting home immediately, the song has a slow and stripped back start with subtle instrumentation. This allows the focus to be on lead vocalist Kevin Tully’s rather distinct voice that you will no doubt come to adore throughout the duration of this record, as I have. Subtle backing vocals hint at what’s to come and after a gentle 40 seconds we are thrown headfirst into the full Telethon sound. There are melodic guitar riffs, keys and thumping drums and this combination of sounds serves as a lengthy interlude into the second part of the track. The song speaks about growing up in the Midwest of the US – something I obviously know nothing about but Telethon paint quite the picture here. Despite being the album’s opening track, Losers / That Old Private Hell perfectly encompasses the Telethon sound, with ups and downs, changes in pace and melody when you least expect them and so, so much lyrical content – brilliantly clever and poetic lyrical content. At times I’m reminded of Jeff Rosenstock, while other aspects of the song bring to mind alt-indie rock bands such as The Shins or Modest Mouse but ultimately it’s all Telethon – they have rather a unique sound. I wasn’t kidding when I called this song ‘epic’ as I feel I could write enough words for a whole album review just about this one song…

…but I should probably try and talk about the other nine songs on Hard Pop. Phew, after the 6 minute whirlwind of the album’s opening track, we get to (I Guess You’d Call It) An Undertone. Telethon instantly switch their sound up for an infectiously catchy guitar riff which is backed up by a horn section. It’s kind of over-the-top but in the best way possible. The track is ridiculously upbeat and bouncy – it’s just so much fun – although the lyrics deal with the subject of anxiety. (I Guess You’d Call It) And Undertone is probably the song that’s mostly likely to find its way into my brain at any given moment – I could start humming it or dancing around the kitchen to the melody in my head without even realising (this may or may not have actually happened). The song features a killer guitar solo from lead guitarist Jack Sibilski akin to something from a 70s stadium rock band, yet it somehow still manages to sound so fresh. This is then followed by a short saxophone solo, because, why not? The song feels short compared to the album’s opening track but is in fact well over 3 minutes long and it has the listener suitably pumped up for the next track. Catchy tunes are definitely something that Telethon do well as the theme continues with the third track, Wanderparty. The simple chorus of ‘Where do you wander and where do you party? Nobody knows where you wander or party, Everyone wanders, everyone parties, But not like you wander and not like you party.’ is a bit of a tongue twister but that won’t stop you from singing along immediately – the chorus opens the song after all. The verses are heavy on synth which brings an almost electro-pop vibe to the song but, of course, there’s plenty of hopping between other genres and sounds throughout the song. I think Wanderparty is about growing older and not wandering, in the travelling adventurous sense, or partying as much as you used to. Perhaps spending more time wondering than wandering.

How Long Do I Let It Go For? slows things down a little, at least for the first couple of verses. Accompanied by a piano melody that brings to mind Springsteen’s Thunder Road, the pace picks up as a fuller band sound comes in by the third verse. The vocals feel more urgent which makes sense given the song’s subject matter. How Long Do I Let It Go For? is about feeling anxious and maybe a little obsessively compulsive. The chorus is one of my favourites on the album – ‘Good god, have I become so tightly wound, I can’t stop it anymore, And in the quiet when there's no one else around, How long do I let it go for?’. The bridge that follows has a slight change in vocal style, including guest vocals from Willow Hawks of The Sonder Bombs, which weirdly reminds me of Americana or folk musicians – think The Decemberists, maybe. At just slightly less than a minute in length, Sirens could be considered an interlude, particularly as it appears around the halfway point of the album. That said, Telethon pack a lot into those 59 seconds. Ranging from muted guitar and vocals only to a rush of full band, I particularly enjoyed how the song starts and ends with the same lyrics – ‘Focus on the sirens, Focus on the pain you used to feel.’

When I first listened to Hard Pop, it was the sixth song that immediately grabbed me. Chimney Rock is an infectiously catchy and upbeat synth-heavy power-pop punk song. There’s something for everyone here, with so many layers of melodies and complex fast-paced lyricism weaved throughout the track. If you just read the lyrics on Telethon’s Bandcamp page it seems like vocalist Kevin is just saying exactly what he’s thinking at any given moment. This seems almost chaotic on paper but set to music it is pure genius. A real highlight of the song has to be the section towards the end – a snappy bridge gives way to a several lines from Willow Hawks, who appeared earlier on the album. Rather than simply adding backing vocals, Willow takes over lead vocal duties which gives the song a completely different feel, albeit only for a brief period. Cue more snappy vocals, a huge guitar solo and, finally, a gentle piano-led outro – you certainly can’t accuse Telethon of being dull or repetitive here.

After the intensity of Chimney Rock, Telethon allow us a little breather with House Of The Future (Parts 1 & 2). The slower pace and almost folky style of instrumentation – including but by no means limited to acoustic guitar and organ – showcases yet another side of the Telethon sound. There were hints at this style in earlier tracks but not such lengthy sections as is the case here. The song has a sombre feel and the melodies are melancholic and wistful. Of course, we know from the song’s title that this is a track of two parts and after three minutes the energy levels are ramped up for a more upbeat and loud Telethon. Being able to shift seamlessly between these different styles, within the same song as well as across Hard Pop as whole, is one of the best things about this band. Beefy guitars kick off Time To Lean (This Whole Building Runs On Windows 98) and will get your head nodding along in no time at all. When the synths become dominant for the chorus, there’s an almost 8-bit video game vibe to them – I don’t know, it just works. This is a fast paced tune with the theme of having a job that isn’t very rewarding. Aside from Sirens, Time To Lean is the shortest track on the album – of course, Telethon are able to pack a lot into its duration, including another awesome guitar solo, huge horn parts and tinkly piano playing. Is there anything this band can’t do?

I don’t know why the title of the penultimate song of Hard Pop is written all as one word but it is – Youdon’tinspiremelikeyouusedto. It’s a mid-tempo number with plenty of groove in both the guitar riffs that run throughout its duration and the way in which Kevin sings his lines – particularly in the chorus (which is basically the song’s title repeated along with ‘And I didn’t sign up for any of this’). I read an interview recently (I forget where, sorry) and Kevin stated that the ‘you’ in this song is actually himself – so, basically, the song is about how he doesn’t feel as inspired or motivated to do things as he perhaps did when he was younger. By the halfway point of this 4 minute track, things have reached new heights musically. There’s a lengthy sax solo which again brings to mind Springsteen (well, Clarence Clemons to be precise) followed by a building bridge section complete with strings and vocal harmonies before a guitar solo closes out the track. Some might say it’s a bit much but I say that’s just Telethon. How do you follow that I hear you ask? With a dash of ska seems to be the answer. Manila has a slow piano-led introduction but if we’ve learnt anything about Telethon from this album it is that a song that starts slowly doesn’t necessarily stay slow. The volume and tempo are cranked up before too long for a somewhat nostalgic and contemplative song about not being completely happy with where you are, both geographically and in life in general. The ska I mentioned earlier comes in the form of guitar upstrokes for a couple of verses in the middle of the song and it doesn’t sound even slightly out of place, such is the magic of Telethon. The closing lines of the song, and album as whole, are just perfect – ‘Maybe by the time you leave your town, And get a thousand miles down you’ll turn around, Because you miss the stale emotion and the sounds of train stops passing, And all that you can’t stand to even think about right now.’

Wow, what an album Hard Pop is! I’m not convinced I have quite done it justice in my review – there’s far too many layers and intricacies in each and every second of this album for me to properly describe everything. It’s a relatively short album in only 10 tracks (the perfect amount if you ask me) but is complex; refined yet detailed. The lyrical content in particular I feel I have barely touched on but there’s just so much of it… You’ll just have to take my word for it and go listen to the album yourself! You won’t regret it, I promise.

If you’re going to Fest this year then you can catch Telethon opening up at Hardback Cafe on the Sunday (12:30–1:00pm). I’m not going so will be sat at home feeling sad but maybe next year…

You can stream and download Hard Pop on Bandcamp and like Telethon on Facebook.

This review was written by Emma Prew.

News: Might As Well Fest V

Yearly London based punk rock festival Might As Well Fest is back for it's fifth edition on October 18th and 19th at the New Cross Inn. The event, a collaboration between Disconnect Disconnect Records and Till The Wheels raises money for the mental health charity Heads Above The Waves.

The line up is absolutely stacked. The Friday night is headlined by Weatherstate and also features CF98, Break-Ups, Youths and Megaflora. Saturday is headlined by Crazy Arm and also features Beezewax, Burnt Tapes, Luke Rainsford, Pacer, We Bless This Mess, H_ngm_n, Death By Shotgun, Mixtape Saints, High Praise, Stew Gush, Tom Aylott, Gareth James and Party Boss. So many fantastic acts!

They've also got their usual charity raffle with big prizes from places like Awesome Merch, all the labels, local restaurants and bars and more!

Keep up to date with the event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/970655179977065/

Buy tickets for Might As Well Fest V here: https://www.seetickets.com/event/might-as-well-fest-v/

Album Review: Maximum Effort by Just Say Nay

One of the best things about doing CPRW is when one of your favourite bands sends you their new album – one you’ve been eagerly waiting for since learning about it in way back in January. I was so excited when the magnificent Leo Harvey of Just Say Nay sent me the band’s debut album Maximum Effort. I was at work at the time and planned to wait until I got home to give it a listen but I couldn't help myself and had a sneaky listen of a few songs before really sitting down with that. Just that little preview gave me the feeling that this was going to be a masterpiece.

For those unaware, Just Say Nay are a nine piece ska/punk/gypsy band who have been making a name for themselves around the UK with their high energy performances, skankathons and big sing-alongs. Taking the ska punk genre to places never before imagined, Just Say Nay are an eclectic bunch and unlike any band you will have ever seen or heard before. And they are on their way to becoming a big name, along with being a big band, in the UK DIY punk scene.

Maximum Effort starts with I Think I've Had An Apostrophe. Over the past year or so JSN have been squeezing newer songs into their set list, giving fans a little teaser as well as road testing some of the songs live. This wasn't something done for I Think I've Had An Apostrophe however. This made it a perfect choice to open the album as it instantly feels new for everyone, whether you're new to the band or you've been following them for a while. The song actually starts out pretty gently with some soft strums of an electric guitar and lead singer Jak soulfully crooning alongside some fantastic harmonies from flutist Becky. Gradually the full band comes in and the song really gets going, really getting your blood pumping for a good ol' knees up. In one opening song, JSN really show off their whole repertoire and leave you seriously excited for what is to come. Picking Stitches is up next with superb brass from Katy, Charlotte and Mikey T opening the song. JSN have one of the best brass sections in the scene, fantastic to watch and always spot on sonically. I feel like I can say this about a few songs on Maximum Effort, but it's a rollercoaster. Starting with some intensity, moving to something more punchy, adding some melody and finishing with some big gang vocal harmonies – it's all going on here! The third song Don't Try To Stop Me Smee is a song about continuing to go for your dreams no matter what barriers you might find in your way. Another song that takes you on one hell of a ride. The majority of the song sees JSN dabbling in a little bit of pop punk with some big shredding guitars opening the song before the brass and Jak's vocals come in, soon to be joined by Becky's flute that adds this great fantastical extra element to the song – making it all the more playful. The second half of the track adds more of a bouncy (another word that could be used a lot in this review) ska/carnival sound which gives you this great upbeat feeling.

Artistic Spectrum is one of the songs that JSN released ahead of Maximum Effort and one we were lucky enough to feature on our Fifth Birthday Compilation as well. This showcased a different side of the JSN sound when it was first released. So much so that I wasn't sure who it was when I first heard it. The song shows a more urgent JSN, with the song for the most part played at full speed. On the first verse I was reminded of the much missed Tyrannosaurus Alan, with Jak leaving behind his sweet melodic vocals for some rapping. Jak spits bars, as the kids say. This is a powerful song that just can't be ignored. Butterfingers is one of the more traditional ska/pop songs on Maximum Effort. Perhaps poppier than anything JSN have released in the past, it's a song about consistently letting the girl get away and realising after it's too late. Jak, along with Becky's backing vocals, may well have just delivered the best vocal performance on any JSN song so far – this track is just full of beauty and charm. All the best ska albums have that slower ska/pop song that really stands out compared to everything else, this is Maximum Effort's version. The sixth song, With A Twist Of Lemon, has become a big highlight of JSN's live set over the past year or so. The acoustic version they performed in the basement of the New Cross Inn at Level Up Festival in the summer was one of the highlights of the entire festival. It's a song about having a wild and crazy night out and the emotions that come with that. The song is split into three. The first two parts capture two emotions that you might feel on a night out. The first being that energetic excitement at the start of the night where nothing can stop you having the night of your life, the second a feeling of regret when you realise you might have overdone it and you find yourself trying to make sure you finish the night in one piece. These two moods are portrayed firstly, with an up-tempo, excitable section and then a slower, sorrowful moment before we get to the third and final section. The sing-along with Mikey T section. A favourite section for any JSN gig. Mikey T finishes the song with what I think is best described as some yodelling. I'm not really sure why this is a thing but I don't really care as it's the most amount of fun – every single time.

The seventh track is far and away the most poignant moment of Maximum Effort. It's a beautiful poem written and performed by a friend of the band named Luke. It's a moving tribute to a gentleman by the name of Mike Crampton who was a much loved friend to many people in the New Cross Inn/Be Sharp ska scene/family. This is followed by Don't Let The Coffee Grind You Down, which is JSN's own tribute to Mike. Exploring a punkier side of JSN, with the brass still there but also taking a bit of a back seat to the guitars on the song. During the song, Jak sings about his love of Mike, all the great things he brought to his life and how much it hurts that he is no longer with us. The chorus on the song is a big one. Becky's harmonies add even more emotion to what is already a very emotional song. It's also so damn catchy that you'll quickly be singing along with the song. Double Foxes showcases JSN's gypsy influence. Here's another that the band have been playing regularly live to great receptions. It's a song about wanting to be free of everything and to be able to do whatever you want without limitations. This song is all over the place in a way that only JSN can make work. It starts out slowly, builds, comes back down, gets a bit wild and then back under control. It's hard to predict where on earth it's going to go but it's a wild ride. The tenth song, Mug Pie, is a shorter song that on my first listen had me thinking that this was going to be an instrumental song. It's not until about halfway through the song that the vocals come in. Allowing such a talented band to have such a long instrumental moment in the song was a real treat, it flowed along really nicely and when Jak eventually does come in it felt like the natural point, really showing off some great songwriting. The track is about that guy who is always guilty of telling lies and has reached the point of never being believed anymore. Honesty is the best policy.

If you've only ever heard one JSN song I would confidently place a bet that it's Low Blow. Originally appearing on the band’s debut EP Shit Out Of Luck, it has been given a new coat of paint and is included on Maximum Effort. I was so pleased when I saw this as it's one of my favourite JSN songs and puts such big smiles on everyone's faces when they play it live. It's just the perfect song for a live setting. To start with, the horn lines at the beginning of the track just encourage crowd participation. This crowd participation continues frequently throughout the entire song. I'm of the belief that whenever a band can connect with a crowd in a way in which JSN do on Low Blow, they are doing something very right. Listen to this song one time and then try not to spend the rest of the week singing it. The penultimate song is titled Techno Guilt. When I first read the title, a little part of me did hope that is would be a JSN take on techno music – that would have been quite something. In fact, it's a track about just wanting to live your life the way that you want to without feeling guilty for letting somebody down. It's pretty relatable for anyone who has chosen to stray away from the path that they're expected/pressured to be on. Musically, it's pretty high tempo and packs plenty of punch. As it plays through, the track gets more emotional as the gravity of what Jak is saying really becomes so powerful. The lines "we just want to live, we just want to love, we don't want to feel, like we're not enough" are tattoo worthy – assuming you have an area big enough to fit so many words. Finally we have the eight minute long epic Kuromouri. When I first saw that the final song was eight minutes long I thought that it might be that thing that bands do when they have the final song, leave a minute or so of silence and then have a little bonus track on the end. I actually hate that so was very pleased when I discovered that Kuromouri is actually an eight minute long song. It's eight minutes long and it's fucking amazing! What an adventure this song is. It starts out so quickly, there's no building moments, we just jump straight into the deep end and ride the waves of this song. There's so much going on here it's impossible to really give you a proper run through of the track – just go out of your way to listen to it. As soon as you can. Basically it show JSN at their very best. Great vocals, amazing musicianship, poignant lyrics, brave, unique, daring, it has you dancing and it leave you wanting more – imagine, being a fan of punk rock and wanting more of an already eight minute long song! When we do get to the song’s, and the album’s, finale we are treated to a goosebump raising gang vocal that finishes this absolute masterpiece.

Maximum Effort is so good it made me drop many f-bombs. With a band having so many different members and influences, there's a lot going on here but the amazing chemistry this band have make it all work. It doesn’t feel over-the-top and nothing feels like it could or should have been cut. This will be one of those albums you listen to a hundred times and still find something new to love. There are so many incredible bands in the UK ska scene, I think JSN just may have eclipsed anything that's been put out over the past few years. I know ska isn't for everyone and if you're not a fan of the genre but somehow find yourself reading this (thanks!), I urge you to check out Maximum Effort. Wowzas, it's good!

Like Just Say Nay here: https://www.facebook.com/justsaynayuk

This review was written by Colin Clark.

CPRW Playlist: September 2019

CPRW Playlist: Here's what Brett, Dan, Emma, Lee, Omar, Richard, Robyn, myself and our special guest Katie from Katie MF have been listening to this September.

Top Tens: Ten Ways To Discover New Bands

Something that really baffles me is why more people aren't listening to new music. It's never been easier to find your new favourite band thanks to the Internet with social media and the abundance of music streaming platforms available. Whatever your preferred genre, there are hundreds of great new acts deserving of your attention. In so many different Facebook groups I see people only sharing music from bands that are twenty years old or complaining that there has been no good albums released this year – yes there has been, probably more than ever, if you look in the right places. This top ten piece is dedicated to sharing some of my favourite methods of discovering new bands. For a lot of people, this will probably just be a list of the obvious but I have so many people say to me "how do you find all these new bands?" so I figured it might be worth a top ten. I've probably written something similar in the past but it's a subject I feel very passionate about.

Go Into A Record Shop And Flick Through The Crates
We'll start with the most old school and most obvious one – going into a music shop and spending some time looking through the stock. Way back in the dark ages before the Internet, that's how we did it. How many albums did you buy when you were younger just because you liked the artwork? Records shops still exist and probably need your support more than ever. Pop into your local one, browse, speak to the staff – they might be able to recommend something for you. Plus, it's always nice to chat to folk about music.

Compilation Albums
Compilation albums are something I've spoken a lot about this year. It's such an obvious way of finding new bands. You buy one for a couple of bands you like and end up discovering five more great ones. Success!

Artist Recommendation
One of my favourite things about buying physical music is reading the inlay from start to finish. It's nice to read lyrics and sometimes even learn the meaning and inspiration behind the songs. I also love to read the thank you lists. I've found so many great bands through doing that. If you don't buy CDs or vinyl anymore, then check out a band’s page on Facebook or Spotify. They often have a ‘bands we like’ or ‘bands we sound like’ section – a great way of finding new acts that are similar to someone else you like.

Going To Gigs And Seeing The Supports
Another painfully obvious way to discover new bands is to go to a gig, get there for doors and check out the supports act. More often than not they will be a newer band on the scene and more often than not they'll probably be very good too. I find it painful the amount of time I go to gigs and see so many people just show up for the headliner and/or main support.

Look For Gig Listings
Maybe none of your favourite bands are playing gigs near you. I can assure you that there is a gig happening somewhere near you though. Search out your local venues, look at who's playing, listen to the bands that are playing. Go and see them. Local scenes are a building block for live music and you should always try your best to support them. It's quite satisfying to see bands build up a local fan base and then go on to perform to national audience.

Festival Line-ups
I love reading through a festival line-up and checking out bands I've never heard of before. There are so many music festivals put on all over the world. Some with only ten or so bands, some with hundreds and with line-ups typically ranging from established headline acts to plenty of up and comers. Something I like to do (which might be a bit sad) is go through the Clashfinder for The Fest in Gainesville and plan my own schedule even though I know I'm not going. Be warned though, you will find some great bands but you will be extra bummed out that you're not going!

Bandcamp Discovery
Bandcamp is, for my money, the best website on the world wide web. I can spend hours of my day in a Bandcamp black hole, jumping from one great band then finding another ten more. The discovery section on the site can keep you up to date with all the latest releases from established acts as well as brand new artists from all over the world. You can search through every conceivable genre and sort between new releases and best selling. I guarantee you will find something you love on Bandcamp. It's also the place where you can find the CPRW five year anniversary compilation.

Spotify Playlists
Spotify has played a massive hand in the way in which we listen to music. My favourite feature of Spotify is the ability to make playlists. We all love making that perfect playlist with all our favourite bands and then sharing them with folks. It's the 21st century mixtape. There now appears to be designated playlists that people create to showcase the best new music coming out in the future. Just whack a playlist on shuffle and find the stuff that strikes the biggest chord with you.

Blogs/Zines/Websites
Obviously CPRW is the place to go to discover new music but there are loads of other blogs, zines and websites seriously dedicated to sharing brand new bands and music to the world. Even before I started CPRW, I would spend countless hours reading album reviews online or, before that, in magazines and checking out the featured bands.

Google Top Ten Lists
I had never thought about doing something like this before reading James Acaster's new book Perfect Sound Whatever but it's such a simple and brilliant idea. Say you fancy seeing what other people thought were the best albums of a particular year, just punch the year into Google and see what goodies it comes up with. When we come to the end of this year, it's something I'll definitely be doing.

This top ten was written by Colin Clark.