Punk/Power Pop Review | Lollipop Magazine

Comeback Kid – Outsider – Review

September 1, 2017

Comeback Kid manages to outdo their previous work yet again.

Squarecrow – Rammi Jamms – Review

August 26, 2016

Squarecrow sounds focused and energized throughout Rammi Jamms, and they even throw in a snarled, skank-worthy take on The Smiths’ immortal “Bigmouth Strikes Again.”

The Damned – Don’t You Wish That We Were Dead – Review

May 27, 2016

Of all the late ’70s punk godfathers, The Damned always seemed to be the ones to use the nascent punk sound for its purest purpose: To make great music.

The Hollowpoints – Rocket To Rainier – Review

October 30, 2015

The phrase “energetic blast” seems more fitting for a new Mountain Dew flavor than a record, but hey, it really fits here for The Hollowpoints.

Senses Fail / Man Overboard – Split 7″ – Review

March 6, 2015

Senses Fail and Man Overboard team up for this four-song EP, featuring a new song from each band as well as each band covering one of the other’s choice cuts.

The Generators – Life Gives Life Takes – Review

May 30, 2014

Classic old school punk with a strong Bad Religion vibe. Considering The Generators have a 15+ year history, it’s no surprise that they create perfectly formed, impeccably molded songs like the ones on Life Gives, Life Takes, their 10th album.

Veara – Growing Up Is Killing Me – Review

April 1, 2014

Like loads of good-but-indistinguishable pop punk bands of the late ’90s, they have heart and skills, but haven’t found their unique voice by their 2nd album.

The Marmozets – Review

January 9, 2014

This clunkily-named band has angsty roar, belted-out melodies, and some tenderness, slathered atop powerpop riffery and stick-twirling drumming.

Propagandhi – How to Clean Everything – Review

December 30, 2013

Deluxe reissue of Propagandhi’s classic 1993 debut. Remastered, featuring the full album, three outtakes, and the four-song HTCE demo.

The Flatliners – Dead Language – Review

December 12, 2013

Fans of (the dearly departed) The Distillers will definitely recognize that band’s trademark snarl and aggression on “Drown in Blood.”

Get Dead – Bad News – Review

November 25, 2013

Raspy-voiced bar room punk from San Francisco. Combining horns, dark ska upstroke, punk charge, and blind-staggering to please Social D and Pogues fans.

Chixdiggit – Double Diggits – Review

August 20, 2013

Combines Chixdiggit’s second and third albums: 1998’s Born on the First of July and 2000’s From Scene to Shining Scene, plus eight bonus tracks.

Masked Intruder – Review

July 30, 2013

Sure, it’s a novelty, and punk pop needs another gimmick like I need Frank’s Red Hot Sauce squirted in my eye, but this one’s worth the sting.

Less Than Jake – Greetings & Salutations – Review

July 29, 2013

Combines tour-only EPs Greetings from Less Than Jake (2011) and Seasons Greetings from Less Than Jake (2012), plus a pair of unreleased tracks.

Drug Church – Paul Walker – Review

July 19, 2013

Paul Walker maintains a bleak outlook, but it incorporates grooves into its punk assault in the tradition of Helmet, Quicksand, and The Bronx.

After The Fall – Unkind – Review

July 3, 2013

After the Fall have pretty well nailed the rampaging punk stylings of the late ’90s. Like NOFX, but with less horns and songs about lesbians.

The Tossers – The Emerald City – Review

June 27, 2013

Fun, energetic, trust-worthy, with tin whistles, fiddles, and hearty sing-a-longs. Emerald City doesn’t disappoint, nor break any new ground.

Bad Religion – True North – Review

June 25, 2013

Immaculate production, fast-paced, quality skate punkpop, layered whoa-ohs, and scathing cultural criticism, it’s all here in spades.

Paramore – Review

June 20, 2013

I’ve got a huge soft spot for Paramore’s unfailingly earnest and polished punk pop, and especially the incredible vocals of Hayley Williams.

Retox – YPLL – Review

May 28, 2013

Justin Pearson of The Locust returns with the edgy shit people call art punk. You can love or loathe the long song titles cuz it’s about the music, right?

The Bronx – IV – Review

March 15, 2013

Modern life is a real drag according to the The Bronx’s lyrics, but you wouldn’t know it from the kick-ass, muscled boogie-punk that these LA punkers jerk out.

The Night Marchers – Allez Allez – Review

March 6, 2013

Four years since their debut, huffing blues rawk daily, three quarters of Hot Snakes are back in sweaty black as The Night Marchers.

Bad Brains – Into The Future – Review

February 20, 2013

30 years in, do you really expect Bad Brains to blow your mind? In the early ’80s, they raged, dropping jaws. In 2012, well, they have some new songs.

Aspiga – Every Last Piece – Review

January 22, 2013

Seven song debut from this New Jersey punk band. Inconsistent vocals but chunky bass, lively tempos, and some solid melodies and good breakdowns.

We Are The Union – You Can’t Hide The Sun – Review

December 21, 2012

Horns and upstroked guitars scattered about, so anyone averse to such things, beware. Comparisons to mid-’90s pop punk is inevitable.