Headsparks - Beastro CD (Japan Tour 2017)

Fixing A Hole (2017)

Headsparks are a band that remained a secret to me for far longer than it should have.  Considering that the band features Andy from Donfisher, Ohno Express and GAN(!).  I can't believe they've been around for years and had released three albums before I had caught wind of them.  I'm doing my best to make up for lost time with the records I have of theirs now and the first one I'll write about on here is their album Beastro.

This particular version of Beastro is the version they sold on their 2017 tour of Japan.  From what I've read it's a remastered version of an album they released in 2016.  In addition to the new mastering, there's also new bass on every song from a new bass player who wasn't around for the original recording of the album.  Having not heard the original version, I can't compare the two, but what I can say about this version of Beastro I have is that it's pretty damn great.  And the bass sounds very nice.

Headsparks are playing the sort of melodic UK punk rock that's just about been my favorite kind of music since forever.  They definitely highlight the melodic part of the equation and I find their songs to have the intricacies of some of the latter Leatherface records while still having the same sort of catchy urgency that you'd hear from Hooton 3 Car at the height of their powers.  Every song on this album is a crackling with energy and super dynamic guitar work.  It just creates a whirlwind of noise that still allows the melodies and hooks to shine through.

It's a hell of a record.  I wish I had been paying attention to these guys all along, but I'll certainly be keeping track of them now.  I have their most recent 2017 record, Vs. The Metric System, as well and I'll be writing a little bit about that one sometime in the next few weeks.

Headsparks - Beastro:
https://headsparks1.bandcamp.com/album/beastro-2

Firestarter - First Album LP

Secret Mission (2018, Reissue)

This LP is a reissue of a nearly twenty year old album from the Japanese band Firestarter.  I can't say I know much about them.  Honestly my knowledge of Japanese punk rock has always been more focused on the poppier, melodic side of things and I've never paid much attention to the Japanese garage rock scene.  Admittedly, I know that scene is huge and way more visible to our side of the ocean than the pop punk that I like, but I've never really listened to much of it.

I'm not sure I'm going to do that deep dive now, but I will say that if I hear of any other bands like Firestarter, I'm certainly going to pay a little bit more attention.  Yes, this definitely has a garage vibe to it with the sort of lead guitar riffs here and there that you'd expect.  That said, more than anything this is a pop record.  Pop in the way that you'd expect from Marvelous Darlings or The Barreracudas. Sickly sweet melodies and hooks blasted in your face as loud as they can get their guitars to go.

Songs like "Trashy Dreams" have that perfect combination of catchy guitar riffs with a killer chorus amplified further with perfect backing vocals.  Amazingly it can segue directly into a song like "Flex Your Muscle."  That one is just a straightforward, short explosion of tough guy guitar.  Yet the two songs live side by side perfectly, giving the album a dynamic flow.  This is one of two Firestarted reissues that I have and rest assured I'll be firing up Livin' On The Heat real soon.  I wanted to spend more time getting familiar with their debut before I moved on to the other, but if it's half as good as this one is, I'll be pretty excited.

Firestarter - First Album:
https://secretmissionrecords.bandcamp.com/album/firestarter-first-album-lp

Supercrush - I Can't Lie 7" - Pink Vinyl (/100)

Debt Offensive (2018)

Supercrush has really managed to tap into a very specific vein on 90s nostalgia for me with the four 7"s they've released over the past few years.  There aren't many bands playing the sort of warm and fuzzy pop tunes that Supercrush seems to churn out effortlessly.  Everything I love about bands like Poole and Super Deluxe is encapsulated in the perfect pop nuggets that Supercrush have been releasing.

The two new songs on this 7" are no exception.  The band hasn't strayed from their winning formula, but they are focusing on the mellower side of their songwriting with these two songs.  Both "I Can't Lie" and "Walking Backwards" are slower and more deliberate.  But with the slower tempo, the band is able to conjure up such lush harmonies and really capture the essence of a lazy Sunday afternoon in the summer, with their tunes providing the cool breeze you are so desperately craving.

Four 7"s in and Supercrush continues to delight.  I wonder if they will ever commit to a full album or if the plan is to keep with the 7" format.  I would love to hear a full album by these guys, but as long as they keep the songs coming, I'll take them however I can get them.

Supercrush - I Can't Lie 7":
https://debtoffensiverecords.bandcamp.com/album/i-cant-lie

Fifteen - The Choice Of A New Generation LP - Metallic Silver Vinyl (/119)

Dead Broke (2018, Reissue)

The start of a reissue campaign for Fifteen is giving me the opportunity to catch up on a band that I shamefully neglected until very recently.  Despite my love of all things Crimpshrine for as long as I can remember, I never followed Jeff Ott to Fifteen.  I'm not sure if I was totally aware of the link back in the 90s or if it was just another one of those times where the ability to buy everything I wanted to hear was hampered by finances.  I certainly bought a lot of records back then and spent essentially every extra penny I had trying to find new sounds, but there was just so much coming out, it would have been impossible to get everything.

In hindsight, Fifteen is a band I should have found a way to scrape together a bit more cash for.  As much as I like their records now, I feel like if I had heard these songs during those formative mid 90s years, they would have hit me just as hard as Crimpshrine did. Thus far The Choice Of A New Generation is the best Fifteen album I have heard.  It's more energetic and catchy than the also great Swain's First Bike Ride.  Everything also seems tighter, while still having that unmistakable fuzzy charm of those early Lookout records.

I'm really happy that Dead Broke started rereleasing these Fifteen albums.  It sparked me to give them a try all these years later.  I'm not sure where things go after this album.  Once the band left Lookout they hopped around to a bunch of different labels and there doesn't seem to be a clear path, reissue wise.  Looks like I might need to start tracking down some older records to keep my Fifteen journey going.

Fifteen - The Choice Of A New Generation:
https://deadbrokerekerds.bandcamp.com/album/the-choice-of-a-new-generation

Wilson Pickett - It's Too Late LP

Upfront (1969)

Since I'm out of Blues Brothers 7"s now, I figured I'd tackle some other records I've had building up for a while.  My love of The Blues Brother first led me to Wilson Pickett.  They called him out by name on the version of "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love" that appears on Best Of The Blues Brothers.  "Land of 1,000 Dances" was used during the end credits of The Great Outdoors.  My dad also had his song "Funky Broadway" that was on some mix tape of his that he'd play a lot.  I thought what I heard sounded so much like the Blues Brothers and wanted to know more.

I've had a few Wilson Pickett best of's since I was a kid.  I also had grabbed the reissue of The Exciting Wilson Pickett on Record Store Day a few years ago, but last year I decided I wanted to get the rest of his full length albums (at least to a point, I'm not interested in everything he did once we hit the 70s).  As many had been reissued over the last few years, my wife picked me up some for my birthday and Christmas last year.

One that wasn't among the more high profile reissues was his first album from 1963, It's Too Late.  I ended up scoring a sealed copy of the 1969 reissue that came out on Up Front records (based out of Linden, NJ if you're curious).  I'm pretty shocked that the condition of this thing is so good.  Maybe it's a more recent reissue than from 1969, but it sure seems like it's of that era to me based on the artwork and packaging.

The only song on this album that I was previously familiar with was the first track, "If You Need Me," which appears on a greatest hits album I've had since I was a kid.  Everything else are songs that are new to me.  They do sound like something from really early in his career.  They're missing a little bit of the polish and the energy he'd manage to capture later.  That said, there are still some incredible songs on here like "I'm Gonna Love You," "Baby Call On Me" and "I Can't Stop."  Not sure this is one that I will listen to as much as some of his other albums, but some of these songs are stone cold hits.

Wilson Pickett - "If You Need Me":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnK4k_EnXSo

Wilson Pickett - "I'm Gonna Love You":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iho8q7jvXuo

Wilson Pickett - "I Can't Stop":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMrXkRZKUcs

Stayawakes - Dogs And Cats / Living Together LP - Pink/Yellow/Green Tri Color Vinyl

Bad Horror (2018)

My buddy Jason in Baltimore said I needed to check out Stayawakes from Southsea in England.  There are times when Jason hasn't always been spot on with his recommendations, but man did he hit this one out of the park.  Stayawakes' debut album is exactly the sort of thing that's right up my alley and I bought the UK import LP after listening to one and a half songs on their Bandcamp page.  Hell, it's really the sort of thing we'd want to put out on PopKid, to be completely honest.  The album is pretty perfect.

The easiest comparison for me to make, and the one that will make you understand why I think this would fit on PopKid, is that I find so many remarkable similarities to the band Beezewax.  These guy could be their long lost doppelganger band.  The way they weave Posies-esque melodies and harmonies into punchy Superchunk level energetic songs like "Keepsakes" and "No Shame" is comparable to my favorite Norwegian band. But they have an equal mastery of slowing down the pace and really sinking their teeth into a slower, beautiful song like "Sophie."

Each of the album's ten songs are amazing and build off of each other throughout the course of the record.  This one is absolutely one of the best albums I've heard this year.  And let's not forget they extra points they earn for the Ghostbusters reference album title.  This is everything I would want from a band.  Don't miss out.

Stayawakes - Dogs And Cats / Living Together LP:
https://thestayawakes.bandcamp.com/album/dogs-and-cats-living-together

The Pretty Flowers - My Alchemist 7" - Blue Vinyl (/300)

Self Released (2015)

I had mentioned the other week that as soon as I had listened to The Pretty Flowers insanely great debut full length, Why Trains Crash,  I immediately bought everything else they were selling on their Bandcamp page.  That was a T shirt and two 7"s.  This is their debut 7" that came out back in 2015.  I can't believe this thing has been out in the world for three years and wasn't in my record collection.  That's just wrong.

This 7" starts off with an early version of a song that ended up on their full length called "My Alchemist."  Even this version, which is a bit more stripped down and is missing some of the backing harmonies and guitar flourishes, you can tell what a perfect, well written song it is at the very core.  I just love it, not even sure what else to say.  It's melodic and beautiful and catchy.  I can't get over how great this band is.

The two songs on the B side are exclusive to this 7".  The first is "In The Summer."  It's a fast paced, pretty straightforward pop song.  It once again showcases the bands incredible knack for writing hooks.  It may be a little simpler than some of their other songs, but it punches above its weight.

Lastly we have a cover song; "Panama."  No, not that shitty Van Helen song.  This Panama is a J Church cover from their Tide Of Fate 7".  I'm admittedly not as thoroughly knowledgable on J Church's vast discography as a lot of folks are, but I know this song.  I'm not sure where from, because I have a lot of J Church catching up to do, but this Pretty Flowers version is definitely not the first time I've heard this song.  The Pretty Flowers version is great too.  What can I say, everything they touch turns to gold.

The Pretty Flowers - My Alchemist 7":
https://theprettyflowers.bandcamp.com/album/my-alchemist-7

Thirsty Chords - Red Eyes CD

Shirafu (2014)

Red Eyes is the 2nd full length album from  Thirsty Chords and it's their third release that I've written about since I became aware of the band.  I had first discovered them as their name had come up more than a few times while I was looking for some more information about the equally great band Bows.  They seem to be kindred spirits, and I'm really glad that the searching led me to Thirsty Chords.  Red Eyes, like their other releases, is simply fantastic.

Thirsty Chord's version of melodic punk rock often reminds me of fellow countrymen Minority Blues Band, although I find Thirsty Chords write poppier songs with bigger hooks.  Where I see the most similarities with Minority Blues Band is how Thirsty Chords' songs are bursting with energy to the point where it sometimes seems like the song may come unglued at any moment.  But Thirsty Chords never lose it, their chaos is controlled as the verses ball themselves up and let loose with super catchy choruses.

There are so many great melodic punk rock bands in Japan.  If you enjoy any of the bands I've written about like Gleam Garden, Short Straw Fate, Bows or anything on Waterslide or Snuffy Smile, I can't imagine you not digging Thirsty Chords just as much.  Red Eyes is just as great as anything those bands and labels have released.

Thirsty Chords - "Lenticular":
https://soundcloud.com/thirsty-chords/leticular

The Sensations - Dig Your Own Grave CD

I Hate Smoke (2018)

This five song CD was recently released on I Hate Smoke records, a label I've become more familiar with over the past year or so and one that I'm starting to trust just seeing their logo on a release.  The Sensations are another band that's new to me, but I'm pretty impressed by this first encounter.

Dig Your Own Grave is very much a fun, Japanese pop punk record.  It's got a slicker style of production and at times the gang vocal harmonies (and the slight amount of ska that creeps into the songs "Time Flies" and "Keep Your Rough") remind me a little bit of the Beat Crusaders (and you know how much I love the Beat Crusaders since PopKid put out one of their records).  Another thing about this EP that really stands out is the dynamic drumming, running the gamut from fast paced to lower rumbles with super smooth fills and transitions every time.

While I wouldn't necessarily rank The Sensations as one of the greatest things I've heard in my entire life, all five of these songs are fun, catchy and the EP just breezes on by.  It also goes out on a high note as it closes with it's strongest song, "Feel Like Yesterday."  It has much in common with the various Snuff "Nick" songs from over the years.  Mid tempo, a bit soulful and catchy as can be.  It's a keeper.

The Sensations - Dig Your Own Grave:
https://ihatesmokerecords.bandcamp.com/album/dig-your-own-grave

Dirty Few - Volcom Sessions 7" - Purple Vinyl

Snappy Little Numbers (2018)

My only previous exposure to Dirty Few was via a split 7" they did on Snappy Little Numbers a few years ago.  I dug those songs quite a bit, and felt like they sounded somewhat like Randy, specifically of the Welfare Problems era.  These new songs don't sound like that at all.  Luckily they're still good, but it's a pretty big shift from what I was expecting.

Where their songs from the split were tightly wound, energetic explosions, the four songs on this new Volcom Sessions ease off the throttle quite a bit.  The band is taking their time, letting their songs breathe and just sort of relishing in a slower, boozy vibe.  While they show they can still punch with the best on the more energetic "Die High," the other three seem like the band has taken more inspiration from The Replacements, though with a much higher propensity to mention partying in the lyrics of their songs.

This is a solid 7".  It's not a super great, can't miss sort of release like a lot of the things that Snappy Little Numbers releases, but it's a totally enjoyable four song affair.  It's also possible that I just don't party often enough to really appreciate the genius of these songs.  But I'm old and tired.

Dirty Few - Volcom Sessions:
https://snappylittlenumbers.bandcamp.com/album/volcom-sessions-ep

Twin Guns - Imaginary World LP - White Vinyl

Big Neck (2018)

From the first moments of the album opening title track, it's pretty obvious that Imaginary World has a vibe to it.  What that vibe is, can be a little tougher to lock down as the band does tend to wear a lot of different hats throughout the course of this record.  The song "Imaginary World" has a slow, deliberate pace with a punk meets dark western feel to it.  It sounds like the sort of thing they would play on that TV show Westworld.  Though I've only seen the first episode of that show, so use discretion on how accurate that claim may be.

As the album progresses, the tempos change and the melodies evolve, but there always is a certain darkness to it and a feeling like the song was pulled out of some foreign cowboy movie that was really depressing.  That might read like I'm taking a shot at or saying something bad about this record, but I'm not.  I actually like it quite a bit oddly enough.  It's just different enough from everything else out there that it really stands out and the songs are really impactful.

It probably also helps that there are moments where I can connect Twin Guns to other albums in my record collection.  If I listen hard enough I can hear elements that remind me of The Estranged or even the Red Dons, it's that same sort of fight against the bleakness that I can get behind.  I'm not sure this is the sort of album I could see myself listening to all the time or anything, but on a rainy Sunday morning or on a particularly down commute home from work, this is the sort of record that helps cope with those sorts of moods.  This isn't something I would have likely picked up had Big Neck sent me a copy to review.  I'm not sure it would have been on my radar, but it's worth checking out.

Twin Guns - Imaginary World:
https://bigneckrecords1.bandcamp.com/album/twin-guns-imaginary-world

Trash Knife / Dumb Vision - Split 7"

Kitschy Spirit (2018)

I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting when I first got this record in the mail from Kitschy Spirit.  It didn't really look like the sort of thing I would be into.  I kind of pegged for a noisy slab of hardcore that I would end up gritting my teeth through.  While I would not go so far as to say I really like this all that much, I definitely misjudged the book due to it's cover.

Things start off with Trash Knife, a band that I actually think I might like a bit if they could sort out the recording and levels of everything.  The music itself, is fast and powerful, reminding me of a treble heavy Royal Headache, but played at double speed.  The vocals are what keep me from really enjoying it.  They're buried so deep into the mix that you can barely hear them, and the parts that you can hear sound kind of strained.  There's potential, but this particular batch of songs does them no real favors.

On the flip we have Dumb Vision. They're playing a kind of sloppy, garage tinged batch of Ramones-y songs.  They're fast and moderately catchy, but again, the vocals are totally obscured by the guitar fuzz.  They're mixed a little bit better that Trash Knife, so I can hear what's going on more, but it hurts what otherwise sounds like three pretty decent songs.

I'd be curious to hear more by both of these bands, but what they've churned out on this specific 7" isn't really for me.

Trash Knife / Dumb Vision - Split 7"
https://kitschyspirit.bandcamp.com/album/trash-knife-dumb-vision-split-ep

The Blues Brothers - Collection 2 Medley 7" (Spain)

WEA (1992)

This 7" is just like the one I posted about a couple of weeks ago, except with different songs and worse artwork.  Like the first Collection Medley 7", this one has the same song on both sides.  That song is a medley of a minute or so of 3 Blues Brothers songs mashed together.  This time we have "Who's Making Love," "Soul Man" and "Gimme Some Lovin'."  All three are obviously great songs, but I still just don't see the purpose of this 7" or what circumstances it would have ever been useful under.

This 7" also marks an odd ending to my trend of highlighting a Blues Brothers 7" every other Thursday.  I've finally run out and don't have any more.  There are a few more picture sleeve 7"s out there that I haven't tracked down yet, so I'm hopeful I'll have more someday, but as a regular recurring thing, this looks like the end.

I have to say that I never realized just how many different Blues Brothers 7"s were out there.  This has been a fun little mission and I just wish I could have tracked down those last few before I ran out of the ones I do have.  I do have a few with no artwork, but those aren't very interesting as I've already written about the ones that have artwork versions.  The last few I have are meant for my jukebox, if I can ever get around to having that fixed.

Below are the last few I am hunting for.  If you ever see them, please let me know:


Soul Man 7" (Netherlands)


Everybody Needs Somebody 7" (France)


Gimme Some Lovin' 7" (Japan)


Old Landmark/Think/Shake Your Tailfeather 7" (US Promo)

Fastkiss - S/T CD

Self Released (2015)

Once again I'm indebted to Kazu from Waterslide for showing me yet another great band that I probably wouldn't have come across on my own.  I've felt this way for twenty plus years, but it's become more and more obvious every day that as far as music (and professional wrestling) goes, my heart is in Japan.  I just wish I could be there more going to see great bands like this play and shop for more records.  Also, the G1 Climax is going on right now so pretty much the best pro wrestling of the year is currently happening.  But alas, I'm far too poor for another trip to Japan at the moment, so I'll have to let albums like this help me get by.

Fastkiss has turned in nine songs of upbeat, 90s style pop punk and I love it.  It's not gruff and fast like a lot of the other Japanese bands that I tend to enjoy.  Instead, they have more in common with bands like The Hum Hums who seem to be inspired by the more pop focused side of the Beach Boys.

There's just great melodies on this album from start to finish, with each song fueled by punchy guitar chords and complimented by excellent backing vocals and harmonies.  Some of the songs are sung in English and others are in Japanese, but no matter what language the song is in, Fastkiss put their all into each and come out with endlessly catchy tracks.  This one might be kind of below the radar, but it's definitely worth checking out.

Fastkiss - "きみはFREE":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRLZL25Hn4A&feature=youtu.be

Superchunk / Wye Oak - Split 7" (/300)

Merge (2018)

One morning I received an email stating that there was a new, limited Superchuck split 7" that was being released in conjunction with the record store Rough Trade.  Not to want to risk having an incomplete Superchunk 7" collection, I immediately stopped what I was doing and went right to the Merge website to grab a copy.  While I'm certainly glad I got one, maybe I didn't need to be quite so fast acting as it looks like a month later, they do still have this for sale despite it being limited to only three hundred copies.

I can't say that I'm particularly familiar with Wye Oak's other work, but I also can't really say that their contribution to this 7" is really up my alley.  They've put forth an amalgamation of gently plucked acoustic guitar, minimal electronic sounding drumming and vocals that, to my untrained ear, reming me of Bjork.  I did go and listen to the non-acoustic album version of this song, just so I had something to compare the 7" track to, and I will say that of the two, I do like the version on this split better.

Superchunk's contribution to the split is an acoustic version of the song "Break The Glass" from their last album.  It's actually one of my favorite songs from that album, and the translation to an acoustic track is very successful.  It really highlights Mac's excellent vocal melody.  That being said, no matter how good it is, it's still is something of a novelty and I'm not sure how often I'm really going to pull this out to listen to.  Still, it needs to be in the Superchunk collection, so I'm happy to file it away with the others.

The Because - Get Out Through The Back Door LP

Debauch Mood (2018)

This LP is a perfect example of something that I would like to see become a trend in Japan.  Back in 2008, The Because self released this album on CD.  Now, ten years later, Debauch Mood have stepped up and rereleased it on vinyl.  I think that Debauch Mood should do this many more times in the future.  If they need a list of records that should be released on vinyl, I'd be happy to give them one.  Let's start with those old Blew and Lovemen CDs.

Anyway, back to The Because.  I never had their self released CD that this LP is a rerelease of, but I do have all five of the bands 7" appearances, the bulk of which were released on Snuffy Smiles.  While in the past I never thought their songs stood out quite as much as some of the other bands that they were sharing those releases with, hearing the band in the context of a full album only containing their songs has really opened my eyes to just how good they are.

There are times where The Because remind me a little bit of Smalltown, particularly the gruffness of the vocals (except for when the bass player is singing) and the similar way that their songs are structured.  But where Smalltown sometimes leaned towards a Clash-y style here and there, the because leans more towards the sort of 90s melodic punk rock that Snuffy Smile made me love.  The Because put out a hell of a record ten years ago.  I'm just glad it's now on vinyl and finally in my collection.

The Pretty Flowers - Why Trains Crash LP - Yellow Vinyl (/100)

Dirt Cult (2018)

Let's cut to the chase.  This record is phenomenal.  Go buy it right now.  If you are wondering if there is a great record out there that's slipping below your radar, this is the one you're worried about.  Stop what you are doing and go buy it immediately.

I can't possibly say enough good things about this album.  The Pretty Flowers have created a perfect storm of fuzzy guitar riffs, incredibly catchy hooks and lyrical melodies that are impossible to get out of your head.  From the opening salvo of "Cream Of Canvas," you are instantly drawn into to its big Weezer-esque guitar solo (Blue album era Weezer, not that stuff they're doing on one of those recent Weezer albums that you didn't even know came out).  The guitars keep building up until that flawless chorus hits.  It's a killer song and only the first of many that await.

Let's move on to track three, "Some Girls."  I can say without a bit of trepidation that this is the best non-Hot Snakes song that has come out all year.  It's fucking perfect.  Once again, a short lead guitar riff punctuates the hook, and the vocals are constantly rattling around in my head, made even more impactful with the harmonies that kick in on verse two.  I have probably listened to this song a hundred times since I got this record (I've likely listened to the whole thing about fifty times or so). It gets better every single time I hear it.

The rest of the album continues this excellence.  Whether the song veers towards a mellower Weakerthans vibe like on "Chip My Paint" or if they're blasting into full on Built To Spill guitar insanity like on "Temple of Gunpowder," The Pretty Flowers hit every single song out of the park.

In a year where John Reis didn't put out an album, Why Trains Crash is almost a shoe in for album of the year.  Even with a Hot Snakes record on heavy rotation, I've been playing this Pretty Flowers album kind of non-stop the last few weeks.  After hearing this, I immediately ordered the band's other two 7"s and a T shirt from their Bandcamp page.  Anything I can do to support them and hear more music.  This is that kind of band, the one where you hear their record and you just know you're probably going to be listening to it for the rest of your life.  Go buy this now.

The Pretty Flowers - Why Trains Crash:
https://theprettyflowers.bandcamp.com/album/why-trains-crash
 

Bug Sneakers / Just A Fine Slope - Split 7"

Dynamo / Pop Ball (1998)

I've said it before and I'll likely say it a hundred more times, but going record shopping in Tokyo with Kazu from Waterslide records was just one of the best days of my life.  The incredible stores we went to, the insane records that were at each of them and the great conversation all day long was really a highlight of a trip that had its share of highlights.

Throughout the day Kazu would point me towards records that I wouldn't have even known I needed if it weren't for his recommendation.  This split 7"is one that I picked up because I thought it looked like 90s pop punk and Kazu confirmed for me that yes, in fact it was.

Bug Sneakers have three songs on their side of the split, two bouncy and catchy originals and a Ramones cover of the song "Oh Oh I Love Her So."  The two originals are both great examples of quintessential 90s pop punk.  It's not as loud or fast as the sort of thing you'd hear on Snuffy Smile, but it takes a much poppier path and more fits in with some of the bubblegum type stuff that Lookout was putting out in the mid to late 90s.

Just A Fine Slope have two songs on their side and they're certainly a bit faster than the Bug Sneakers songs.  "Sunday" is built on a blazing guitar riff and thousand mile an hour drumming, but the vocal harmonies keep everything grounded in pop.  "Have A Nice Summer Day" is just as good and reminds me a little bit of the faster moments of the band Walker.  The Just A Fine Slope songs are rougher around the edges than Walker ever was, but they both have a similar pop song structure that I just love.

Both of these bands have other records out that I don't have.  I definitely need to get my hands on them, especially the Just A Fine Slope full length that I found out about while searching on Discogs.  It feels like there's always going to be a never ending supply of amazing Japanese punk rock records to buy.  I wish I could go back to Japan to look for them tomorrow.