Here is The Grouch and we are going to take a listen to an album called Out of the Garage. There must be something in the water over there in New Jersey, because Bongo Boy has a knack for finding really good songs and putting them on an album with a particular theme. I like to think of it as a playlist for those who know what vinyl is. (No, I do not simply mean a substance consisting of, or containing the monovalent group of atoms, CH 2). I mean records!

So what do we find on this album? The name implies that it may be some sort of Neo-hippie homage to flowers and drum circles, but wait it also says that this music is out of the garage...hmmmm this sounds interesting.

So it was with a hope, but no expectation that I cued-up these tracks. I was hoping for more garage and fewer hippies. (OK, Hendrix did some really cool stuff, but most of that peace and love nonsense just makes me want to go do something else...)

Well, what a pleasant surprise this album turned out to be. This is basically a collection of really good Punk/Punk-Pop tracks. Now, when I say Punk, I don't mean mindless noise, I mean basic three chord Rock and Roll played with ATTITUDE.

Attitude is something this album has an abundance of.

Out Of The Garage Volume One

1.

Like Nothing That You've Seen - Mark Lindsay - 3.27

2.

You Gotta Work - The WeeGees - 3.07

3.

Nothing To Brag About - Rage Of Angels 3.23

4.

Take It Or Leave It - The Accelerators 2.59

5.

Half A Mile Away - Rage Of Angels 3.46

6.

Spin - KickBend 2.42

7.

Broken Records - The Catholic Girls 3.34

8.

I Can't Let Go - The Chords UK 3.03

9.

Hey Little School Girl - Zombie Garden Club 2.59

10.

Sweet Sunshine - The Satisfactors 3.38

Track 1 Like Nothing That You've Seen by Mark Lindsay is WICKED. I was stunned to read that Mark Lindsay was the singer in Paul Revere & The Raiders. I mean, if I remember correctly they campaigned for Nixon and had songs about Leave It to Beaver stuff...Oh well, we all make mistakes when we are younger. (At one time I had a mullet.) The point is, this song is great! Mark's voice is good - really good. Combine his voice with the guitar riffs - the lead that begins 10 seconds into the song really makes me smile. All I can think is "Damn, this guy is cool!" This song is an infectious groove that sets the pace for the rest of the album - and the two string solo that starts at the 2 minute 10 second mark is just smoking hot.

Track 2, called You Gotta Work, by The WeeGees is a three minute rampage of sound dominated by some red hot horns. The horn section makes this song! I am reminded of the Geils band's horn section, the Uptown Horns. Very nice guys.

Track 3 is Nothing To Brag About by the Rage Of Angels. This is one of two songs on the album that remind me of the Go-Gos. (No, I don't mean the Belinda Carlisle solo years. I mean the stuff they did with Jane Wiedlin, when they were a rock and roll band that just happened to be comprised exclusively of women.) I hear the same new wave west coast groove in this track. Of course it also helps that their singer has a really good voice and the guitar player knows how to step up and take a solo.

Track 4 Take It Or Leave It, by The Accelerators is just a classic old Punk jam! Is the music technically difficult? No. It the singer fantastic? No. What it is, folks, is bad ass ROCK AND ROLL. Look, the guy can sing, well enough. The band is tight, enough. What they have that a lot of more polished bands lack, is PUNK ROCK SOUL and that makes this Grouch smile. Listen to this track. Tell me, honestly, that you don't feel it too. Of course you feel it, the idea that these guys are making some cool noise - and that you could do that too. Rock and Roll for the masses, here it is and it's in your face.

The Rage of Angels are back for track 5, Half A Mile Away. Listen to this song! Man, I love that raunchy guitar. OK, it's 2016 – does anyone still think women can't rock? Well, if you think so you have not heard The Rage of Angles. Man, this chick makes that guitar screen. I dig it.

Track 6 is called Spin and comes from a group called KickBend. I find myself wondering if these guys are out of Detroit. They sound a lot like a local band I dug back in the 1980s. The music is loud, the guitar rocks and the drummer seems to be having a really good time. This song is a gigging band's dream - it can be extended indefinitely and lends itself to a concert ending. Good job guys.

Track 7 Broken Record by The Catholic Girls is my favorite track on the album. The majority, based on the video of this song that I saw I do not think all, of the members are female. Here is the bottom line: I love this woman's voice - it just screams attitude (think the Gore Gore Girls) and the guitar is outrageous. The song reminds me both of Billy Idol and the Go-Gos. All in all this is an exceptional jam.

Track 8 is titled I Can't Let Go by the Chords UK. Good song – played well - with the right amount of energy. I'm a pretty big Mott fan, so that might influence my feelings about this track, but I dig it and I think you will too.

Track 9, Hey Little School Girl by the ZOMBIE GARDEN CLUB is old school rock and roll. This is the stuff that made middle class parents nervous back in the day. Based on what I've read it seems this band started in Toronto, you could have fooled me. This track has British Invasion written all over it. The snarl is just right! You have to check this out.

Track 10 is Sweet Sunshine by the Satisfactors. I first heard about the Satisfactors a few years ago. I dig what they do! This is a band made up of a bunch of guys who are bursting with in-your-face soul. The singer sings well. The rhythm section is rock solid and the guitars are on fire. I dare anyone to listen to this track and not be in a better mood by the end of the song. A long time ago, when the Walkman first came out, I had a friend who would say "Here, have a little Alice. You'll feel better." Then he would give you the headphones and Billion Dollar Babies would blast through your brain. Well, here, have a little Satisfactors. You'll feel better.

So folks, what is the bottom line? All in all this is an outstanding album! Long live the Garage!

https://bongoboyrecords.com