My profile of the Mekons went out on the Creem newsletter today, so I will happily take that as a cue to promote it again! Best band. I’ll be shocked if I don’t win a Pulitzer for the piece. Possibly a Tony Award.
Zachary Lipez
@zacharylipez.bsky.social
Editor at large for Creem Magazine. I am in a couple bands with people who are in other, more successful, bands. Like your mom, I have a newsletter.
Ted Leo & Pharmacists playing one of my favorite songs ever at Tompkins Square Park benefit for ABC No Rio.
As we appear to be experiencing a new golden age of all dissenting opinions regarding art being accused of contrarianism and/or pretentiousness, I present to you, without comment: Swamp Dogg on Phil Specter.
My review of the new Charli XCX won’t run till September CREEM but relevant points are: I enjoy A.R.E. Weapons, shampoo, and No Home. I don’t think Blur’s woohoo song is that great. Also, in 2014, I saw Charli XCX perform “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” at a party for VICE advertisers.
interview with Lou & Craig from SOIA at Benny’s Burritos in 2014. They were delightful tho I want to punch myself for how much I pontificated (I’d only been doing interviews for a year, and sucked at it… not a defense but they were super gracious). www.vice.com/en/article/s...
Sick of It All Say "The Good Old Days are Now"
The fabled NYHC band speaks candidly on politics and becoming wizened hardcore dudes with grace.
vice.com
Has Charli xcx been listening to No Home? nohome.bandcamp.com/album/fuckin...
Fucking Hell, by No Home
10 track album
nohome.bandcamp.com
RIP Lou Koller of Sick of It All, great frontman and the sanest guy in NYHC.
I immediately bought new Nia Archives because it’s a combo of the all the one things I like most of all the genres I don’t pay much attention to. Now I can spend rest of the year listening to nothing but crust-adjacent punk, twisted teens, and Nia Archives’ “Emotional Junglist.”
Still can’t believe that there’s a Pope from Chicago and it’s not Ben Weasel.
Al-Qasar & Zohra KEXP performance is now up! youtu.be/vsbb_8EGbuM?...
Al‐Qasar - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)
YouTube video by KEXP
youtu.be
Opening the album by claiming the slightly less contested throne of “the new bleach-era Nirvana” was surprising, but it does scan. I understand why the throne of “the new iceage” might not feel ambitious enough to capture the TwistedTeensmania sweeping the boho-alt nation.
Zachary Lipez@zacharylipez.bsky.social · 4w agoEverybody staying up late for the new Twisted Teens album??? cpnpc.bandcamp.com/album/florid...
Everybody staying up late for the new Parts and Labor album??? partsandlabor.bandcamp.com/album/set-of...
Set of All Sets, by Parts & Labor
17 track album
partsandlabor.bandcamp.com
Everybody staying up late for the new Twisted Teens album??? cpnpc.bandcamp.com/album/florid...
Florida Water Blues, by cpnpc
13 track album
cpnpc.bandcamp.com
The Quietus Albums Of The Year So Far chart is here! But who is at number one? @normanrecords.com buff.ly/z3lSmCv
On this day, 40 years ago, America really got cooking. youtu.be/4B_UYYPb-Gk?...
RUN DMC - Walk This Way (Official HD Video) ft. Aerosmith
YouTube video by RUNDMCVEVO
youtu.be
CREEM's summer '26 issue is out. Read my feature on the Butthole Surfers. We go into their AFTER THE ASTRONAUT album, the HOLE TRUTH doc (if it's cursed), why they won't play again (and that's okay), and more. On sale now. www.creem.com/archive/issu... Photo: Patt Blashill / Art: Chris Downing
Here we go! Introducing... THE CHUTES!! San Francisco's newest indie pop jangle rock duo! Ffo: Sarah Records, Umbrellas, Pastels dandyboyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-ch...
The Chutes, by The Chutes
7 track album
dandyboyrecords.bandcamp.com
Spending my Sunday with the new Creem and this made me laugh really hard. "Life is short and there's a lot of things to know. Half of those things are post-punk bands from Leeds" Good stuff @zacharylipez.bsky.social
Thank you to @zacharylipez.bsky.social and all the lovely folks at CREEM for including us on this week’s Crème de la CREEM playlist! open.spotify.com/playlist/1Un...
Crème de la CREEM: New Music Friday
Playlist · CREEM · 80 items · 3.8K saves
open.spotify.com
Bob Bert’s record release party was lovely. Missed the Pussy Galore covers but happily caught Knoxville Girls reunion and Kid Congo, Mick Collins, and Bert’s project. And Chrome Cranks filled my heart with light and joy. As Chrome Cranks do.
POISON 13 REISSUE IS OUT TODAY!!!!!!! redparakeet.bandcamp.com/album/poison...
Poison 13, by Poison 13
13 track album
redparakeet.bandcamp.com