Hello punks! We really hope you’ve had a good first half of the year (how are we already in June??) Before we let go of Spring and dive into Summer, here’s Punk Rock Philosophy’s roundup of some of our favourite tracks of the last few weeks- make sure they don’t slip under your radar!
Gallus- ‘Letters From America‘
Whether you’re into the football or not this Summer, you will not be able to escape the fact that it is World Cup time! Now normally, footy songs wouldn’t make it into our consciousness let alone have us singing along in raucous, terrace chant-inspired glory but Scottish band Gallus have managed to do just that! They have channelled some footballing spirit into their take on the classic Proclaimer’s hit ‘Letters From America‘ and this is sure to be a Summer anthem whether you’re watching the games or not. The video was shot at the band’s sold-out show at McChuills – one of Glasgow’s most beloved grassroots venues- the energy of the crowd reflecting the rousing impetus behind the song. Speaking on the cover, lead vocalist Barry Dolan says – ” This song is for everyone in Scotland. ‘Letters From America’ is about routing for the wee guys and that’s what we’re going to do this world cup campaign, and that’s what we should do as a society anyway!” Stream/buy/save the track and find out about the band’s impending tour dates HERE.
The Sleights- ‘Nosedive‘
Colorado punks The Sleights have teamed up with Seattle’s Land of Wolves with a joint release ‘King of the Mountain‘- 7 tracks of Northwest punk rock that showcase and celebrate two great bands, with artwork that pays homage to the region they call home. We’ve selected ‘Nosedive‘ as a taster track on this playlist but we recommend checking out the rest of the songs on the full release! ‘Nosedive‘ tackles the growing psychological toll of doomscrolling and social media burnout, reflecting on the early waves of societal and legal consequences tied to the unchecked practices of major tech platforms. The artwork on the album plays on the parallels between Colorado and Washington, featuring imagery of Pikes Peak and Mount Rainier, alongside nods to some iconic regional beer branding. Buy/stream ‘King of the Mountain‘ HERE.
The High Curbs- ‘Crash Out Season‘
Southern California garage rock band The High Curbs have released their new album ‘High Speed‘ (out now via Lauren Records) and our track pick ‘Crash Out Season‘ is a dreamy, emotionally resonant track that feels intricate and moody. The band have been going since 2013 and their newest album reflects a band that are pushing for more complex compositions that still retain that fuzzy punk appeal and across the 10 tracks, we think they nailed it! Also check out focus track ‘Til the End‘ to give you a flavour of what the band is about. The current lineup features Ed Moreno on vocals and guitar, Kenny Huerta on bass, and Taylor Hecocks on guitar. Stream and purchase ‘High Speed‘ HERE.
Compandas- ‘I Just Quit My Job at The Liquor Store‘
Hailing from Pittsburgh, PA are revelling in the fun of plucky DIY tracks with the new single ‘I Just Quit My Job at The Liquor Store‘ a single taken from their forthcoming debut album ‘Tropical Finasteride‘ which is out in July via Lauren Records. On their new track, Compandas offer a cure for workday malaise as simple as walking away from a job you hate- something we all fantasise about no? Fuelled by fuzz bass and bright glockenspiel melodies (who doesn’t love a glockenspiel), the song captures the giddy, wide-open feeling of sudden freedom. It’s a tiny anthem for anyone ready to clock out and walk (or run) away. Stream the track and pre order the album HERE.
Mermaid Island- ‘Panic Button‘
LA’s punk powerhouse Mermaid Island are BACK with the final single to be taken from their self-titled debut LP which is out June 12th. Don’t let the beginning of this track fool you- the catchy, relatively restrained intro soon gives way to the belter of a chorus that unleashes vocalist Alex MacDonald’s searing, unrestrained and quite remarkable voice. The composition of the song- a slow burning reflective and melancholy start that gives way to a cathartic explosion- cleverly mirrors the topic of the song and lyrical content: exploring loss, mortality and the desire to find connection. MacDonald said of the track: “This song almost didn’t make the record. I thought it was too slow and didn’t fit the band’s energy, but I was wrong. It turned out to be the emotional centerpiece, and it’s become a lot of people’s favorite song.” You can check out the band’s website HERE and pre order the album.
Popclaw- ‘Concrete Dreams‘
Here’s an album to pop on your radar…the debut full length by the South East’s Popclaw. This band are an embodiment of the DIY punk spirit and have achieved the remarkable feat of being bandmates without being in the same room! Punk Rock Philosophy interviewed 50% of the band at the end of 2024 (read HERE) where Chris Bird shared the origin story of the band and how they were making it work via email, Zoom and swapping MP3s. Now the punk duo (Chris is joined by Dan Lawley) have released ‘Concrete Dreams‘ via East London Recordings- nine tracks that have that rough-around-the-edges punk appeal but with a ear for harmony that comes from the band member’s appreciation of all things pop punk. You can buy the album HERE.
That’s all for now punks! See you next time!