David Armo "Poets on the Wall"

(davearmo.com) Should be called David HEART-O, because the emotions, poetics, and soul he's carrying into his music is more than an armful!

The Cartoons "She's A Rock and Roller" b/w "Who Cares"

(Last Laugh) One might say 1981 is a little late to sound like the Dolls and sing about bad girls hangin' at Max's Kansas City. But one would be a fucking idoot. because it's NEVEr too late to sound like the Dolls and sing about bad girls hanging out at Max's Kansas City. This faithful reissue of an ultra rare punk nugget is as sweet as ultra rare punk nougat.

Village Pistols "Big Money" b/w "Strawberry Fields Forever"

(Last Laugh) Having never seen a bootleg or original of this actual record (though I've seen the front cover, as it was used as the LP cover for Killed By Death Vol. 7, where many first heard this), I had no idea Mitch Easter recorded this pummeling, violent, proto-hardcore caveman punker from 1981. I still don't believe it, he must have had an inbred cousin working at the studio that day (Ruprecht Easter?). Certainly one of the best 90 seconds or so in punk history. I'm not surprised Last Laugh put this out, as the vocals sound alot like the Mentally Ill 90s LP they recently reissued. The flip is a goofy molestation (can one goofilly molest?) of the Beatles, which is pretty psycho, I imagine this is what all Beatles records sounded like to Mark David Chapman.

Magic Shadows "Under the Stairs" b/w "Sunburned Mind"

(magicshadows.bandcamp.com) Ominous garage trash spookier and weirder than Canadians are supposed to get. Magic, indeed.

Churchwood "2"

(Saustex) Moody, mighty, sinister sounds that somehow become roots music by putting some mortar and pestle action to country, rock, jazz, blues, punk, experimental, and whatever it is that Beefheart did on even days. Sly lyrics and ominous vocals make this album enjoyably disconcerting.

Japan Jaunt by Steve DeRose

(snipr.com/sdr001) Steve "Pudgy" DeRose has many interests -- soccer, classic porn, craft beer, pop music, dancing -- but zinewise he has mostly focussed on Chicago soccer history and international soccer. This time however the soccer is a guest star in a thick zine giving travel tips from his nine journeys to Japan (to see soccer, amongst other things). Bar reviews, train tips, and a Brazil vs. Japan blow by blow soccer match report make this Pudgy's best zine yet.

Wes Hollywood "Fantasy Arcade"

(Sweet Science) Veteran power popper Wes Hollywood makes the great state of Illinois ( the unofficial Official Home of Power Pop) proud with a stingy baker's dozen (or as you call it, 11) perfectly crafted pop pastries that will make you think you are pogo-ing at a packed IPO Festival. Better yet, it is released on the classic, yet not actually real or ever done before to my knowledge, deluxe gatefold one LP in mono and then another LP of the same songs in stereo format. As Joakim Noah would say, this "Hollywood as Hell!" Or, as Heaven, if you prefer. 

The Beaumonts "Where Do You Want It?"

(Saustex) Absolutely filthy honky tonk music that makes me realize that David Allan Coe's canonical X-rated underground LPs should have been a lot more fun...you can curse like a sailor about sex and drugs and booze and god and Toby Keith (or Anita Bryant in DAC's case, but they're sorta the same person, right?) and still have a true to Texas country hoedown! More fun that Hugh Beaumont on a bender! 

Melvin Taylor "Beyond the Burning Guitar" "Taylor Made"

(melvintaylormusic.com) There's smooth and there's smooth, and the smooth jazz and blues of Taylor is smooth as freshly ironed satin sheets; smooth as Silk brand soy milk; smooth as soft serve ice cream; smooth as a black velvet painting of a baby's bottom. And his smooth Beethoven's 5th on "Beyond the Burning Guitar" makes Walter Murphy's disco version seem positively jagged! His more recent "Taylor Made" camouflages the smooth-osity by opening with a "Damn it's bluesy in here" number that roughs up the smooth, but by the time his blissful "Beneath the Sunset" kicks in, and his silkikication of a formally funked-up Isaac Hayes tune wrap you in satin, you'll be declaring, "Damn, it's smoothie in here," while drinking this sonic smoothie.

The Copper Gamins "Los Ninos De Cobre"

(Saustex) I was so mesmerized by this combo's debut EP that I was as much worried about letdown as I was excited to hear this full length. For a group that sounds like such  a bizarre, hypnotizing, raw force of nature, a year of polishing seemed like it could only hurt. Boy was I wrong. This Mexican caveman blues duo is simply incredible, sounding shamelessly like the White Stripes at their nastiest, if the White Stripes were actually some backwoods, off-kilter Lomax field recording find. Cobramarkable!