Goddamnit there’s something refreshing about Unbridled Big Riff Rock. From the grotesquely illustrated album art (fresh out of medieval fantasy) to the irresistible driving nature of the music, Hogan’s Goat seems to have it figured out. There’s tones of ZZ Top and early Queens of the Stone Age pulsating through this and I’m looking forward to the full record (due July 17th, 2017).

Short and sweet, this little looping EP from Tape Space is absolutely delightful and perfect for your summer goodness playlist. Bonus, there’s a song called “Biscuits” that sounds like a fusion of hold music and upbeat Soul Jams extolling the South’s finest food export.

If you were unaware, Woodsplitter is the side project of Ben McLeod, best known for his work in All Them Witches. Like any good side project, it’s an exploration of different musical styles and curiosities that may not fit the main gig. The initial Woodsplitter offering, Egyptian Overload, is an eclectic grabbag of metal mixed with other oddities; like a badass horn solo (somehow it all works).

The latest collection of songs is a bit more subdued but no less intriguing. Journey into Krautrock is exactly what it says on the label, a headfirst dive into a world influenced by Can, NEU!, Kraftwerk and their ilk. 

My initial reaction to the opening of Kid Freud’s EP American Boy was one of brow furrowing hesitation. The title track, “American Boy”, sounds like a snotty British b-side channeled through the Jack White filter. But I stayed the course, as one song does not make a band – even if it IS the title track. 

Fortunately, the remainder of this four track undertaking picks itself up quite gracefully after stumbling out of the gate. On the whole, there’s some excellent work here cobbled together from a myriad of respectable influences without feeling derivative (The Arctic Monkeys and The Walkmen among them). It’s full of attitude and swagger but not without the songwriting and performance to back it up.

According to the liner notes, the second album from Deluxin’ was recorded in 2012 and 2013 at Reel Love Recordings but was just released in 2017. What happened in the years between is a mystery but the album, Cash yr Donut Early, is now available. It’s a loose and jangly undertaking with plenty of distorted vocal outbursts and meandering guitar lines. It’s lo-fi and a bit unhinged at times but that’s exactly what makes it charming.

“I’ve gone full George Lucas Special Edition on my catalog” – a direct quote from NORM, aka Dave Paulson, in regards to re-issuing a souped up version of his 2014 EP, Remember.

Why re-issue an EP just three years later? Because he found himself with a new song - “Another Town” – and it just happened to fit perfectly with the existing four songs from the album. And, let’s be honest, you probably didn’t spend as much time with this EP as you should have. Now you have good reason to revisit it and fall in love for the first time. You want to fall in love, right?

Also, if you haven’t seen a child devil crying you probably should. Go listen now.