THE REPORT: 5/31/2024
JUDY AND THE JERKS ARE BACK
Are Judy And The Jerks the best punk band in America? Taken from a new split EP with the Italian band Shitty Life, “Rumpus” makes a pretty strong argument for the case—and all in under a minute. It’s music somewhere between Suburban Lawns and Jellyroll Rockheads. It’s music made for binge-eating Nerds Ropes. I did an interview with the Hattiesburg-incepted band in late 2022; I think they were confused as to why some nerd named “John” from “John’s Music Blog” was interested in their music. And rightly so. Almost as good as Teenage Jesus and the…
More music writer hyperbole: I’m not sure if anyone in the Milwaukee lowend scene is making hits on J.P.’s level. He’s a Wisconsin pop hero. His melodies penetrate deep into this washed millennial’s soul. I want to gorge myself on custard until my psoriasis gets 25 percent worse.
XXHARDBIT3S “of ether, these wings, the first time”
I can’t wait to sit down and chat with XXHARDBIT3S. I promise you, we will get to the bottom of “UNITED JUMP FRONT,” their attempt to bring the lost art of 2000s-era Belgian jumpstyle to the ravers of New York. To tide us all over, let’s listen to “of either, these wings, the first time,” a sanctified slice of maximum BPM madness sure to punish the headphones and laptop speakers of hardcore believers worldwide.
Here is a little transmission from the thriving world of British conceptual indie rock. Spresso is Mica Levi and Alpha Maid making aloof guitar music wrapped in many layers of something or another—I’ll have to find a kid at Central Saint Martins to explain it to me.
Freeway & Jake One (Feat. Jadakiss) “Ringin”
I haven’t put any mid-career rap on the blog in quite some time. Truth be told, I’ve been holding out for a cut that tickles my dome just right. Is “Ringin” that cut? I’m not entirely convinced, but it’s not entirely bad, either; it’s hard to go wrong with two of the East Coast’s finest raspy rappers. The sheer amount of work these two have put into the world is enough to make me get a little emotional.
MIX OF THE WEEK: Doss “Triple J Mix-Up May 2024”
Doss is my favorite digger. Her DJ sets rummage through the bowels of the Beatport electro-house chart and combine that with ultra-online sonics. Her mixes are a little bit Pauly D and a little bit PC Music. Being a music writer is crazy. You write sentences and you somehow feel OK about them. You sleep at night. Anyway. Great mix!