DAGGER ZINE- since 1987

good times roll 

let's go

cruiser

my best friend's girl 

touch and go 

just what i needed

shake it up

bye bye love

candy-o

gimme some slack

This UK supergroup released their 3 EPs as one a year or so ago, and now the great Slumberland label is teaming up with the great Skep Wax label and releasing a full-length in mid-September. 

The band comprises Peter and Ian from Heavenly, Rachel Love (Dolly Mixture), plus a gal named Allison Thomson on trumpet and vocals. 

This song is a terrific, 1960s-inspired swaying pop tune with some truly sublime vocals and some inspired whistling as well!

Bring on the rest of the album!

www.slumberlandrecords.bandcamp.com

www.railcardband.bandcamp.com

Man, when I discovered this great New Jersey zine it changed my life! Such a great rag and a friend once described it as "Tiger Beat meets Flipside" and that's kinda tossed off but kinda accurate too 

It was published by a guy named Jeff, and as you can probably tell from the cover, the guy was definitely a character, and yeah, F and B was just sooooo entertaining, 

Jeff definitely liked the heavier stuff as you can tell and the interviewa with Dinosaur (pre-Jr) and Redd Kross are most excellent excellent! The layout is great and there's plenty of hilarious comics to peruse as well. 

There's also the handwritten records review section (Why do you think they call it dope?) and the page full of Nipsey's (which i ran in many issues of Dagger) and plenty more. I only have this issue and the two after it (7 & 8) before Jeff packed it in (purchased at See Hear, I'm thinkin'). I've never even seen copies of issues 1-5, but I would love to. 

Not much more to say, one of the all-time greats!

Does there really need to be anything more written about this record? Critics the world over have sung its praises, and today so will I. 

Basically to say I was an idiot. In 1984 when Let It Be was released I was 20 year old and way to immersed in the fine sounds of bands like Minor Threat (who had already broken up), Adolescents (same), Descendents (same) and 7 Seconds (and, to be clear, all still favorites of mine) to really appreciate what was happening in Minneapolis ('cept I loved Husker Du). 

I put it on back then, and the first song, "I Will Dare," and it just didn't resonate with me at the time. Eventually, a few years later, it did (thank god). 

Anyway, I love a lot of the Replacements' records, and we all have our favorites, and Let It Be is still my favorite. What do you call it? Punk? Post-punk? College rock? Jangle pop? It's all of those and more.

"We're Comin' Out," "Unsatisfied," "Sixteen Blue," "Answering Machine," "Androgynous," and yes, "I Will Dare," etc. etc. 

So yeah, Paul, Tommy, Bob (RIP), and Chris really made a very special record here that I'm glad I finally came around to loving it.   

Always glad to see that the Sunday label is still kicking and going strong. Having said that, I enjoyed this San Diego duo's Lost and Found LP from a few years ago.

This is an excellent noisy dream pop tune with lots of bells, whistles, and bright lights. In other words, right up YOUR alley.

They have a forthcoming album Supercassettevision out soon. 

www.sundayrecords.bandcamp.com

I have been a fan of the Australian band the Hard-Ons since around 1989, when they released the mega-hook-filled Love is a Battlefield of Broken Hearts on Waterfront Records (and TAANG! Records in the US). They put out a couple of albums before that, along with a monster follow-up called Too Far Gone, which was produced by Poison Idea drummer Thee Slayer Hippy.

Unfortunately, as they moved into the new millennium, they lost a lot of those hooks and became increasingly heavy metal-based. I still bought and listened to the new music, but it just wasn't the same. Those older records were the ones that stayed on my stereo.

Circa 2021, long-time vocalist Keish de Silva was asked to leave the group following sexual misconduct allegations. He was replaced by singer Tim Rogers of You Am I, a band that is huge in Australia but not really known in the States. Even though their 2021 and 2023 albums had some serious rippers and brought back some of those monster hooks, Tim’s voice just wasn’t a great fit for the band.

The two remaining original members are guitarist Peter Black and bassist Raymond Ahn. To celebrate Ahn’s Korean heritage, the band just released an EP named The Korean Language Mini Album. It consists of four classic songs from the Hard-Ons' hook-filled back catalog, sung not by new vocalist Rogers, but by bassist Ahn himself.

Ahn admits the Korean translations might not be entirely correct, but that does not matter. Whether you understand the words or not (I have listened to it so much that I now sing a mix of English and Korean), it is awesome to hear new, rip-roaring versions of classics like "Where Did She Come From," "Raining," "Suck and Swallow," and one of my top ten favorite songs, "Just Being With You." (review by Josh Greenbaum)

(posted 7/14/26)

It's really good to have the UK indie pop band Lovejoy back in action (ok so they've been back in action for quite a while now). Richard "Dick" Preece is still leading the show here and it's another terrific song, 

It's got a nifty, rolling melody complete with handclaps, jangly guitars, and an overall sunny feel to the whole thing. A truly lovely song.

The album Under the Weather will be released on July 31st, 

www.shellfliferecords.bandcamp.com

www.spinoutrecords.bandcamp.com

It was the beginning of the pandemic lockdown, and DC musician J. Hunter Bennet (he plays bass in the terrific DC combo called Dot Dash) was looking for something to do. If you remember lockdown, we were basically stuck in our homes. 

Apparently Bennett lived on or near a pretty busy street corner in the Chevy Chase area of Washington, DC. Apparently lots of other indie music types lived in the area or near there, too. 

Bennett decided to put up (or at least fill up) one of those little street corner boxes where you can take a book and leave one if you want. Bennett started filling it up with punk rock books and then started asking friends to do the same. Then he started doing a newsletter that got quite popular. 

I know from this review so far it might not sound like something that's super readable, but Bennet has such a flair and way with words that the book flows together perfectly (which includes the newsletters plus essays, interviews, photos, etc). It really is highly readable and pretty awesome (Bennett also did a fantastic book on Circle Jerks bass player Roger Rogerson on this same Microcosm imprint). 

Eventually, the idea/newsletter ran its course, but it was fun while it lasted, and it seemed like for a while, that The Nevada Avenue Outdoor Bookshop was THEE place to be during the pandemic. 

Extra, extra, read all about it right here!

I still need to fully delve into this ultra fine Philly band's catalog but what I've heard I've really like in a Teenage Fanclub soaring, melodic pop kinda way.

This new cut is more of the same as leader Matt Scottoline and other guitarist Justin Fox trade dueling guitars (and I really like Scottoline's vocals) while the rest of the band does their part (and very well might add). 

The full album, Zoned Out, will be out this Friday (out yesterday), and it should be a nice little chunk o' pop gold. 

www.hurry.bandcamp.com

www.lame-orecords.bandcap.com

I don't know if this was the first issue of Jack Rabid's Big Takeover, but it was definitely one of the first ones that I got. 

...and it is still going! Jack and his crew just published the latest issue which looks much different than this (now it's glossy, mostly color and 200 pages).

This one was photo copied (maybe offset printed) and 22 pages and you see the bands on the cover (bands that Jack still writes about to this day). 

In those 22 pages it's crammed to the gills with reviews, both records and live shows, and plenty of photos as well (in fact there's a pic of the Milo of the Descendents from their show at City Gardens in July of 1986....that I was at...it was first time I saw them). 

Jack's intelligence, knowledge, wit and sheer enthusiasm has always come through in his writing, and nothing has changed in the past 40 years. 

Oh,and you can still order the old back issue of the Big T. just go to the website below and see the treasure trove (and a photo of Felt!)!

www.bigtakeover.com

Summerfest has been a yearly tradition in my household. What started as a 10 day festival has turned into a three weekend affair. I was able to squeeze in a few days this year. I caught a few days of the last weekend and I'm sure glad I did.

July 2nd, I went with my sister and her granddaughter. The Ocean Blue kicked things off. Needed to get to the Fest by 3:30 for this. Pulling tracks from most of their releases in an hour set was an amazing feat. Adding Brian Tighe of The Hang Ups on sax, keyboards, and back up vocals was an extra treat. Closing their set with "Between Something and Nothing" was a crowd highlight.

Next up, Sunflower Bean. I saw them at Summerfest many years ago, I think when they first hit the scene. A rockin' three piece that didn't disappoint. Lead singer Julia Cumming dedicated her set to her mother who recently passed away. She shared about how her mother was from Wisconsin and how she sang in a 50s cover band during the 70s.

Blondshell, the biggest surprise to me, was next. Excellent harmonies that gave me a "Stevie Nicks with a kick" vibe.

The Beths were the other reason I wanted to go this day. Speaking of harmonies, how about four part harmonies?? They rocked through tracks mostly from their latest album, but pulled many from their catalogue. I have to admit, when the new album came out, I wasn't too impressed. But man, hearing these tracks live made me a firm believer.

July 3rd, I went with my other sister and my son. Milwaukee's greatest New Wave cover band, Radio Radio, blew me away. Joy Division's "Transmission," Echo & The Bunnymen's "The Cutter," A Flock Of Seagulls' "Modern Love Is Automatic," and The Cure's "A Forest" are just a few of the hits from their hourlong set. What I liked most about their covers was that they made them their own, not just trying to mimic the originals.

The other highlight of the day was seeing The Heavy Heavy. I caught them a few years ago in Oshkosh as an opening act, but this was a lot better. Ten jamming songs in roughly an hour that included two new songs according to lead singer Georgie Fuller. Continuing the great vocals theme, more four part harmonies that blew us away.

The Sacramento trio that you might think from their sound are a lot younger than they actually. Chris (guitar) and Kortnee (bass) both sing lead and Matt drums. When I started hearing phrases like "party band" or "alternative" or "90's pop punk," I was hesitant to say the least. But I like this one song.

Hard to describe really…maybe like St. Etienne meets Weezer meets Tiger Trap, but that's not really accurate. Oh and I like the cover shot with the lettermans jackets. A perfect touch.

Give a listen and let me know what you think.

www.dandyboyrecords.bandcamp.com

The legendary (to some folks) hushed, mythical first album by this band of Baltimore mystics is being reissued in October by the K/Perennial label and this is the first single. 

To be clear this was released back in 2019 on cassette only so get your Walkman ready (if you can play vinyl on your Walkman).  

This first single is a heady brew/mix of Dan Treacy meets Robyn Hitckcock with some of Syd Barrett's afro falling into your eyes. 

I like this cut a lot and since i never heard the cassette I wanna hear the whole thing and will be able to in October. Just in time for Halloween!

www.thesmashingtimes.bandcammp.com

www.krecs.bandcamp.com

It might have been the "Weirdo Libido" single that was released in 1987 that was my first exposure to this great Aussie garage/psych band. Citadel Records...man, what a label! 

It was Tom "TJ" Lax (Mr Siltbreeze you to) who first told me about them. They put out the awesome "Slave Girl" single in 1984. 

Anyway, this particular song just rages from start to finish. It barks and bites as the guitar, bass and drums opens the song. Vocalist Mick Blood howls in that great voice of his and guitarist Gerard Corben slashes and burns . The chorus is great as well, "I'm outttttt of control over youuuuuu"

The flipside, "Save My Soul" has a great opening Pere Ubu-esque guitar lick and is a much mellower track but shows the band's psych side (it gets louder, give it time). 

If you can't find the 7" of this one (worth searching out) then find the songs on one of the Lime Spiders great comp! Happy searching.  

www.limespiders.bandcamp.com

www.citadel-records.com

Antietam the NYC (via Louisville, KY) trio of founders Tara Key and Tim Harris (and longtime drummer Josh Madell) have been at the underground rock game since the early/mid 80's with their early records on the Homestead label and then jumping to Triple X then Carrot Top and a few others (and yes, prior to that they were part of Louisville Babylon Dance Band and Your Food). 

In a lot of ways the band is an undiscovered national treasure that's only been discovered by a select group but they truly deserve that status. 

This new cut (and excellent video) has some great understated yet soaring guitar work while the rhythm section keeps it all in line (and tambourine, too!). Watch the video and It'll tell you all you need to know about the heavy lyrics. 

Long live Antietam! (their forthcoming album The Counting Game is out 8/28/26).

www.antietamnyc.bandcamp.com

www.dromedaryrecords.bandcammp.com

Just like The Pope reviewed last week (and Conflict the week before) Sporadic Droolings was another big influence on me when I started Dagger back in 1987. In fact, my very first review for Dagger #1 came from SD's Dave Burokas, who reviewed it in this very issue (thank you, Dave!).

I had probably first heard about Sporadic Droolings from The Big Takeover's Jack Rabid (who is a longtime friend of Burokas and I actually met Dave the night that Jack's band Springhouse had their NYC debut, opening for Naked Raygun at the Pyramid in 1988, but I digress..). I believe I bought the mag at, where else, See Hear, NYC's old terrific zine store. 

Reading zines like SD and many others, really opened my eyes to the big world of music out there and during those mid-late 80's years I was discovering all kinds of bands that weren't just punk or hardcore (and I loved seeing the late addition of The Chills on the cover of SD, who ended up being my favorite band).

Dave was sharp as a tack and very strong in his opinions of what he liked and didn't like (he always loved the harder Aussie stuff, too). The zine is thick and is a waffle of reviews, tons of them, of records, zines, and the like (a pretty fair amount of comics, too).  

...and come on, man, Moving Targets!

I'm really glad this one existed and that I was able to discover it!

I think I had read about this band in Mike Appelstein's old Caught in Flux zine, writing about their first two records, 1991's Distant Plastic Trees and 1992's The Wayward Bus but I couldn't find those records (both imports at the time, I believe...it later got reissued as a twofer on Merge in 1995). I had heard their "100,000 Fireflies" song in a comp on Spinart (which was originally released as a single 1991 on Harriet label). 

Anywho, I got this one on the Feel Good All Over label as a cd and was immediately smitten by it. 

Leader/ main songwriter Stephin Merritt sang for the first time on this record, I believe (the late Susan Anway sang on those first two albums), and Merritt has this most excellent deep baritone and Holiday is filled with some of those most unique "synth pop" (using that phrase very loosely) I've ever heard.

...and most of the songs on here are just brilliant. 

After the opening blip of "BBC Radiophonic Workshop" it leads into three perfect pop tunes in "Desert Island," "Deep Sea Diving Suit," and "Strange Powers." And his lyrics were absolutely otherworldly. 

Keep listening, or you'll miss the superb, swirling "Swinging London" and the trippy, swaying "In My Secret Place" and "All You Ever Do is Walk Away." 

Seriously, there are very few skipover tracks on this one and I personally think that this is Merritt's masterpiece (even more so than 69 Love Songs but that's just my opinion).

Go back and visit or revisit this one now. 

www.themagneticfields.bandcamp.com

www.mergerecords.com