Reviews

Joe Pogo

Teenage Hearts Quality Time EP

Sounding like if TUXEDO CATS hailed from France instead of Brooklyn, this EP is four tracks of snotty tunes of the highest order. Starting off with the power punk standout “Quality Time,” the listeners are then reminded that this is indeed Nantes and not New York, as the next couple tracks up the French Oi! energy with the absolutely rattling bass line of “Always Broke,” the gruffer “Gotta Get Rid of You,” and “T’es Sans Espoir” in their native tongue. These tracks are quick and without frills, and they leave you wanting to start from the top as soon as the last guitar rings out.

The Spiky Tops Let’s Go! Pogo! EP

I mean, look at the cover. You already know. The songs are snotty and beer-fueled BLANKS 77, the CASUALTIES, the PIST, and the QUEERS-flavored punk rock. Sometimes in their photos, they have spiked-up hair, so I wonder if the name SPIKY TOPS comes from that. The songs are brimming with energy. The lyrics, although a little formulaic, are honest and heartfelt. For example, in the song “Going Down to the Bar,” I really believe that the guy wants to meet up with me and go down to the bar. Furthermore, in the song “Let’s Go Pogo,” I feel like the SPIKY TOPS want me to go pogo somewhere. This is a catchy, hands-in-the-air, chuggin’ 40oz of beers or seltzers music, and when they sing “Party till your guts spill out” in the song “Party Till Your Guts Spill Out,” I know that these folks would be laughing as they hold my hair back while my guts spilled out of my mouth.