Melissa Bryan
Return of the Woman
Rock Haus Records
3½ Stars
Riffing: This girl's hittin' it for sainthood, working a real-world gig advocating for victims of domestic violence. She was weaned on Leif Garrett, girlish fright wigs and teen-boy power riffs.
Reference points: Best line ever: "Street walkin' cheater"!
If you like: Overcoming overwhelming physical odds for song, the Muffs, Girls Rock Camp, Best Coast, the Zeros, girl-groups, Lou Reed's "Rock 'n' Roll," Dead Boys and bronoodlin'! ...
Falling in Reverse
The Drug in Me is You
Epitaph
½ Stars
Riffing: AutoTune bombast rock led by joyless chirper Ronnie Radke, the Nikki Sixx-coifed ex-con (boring: drugs, parole violation; fucked up: battery charges, outer-circle involvement in some kid's murder), once of Escape the Fate.
Reference Points: Kohl-eyed dudes who like jock sports. White noise power-chording and ersatz emotional responses that summon images of Vegas suburbia, Warped Tour day-drunks and Hot Topic closeouts. Nice.
If You Like: What old Sixx would sound like if he were 25 years younger
Smoking Popes
This is Only a Test
Asian Man Records
4½ Stars
Riffing: Johnny Ramone-y downstrokes buffer a croon that's not unlike Gene Clark (!?) or Morrissey.
Reference Points: Sad as snow-covered bicycles and late-night train whistles but snaps and pops like banana bubblegum in the maw of a moody high school cheerleader.
If You Like: Teary-eyed punk, pre-'79 Cheap Trick 45s, suburban outsider melancholy, Akaline Trio, balding dudes and bittersweet melodies over Buzzcockian riffola. Also, Herculean indie comebacks and the Clash's "Stay Free."
Gabe Dixon
One Spark
Fantasy
2 Stars
Riffing: Light, untroubled piano-guitar pop for Starbucks moms and dads whose college dorm rooms stocked Crowded House and Everything but the Girl albums. But if "Even the Rain" gets featured in a hybrid car TV ad, it'll still be a beautiful song.
Reference Points: Dixon's absolutely in love with his wife and he's man enough to sing about it.
If You Like: Alison Krauss, Dylan's kid, pre-fat Paul Simon, fat-era Elton John.
NRBQ
Keep This Love Goin'
Clang
3 Stars
Riffs: "Here I Am" is early Beatle beauty, "Boozoo and Leona" a hit in a proper world, "The Animal Life" is pure power pop.
Reference Points: The most respected band in the world that never sold any records; storied history now finds original piano man Terry Adams still standing.
If You Like: Earlier NRBQ, rock shows with a lawn for sitting, Weezer, Sky, Brendan Benson, Brinsley Schwarz, Big Star, Dave Edmonds. Music no one can make anymore.
