Vivian Girls start us off. If you’re an old-timer here you may remember I shared with WorldVision one of this band’s members via a group called La Sera way back at WV58. Before Katy Goodman formed that group with her husband she played with these girls (and recently reformed with them too). I Heard You Say is a dreamy number taken from Vivian Girls’ 2011 release, Share The Joy. Here Cassie Ramone’s unique voice takes the lead vocal.
Pink Mexico are next. They play a dirty kind of fuzz rock that’s super infectious and hard hitting. Dirty & Stupid is taken from the 2019 release, Dump, and it was one of my favourite songs of last year. Unfortunately this is one of the releases that has fallen victim to the Burger Records closure, with its music video being taken down, along with over five hundred others by a tonne of garage rock bands and artists.
King Tuff is back! I picked his song The Other as my PQ entry when I hosted a few editions back, and Psycho Star is taken from the same album. A release which was my number 1 record of 2018 (I’m crazy for it). This collection of trippy, sunshine-soaked garage psych songs is a treat, and Psycho Star is probably the catchiest little gem of them all. King Tuff never fails to put a smile onto my face.
Shannon Shaw makes her long overdue WorldVision debut. Considering how she essentially got me into the whole genre of garage rock with her band Shannon and the Clams, it’s shameful how it’s taken me this long to present her to you. Golden Frames harkens back to 60s balladry with Shannon’s humongous voice whacking the (excuse my language) barnacles out of everything, with the help of the Spector wall-of-sound technique here used. Her garage rock grit gives a vintage style a unique, raw spin. This is taken from Shannon’s 2018 release, Shannon In Nashville.
Hunx and His Punx are Cruising to WorldVision with this outrageous little song taken from the 2010 smash hit, Gay Singles. This is garage punk through and through. Only a verse followed by a chorus and we’re already into the bridge of the song, as Hunx twirls his way to a dazzling climax. All the straight boys in LA were under his spell during the recording of the music video.
Mikal Cronin comeback!!! It’s been years (quite literally). This track was made exclusively for an Adult Swim compilation album released in 2013 called Garage Swim. Mikal filmed a mini documentary for the network that showed him in the studio recording this song, playing every single instrument you hear on it (yes, Mikal can sax). I did actually share this one previously in a six song Cronin NF I did years ago, where Piano Mantra was the victor, but despite Mikal recently releasing a lovely new album, I think Better Man soars so high and deserves another chance.
So that's my garage rock NF for ya! I've wanted to do this for ages.
You've got likely until the night before the submissions deadline to vote. There's a recap video if you're unsure if this is worth your time. Thanks for listening and I hope you find something to enjoy. Garage rock forever