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Tag: Punk

  • Death of the Heart By JER

    Death of the Heart By JER

    Album: Death of the Heart 

    Artist: JER

    Released: August 15, 2025; Bad Time Records 

    If you are a casual ska enjoyer you might know Jeremy Hunter as the person behind the wildly popular ska cover themed YouTube channel, Skatune Network. Or perhaps you know them as the Trombonist from the band, We are the Union. However, if you are a serious ska enthusiast, you know them from their first solo album released under the band name of JER. It was called, “Bothered/Unbothered” and it was exceptionally good, so much so that I have waited ever since for a new JER record to be released so that I could do a proper and timely review. 

    “I’M STILL BOTHERED” starts the album out with what I like to call a call back song. It’s a little self referential Easter Egg for the fans that were along for the ride since the first album. Which is something I greatly enjoy. The song is about the emotions you feel, fighting just to feel ‘ok’ in a world that is tearing itself apart and the alienation that it breeds when the majority of everyone else is blind to that fact. It makes you doubt yourself. The track is a rollercoaster ride that captures what it’s like to be awake today. All while being set to an incredibly energetic arrangement of horns and guitar.  

    While I am not at all surprised, I can’t say that I was personally expecting for JER to deliver a deep meditation on toxic masculinity, but with “Claim Yr True Feelings, Wounded Child” that is exactly what you get. The horn and melody really do work to saturate the track with a soulful sadness that seeps into you. The lyrics honestly melt my heart. It’s a great reminder to any father/parent that the best thing you can be is softer to your kids. Sometimes, I know I need to be reminded of that. I am sure everyone else does as well. 

    I think that one of the best things that this album brings to the table is the strength of the featured artists. While I would listen to a JER album endlessly without them, making the world a better place is a group activity. Making the world better, being a theme of the album. It’s great to see JER put their money where their mouth is. I think the best example of this is “Capitalism Breeds Devastation”. The blending of Hip-hop and Ska brings two genres historically known for speaking truth to power together for a team up that rips into the system and those that perpetuate it. Chanting greed through the last half song all the way to screaming it as the song fades out at the end is just inspired. 

      “Death of the Heart” much like their first album wears it’s politics not only on it’s sleeve but as a badge of honor and challenges you to want better, not just for yourself, but for everyone around you. JER has done it once more, and I, for one, can’t wait for them to do it again on their next album.  

    If you like the album I reviewed here and want to support the artist as well as this blog please consider picking up the album via this affiliate link—> Purchase Death of the Heart by JER digitally via Amazon Music

  • The Prosecco Diaries by Femmes Voyous

    The Prosecco Diaries by Femmes Voyous

    Album: The Prosecco Diaries 

    Artist: Femmes Voyous

    Released: July, 07, 2025; Witch House Studios 

    Punk bands fronted by ladies, while not unicorn rare, are not exactly a dime a dozen the way punk bands packed full of dudes are. So, when you tell me that I should check one out, I am always happy to oblige. Femmes Voyous hails from Edmonton, Canada and as their name suggests (Rogue Women in French) aren’t your stereotypical “girl power” packing pop princesses. Their music is loud with in your face lyrics that are often as humorous as they are scathing. 

    The opening song on the album is “Phoenix and Raven”. It is as much a thesis statement for the album as it is a punk rock girl boss anthem. Immediately as the guitars kick in and the drums start pounding, you can tell you’re going to have a good time with this song; something, if you like this song, I can guarantee will continue for the rest of the album. I really can’t overstate how this song stakes its flag securely in the ground and declares—this band is two girlfriends out to have a good time rocking out together.    

    “Candy” is another that really sets the stage. The guitar work is fantastic. The lyrics are poppy and fun in a way that really works with the metaphor the song employs. It is an extremely well put together rock song. So much so that I wouldn’t fault you if you looked up the song credits to see if it’s a cover. It is of course not, but wouldn’t be out of place on a Blondie album, no doubt. 

    Now “Punk Rock Boys” is where the Femmes Voyous’s scathing humor really shines. It is an ode to shitty boyfriends of the punk rock variety. I have no idea who the person is who inspired the song but consider that dweeb thoroughly roasted. When the chorus comes in, then they hit you with the lyric, “I loved his crusty ways” it’s so meta; I just find it endlessly hilarious. It’s my favorite song, followed in a close second by “Dive Bar”. Another great, upbeat song in the same vain as Phoenix and Raven, but this one includes a great bit, featuring a mock phone call from a boyfriend. In my head canon its the same crusty dude from Punk Rock Boys, but who knows. In it, the the boyfriend is whining about who is going to make him breakfast and the line “Your Fucking Mom” is dropped and again it just kills me. Like damn, go off queen. 

    “The Prosecco Diaries” as a freshman offering goes hard. It is a blast from beginning to end. It’s all about showing you a good time and quite possibly might even fight you if you try to be a curmudgeon. If you didn’t have fun by the end of it, you should probably go to the doctor and make sure you’re not dead.  

    If you like the album I reviewed here and want to support the artist as well as this blog please consider picking up the album via this affiliate link—> Purchase The Prosecco Diaries by Femmes Voyous digitally via Amazon Music