A Very Special Episode - Cowboy [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“The sound of A Very Special Episode can best be summed up as ... a pissed off Fleetwood Mac. ‘Cowboy’ is a track that comes in hard and throws the punches for the duration.

In the band’s words ... ‘Cowboy’ tries to embody the swagger of every man who’s ever decided it was his job to swoop in to save someone who didn’t ask for or need it. Sometimes it’s toxic, other times it’s pathetic, and we went and made a bop about it.’

The edge is razor sharp, and the build keeps you ready to swing on the next idiot to get in your way. This is the spirit of Rock and Roll personified.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Original Son - The Turnaround [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This three piece Punk band out of LA comes at you with an energetic edge that hooks you in from the start. Leaning to the Pop Punk side, ‘The Turnaround’ has a hint of Celtic flair to the sound that works well.

Lyrically the band offers enough grit to keep the track from feeling solely like a party anthem, though it does have that motivational get you stoked kind of aura. The vocals are emotive and passionate and the music shines in this raucous arrangement. ”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Dan Miraldi - Are We Gonna Hang Out? [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“This just might be my favorite pandemic inspired song. A Punk anthem capsulizing the angst, hope, and longing of Covid inspired loneliness, ‘Are We Gonna Hang Out?” from New York rocker, Dan Miraldi delivers an edge and rawness that sweeps the listener up and along with the track’s progression.

There is a bit of Punk roots to the sound, but still a nice Commercial driven quality that makes this track transcend any one genre and feel like a true rock and Roll banger and a song for the times.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Kill My Coquette - L.A.'s Gonna Tear You Apart [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Kill My Coquette unleashes this track which sounds like the Go-Go’s meets Foo Fighters with a hearty bit of of the Ramones influencing it all.

’L.A.’s Gonna Tear You Apart,’ is a high energy Punk track that motivates you and pisses you off a the same time. Which is pretty much what all quality Punk should do.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Sarah Barrios - IH8EVERY1 [Lyric Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Love this track, though the video did leave me feeling a bit woozy so truthfully I will enjoy this one more without the wonky imagery. The straightforward lyrical build and message works well with Barrios’ emotive and passionate delivery, and the musical arrangement works well to impart an energetic attitude to bring it all home.

All in all, a fun Punk pop track that I will be adding to a few playlists.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Ida Maria - Dirty Money [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Ida Maria demands to be heard on ‘Dirty Money.’ A Pop Punk anthem that offers a bit of pointed commentary to go along with the girl screams and agitated energy. and the combination sneaks up on the listener to keep them leaning in and engrossed in the overall sound and progression.”

— Travis Erwin ~ LA on Lock Blogger

Jesse Roper - Horizons [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“f you dig a bit of Bluesy weirdness, then Jesse Roper has the track for you. ‘Horizons’ offers a soulful twist on the world of extraterrestrials, but the track really has a vague take on the otherworldliness aspect and relies on the bold vocal performance that just lodges in your bones.

Nathaniel Rateliff comes to mind when you try to draw a comparison, but the track has a unique edge that simply is hard to deny. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Blume Hinges - Nobody's Daughter [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Passion goes a long way into making an artist’s vision come through in a way others can feel. That is the strength of ‘Nobody’s Daughter’ by Blume Hinges. The style is a little bit Punk, a little bit Indie Rock, with just a hint of Southern Rock and Americana in the mix. The writing is strong and the delivery meaningful in that raw, angsty way that works so well for tracks like this. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Sean Tobin - St. Patrick's Day Forever [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“‘tis that time of year ... and who doesn’t like a good drinking song all in the name of a good Saint. So raise a pint, make it green if that’s your thing, and revel in the day it’s okay to get shitfaced. Actually this past year, we’ve all had many of those days and hey that’s okay too because sometimes you just gotta play the cards as they’re dealt. This is a fun Celtic Punk track perfect for the year and the season.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Caveat Empire - Company Man [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Rock and Roll has long been about taking a seething rage and distilling it down into a musical art form that the masses can sip from. True to that, Caveat Empire has created an elixir for the times with their single, ‘Company Man,’ a song of true anger and brewing rage. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Further The Lion - It’s So Good [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This could be the perfect song dropping at the perfect time! It feels like we are emerging from some type of dark tunnel and Further The Lion has created an energetic anthem that hits perfect for the time. So shake the dust off all the residue of this past twelve months or so, and revel in the Pop Punk track, ‘It’s So Good.’”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

TEKE::TEKE - Meikyu [Music Video Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“This track hit me like a fever dream. A dream I might have after getting drunk on Sake and then falling asleep while watching Pulp Fiction. I gotta be straight up honest and say I’m not sure what captivated me so much on this track, because I can’t translate a word lyrically, but the Japanese Surf Rock sound hooked me and wouldn’t let go.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

The Crease Rule - 3 Way Stop [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“A Punk anthem for everyone out there riding around with burger wrappers on their floorboard and disdain in their heart for the status quo. An energetic, straight forward delivery keeps you leaning in on the lyrics and in the end the track feels like a reaffirmation for everyone unwilling to compromise and fall in line with the masses.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Danny Wright - RECKLESS [Review]

“A track of unrest and insecurity, ‘Reckless’ is the kind of song that seems to reach inside our minds and put to words the very thoughts permeating in our brains.

The build and vocal delivery is spot on with the lyrical build. Danny Wright pulls you in and holds you there from start to finish with this rising crescendo on this single. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Sit Down In Front - Don't Push The Button [Music Video Review]

“If irreverent protest is at the heart of what Punk is, then the band Sit Down In The Front has certainly tapped into the pulse of it with their single, ‘Don’t Push The Button.’ This politically charged mockery comes from New Zealand though for many of us this us far too close to the absurdity that actually emits from White House these days.

The imagery of the video is pure brilliance!”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Girlcrush - I'm Easy [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Written after a sex dream, the group is quoted as saying, ‘We hope this track makes people horny!’

Which begs the question ... Is there any purer motivation to create music out there? Straight out of Denmark, Girlcrush describe themselves as ... Queer-feminists playing jangly, earnest pop-punk.

’I’m Easy’ gives off a sultry rock vibe that harkens thoughts of Joan Jett, The Go-Gos, and other that paved the way, but the band still feels original and contemporary by delivering their own sound and attitude.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

Fluorescents - Not Another Pop-Punk Song [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“Pop Punk with a splash of Celtic Rock sound thrown in, Fluorescents latest single, “Not Another Pop-Punk Song’ is perhaps poking a little fun at themselves with that title because of course this track is another Pop-Punk song. However, it is a fun energetic one that stands out because of the talent and wryly sharp writing. The musical shifts keep you on your toes and the vocals make it easy to sing along. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

HOLY FIELD- N.E.W. METAL [Music Video Review]

Rating: 5 out of 5

“Is it Link Park, no Its Holy Field!!!

”Holy Field is a group of six talented individuals from four corners of the globe and their new song is wild.
Usually metal music can take over the artist’s vocals but N.E.W Metal is a blend of cinematic sound, big guitar riffs, snappy rhythmic sessions and thick bass. In light of social distancing and isolation the group still managed to be creative musically and visually. They are seen in a wide open field with a birds eye view as they performed in their version of ‘HOLY FIELD.’”

— Kreadiv Kesh (LA On Lock Blogger)

MEGG - SHAMOO [Review]

Rating: 4 out of 5

“An ode to the big gas guzzling giant rides that get us there without style or the so-called juice. ‘SHAMOO’ was written in honor of a Suburban that belonged to the artist’s dad after his passing it was inherited by MEGG and the vehicle took on a new meaning in her grief process. This track comes together as a fun summer anthem for hitting the road, driving to the beach, or simply cruising around the block with friends. Pop with a little bit of a Punk vibe.”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)

All My Friends Hate Me - Blood [Review]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“My job as a reviewer usually involves me summarizing and then encapsulating a song to bring it alive to entice potential listeners in a scant few words. But sometimes it is best to let the artist describe their track and this is the case on this one ...

This is a confession. Sorry, mom.

’Blood’ is about the 14-year-old insomniac kid I used to be, who was dying to get out of a small town, and would do pretty much anything to feel alive. I used to wait until my mom went to sleep so I could ‘borrow”‘ the car keys and take my friends on late-night joyrides in her beat up Volvo. For some reason, a LOT of those nights ended with all of us laughing at each other, and bleeding all over a grocery store parking lot, after trying to pull off Jackass stunts in shopping carts.

It’s the ‘Blood’ that made us who we are. ”

— Travis Erwin (LA on Lock Blogger)