As our regular readers will know, I’m a big fan of rock and roll. One sub-genre I’ve never delved into too much is garage rock, but I found myself pleasantly surprised after doing a little research of my own. I decided to collate a number of underground artists from the scene into one overarching review, with the hope that fans of the style will discover their new favourite band. Don’t forget to check out the playlist at the end too!
Review by Jane Howkins
Photo by The Margaret Hooligans
The Margaret Hooligans – Revenge of the ScarJo
We’ve featured The Margaret Hooligans a few times now, so it’s only right that they get pride of place here! Revenge of the ScarJo is one of the Philadelphia band’s best tracks, bursting out of the seams with angst and energy. The track has that classic, fuzzy garage rock sound, but it really works with the punky vibe the band have curated here, oozing attitude throughout. The riffs have quite a menacing sound, chugging away against the rhythm section as discordant guitar lines tail off. It’s great to hear a rock band with a female vocalist too!
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Floodhounds – Quicksand
We’ve actually reviewed Quicksand in a separate feature, but it’s that good that I couldn’t help but share it again here! Sheffield rockers Floodhounds mix rock, punk, the blues, indie and garage rock into one amazing package, creating something with both melody and a palpable sense of heaviness. The production is pretty clean for a garage rock tune, but it sounds really cool – particularly on the guitar work! The chorus really elevates things, raising the tension up higher, bringing the track to an unstoppable singalong, before it all breaks down again.
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The Würmen – Cognitive Dissonance
We have another British band for you – The Würmen are from the North East, playing a form of music that mixes garage rock and punk together. Cognitive Dissonance features some really groovy guitar licks, as well as a prominent bassline, pulsating along in the background in a dark way. The vocals are a little intense at times, positively shouting at times, showing a great depth of emotion. The music sounds a little discordant at times, but that’s definitely on purpose, making for something that will get underneath your skin in no time. I can’t wait to catch these guys live!
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Harker – Lights Go Out
Brighton band Harker have managed to create something really catchy in Lights Go Out, yet the track still has a cool rock edge to it. The main verse riff is really enticing, creating a staccato rhythm that fits the beat and bass perfectly. The vocals are a little raw in tone, but they suit the garage rock scene well, with some lovely harmonies appearing later on. The chorus is very anthemic, making you want to belt the words out instantly as the titular refrain is repeated over and over again. There’s also a pretty cool guitar solo towards the end – check it out below!
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Electric Circus – Losing My Faith
Losing My Faith is yet another song that mixes melody and heaviness with ease, showing great promise for Electric Circus’ future. It starts out with a cool palm-muted guitar riff with an irresistible hook, combined with a beat that will have you up and dancing in no time. The chorus is the real stand out point here, showcasing some fantastic songwriting skills from this band! The bridge is pretty cool too, breaking the music down before it builds back up again, into one more brilliant chorus. The vocals are really good too, crooning along with a soulful quality that will surely see these guys hit the big time!
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Forest Hall – Finding Out On Accident
Finding Out On Accident is slightly mellower than some of the other tracks here, opening with a pretty clean guitar melody. It’s got a lovely tone, adding something a little different to the garage rock genre. The chorus changes things up a bit, taking the sparse instrumentation and turning Forest Hall’s song into a proper blues rocker. There’s something about the main note sequence and the vocal style that really reminds me of old school grunge, as the track simply oozes cool. The vocals are a little low, but they actually work surprisingly well with the rest of the music on offer here.
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Faster Than Light – Constant Disappointment
Constant Disappointment is a pretty interesting track, as it also fits well within the indie-pop genre, although the slightly raw production value lends itself well to the garage rock scene. The track is characterised by some pretty clean guitar licks, following the main rhythm section for the most part. However, there’s the occasional solo, seeing the guitars break off on their own, underpinned at times by what sounds like an organ. Faster Than Light’s vocals are a tad monotone at times, but they add a really cool feel to the track.
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9 o’clock Nasty – Unkle Natur
Long time readers will be well versed in 9 o’clock Nasty‘s music by now, as we’ve shared their music multiple times over the years. Unkle Natur is another amazing track, and perhaps my favourite of all the songs they’ve released so far! The track simply exudes attitude, featuring huge drum beats, heavy riffage and some really cool synth effects in the background. The vocals are rather distinctive, sounding almost rapped, as multiple band members sing together. It’s undeniably catchy, (despite the somewhat harsh nature of the track),ensuring you’ll be humming the tune long into the future.
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Tom Minor – Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?
Tom Minor mixes garage rock with elements of country, Americana, the blues and folk, creating one of the most unique tracks on this page! Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? has a classic rock and roll sound with a proper stomp of a rhythm, matched in lovely style by the funky bass and guitar riffs. The harmonica is a really nice touch, showing an multi-talented artist capable of playing many genres. If you listen carefully, there’s also an organ in the background, adding a slightly eccentric touch to the piece.
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Bingo Boys – Oh Yeah
Indiana band Bingo Boys have created something really cool with Oh Yeah. It’s another garage rock song with a punky edge, starting out with a frantic beat and guitar licks to match. It’s pretty raw sounding but that only adds to the charm of the track. The vocals match the music in terms of intensity, also sound a little eccentric at times, but you can really feel everything being sung about in the lyrics. Oh Yeah might not appeal to everyone, but those into their harder forms of music should get a kick out of this song!
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Rock! – playlist by York Calling | Spotify