Singles

You`re No Rock N' Roll Fun : Sleater-Kinney

Another great slice of pop for the great S-K. When each album comes out you wonder what they will come up with and each time you are surprised. This is no exception and they have done one of their most pop record to date. It is extremely catchy and the video for it is really funny. I can`t wait to hear the whole album.

Sweet Surrender : Bellatrix

Just when you`ve thought you have got Bellatrix pinned down they go and release this. A lovely reminder of summer to make us forget how wet spring has been. A gentle song to fill you with joy. Check out the 2nd B-side as it is really funny!

Death To The Apple Gerls - Gerling

Debut UK single for Australia`s own Gerling. It`s a great pop/punk record and is a lot of fun, the b-sides show a different side to them with a strange mix of hip-hop, dance and GYBE! Their next release can`t come sooner for me.

Ysbeidiau Heulog - SFA

SFA's first single from their new all Welsh album which I want now as this is just one of the best singles so far. Songs that use stylophones are so cool. It`s extreme pop action and the B-side Charge is just unbelievable (this is the track they recorded on the John Peel session). It`s 7" only but is is white vinyl and comes in really cool packaging!

Heart Attack - Mika Bomb

Mika's second single on Zubizaretta. Once it starts it never lets go of you until you are out of breath at the end. Punk/pop doesn`t get much better than this and the enthusiasm here is totally infectious. The B-side is more of the same. More bands like this please!

Rosita - Santa Poca's Dream

Second piece of action for Rosita which thankfully is not limited edition. Every time I hear/see them they get better and better and have now formed their own distinctive sound. They are more pop and less punk than Kenickie. The main track is a great dance along tune but I love the first B-side more and is one to shimmy along to on the long summer nights.

Review of 1999

As 1999 is now over (no kidding), it`s time for Lo-Fi Pop Underground's first yearly review of some of the great singles and albums that hit the mark.

Albums (singles coming soon!)

The Secret Goldfish - "Mink Riots"
I first found out about this great group when I heard their brilliant cover "Give him a great big kiss". I was intrigued as to what their own songs sounded like and I wasn`t disappointed as each one is a pop gem that equal and at times surpasses that classic tune. Best track is "Hey Mr. Fox!" by far.

Marine Research - "Sounds From The Gulf Stream"
More pop classics in the same vein as the Goldfish. Again proving that good pop should be f.u.n. Parallel horizontal is the top tune here.

Ooberman - "The Magic Treehouse"
A totally poptastic album that delivers on all levels from the punk/pop of "Bees" to the heart melting "Shorley Wall" and pure pop of "Blossoms Falling" to the hand punching in the air ability of the hidden track "Stormtrooper". If Marine Research show us that pop is fun then Ooberman do it with capital letters with F to the U to the N.

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - "Spanish Dance Troupe"
After being dumped this was Gorkys comeback album and they returned with their most consistent album. We have rock in the form of "Poodle Rockin'" and the gorgeous "She Lives On A Mountain" to melt your heart. And back to the days of Bwyd Tyme they bring us the funny "Hair Like Monkey Teeth Like Dog" - who needs the Ronco's when Gorky's are around!!!!

Super Furry Animals - "Guerrilla"
What can I say, SFA keep doing it again and again. While this album is not as good as Radiator it's still fantastic. "Fire In My Heart" is a great song which if it was sung by anyone else it would sound really false. "Wherever I Lay My Phone (That's My Home)" is a great song that I now sing at anyone who uses a mobile phone resulting in a high annoyance factor.

Sleater-Kinney - "The Hot Rock"
A year is'nt complete without a S-K record and this year we had one of their most emotional lp's. I can't begin to say how much I love this CD but my fave tracks are "The End Of You", "Banned From The End Of The World" & "Get Up"

Garej - "Garej"
One of the compilations of the year put together by Garej a great telly program on S4C. One of the best things about this CD was that it free but the bestest thing was that is full of great tunes from Topper, Cerrig Melys, Anweledig, Melys, Coaster and Gwacamoli among others. Fave tracks are Topper with "Cwpan Mewn Dwr", Anweledig with "Karamo Darboe" and Gwacamoli with "Asbestos Tescos".