The Revenge of Alice Cooper - Alice Cooper (earMUSIC)

Goddamn. It's been over 50 years. I loved the original Alice Cooper Band. That live album they recently did of old songs was fucking cool. Surely this will be great. My anticipation, like pride, comes before a fall.

The Revenge of Alice Cooper? That might be too strongly stated. It's not even really the return of Alice Cooper. Maybe it's the retirement plan of Alice Cooper. Christ. The boys in the original band definitely deserve something. They were royally shafted.

We've had a few of these reunion albums over recent years. The Stooges did "The Weirdness" which was pretty much loathed but I rather liked. "Ready to Die" followed to a better reaction. I loved it but others weren't so keen.

After The Flood -   Ed Kuepper and Jim White (Remote Control)

“We took what Jim and I had been doing live and brought it into the studio. It was important that we capture the immediacy of what we had been doing and everything was not laboured. Everything was laid down.”

Ed Kuepper spells it all out in his media release announcing this album.  Anyone who has witnessed the powerful, atmospheric and unforgettable performances of Ed Kuepper and Jim White live will testify that they’re something not to be missed.

The Sugar Beats – The Sugar Beats (Vinil Records)

It was a Saturday afternoon earlier this year when I stumbled on a Sugar Beats set. I was filming a documentary at MoshPit Bar in Sydney.  There were whispers on the grapevine that the band was awesome.  So, we raced down with a cameraman and a buddy in tow, in the hope that the band would deliver.

The word on the street was correct. Live, The Sugar Beats were overwhelmingly tight, blistering, gutsy and hooky, a  three-piece playing high-powered punk rock.

Shadow Work 38 – Kevin K and The Bowery Kats (Vicious Kitten)

Simple songs rendered with heart: Lower East Side punk rock survivor Kevin K has adhered to that formula over four decades and “Shadow Work 38” doesn’t make any case for change.

If you’re not familiar with Kevin K, “Shadow Work 38” is a good place to start. Despite his longevity, he’s still a well-kept secret. The man’s understated YouTube bio sums him up:

Opened for Johnny Thunders , Dead Boys , Ramones . I have seen it all. Was part of the CBGB club from 1980- 2000. I have 30 CDs available and a book, ‘The Successful Loser’.

Mr Sunshine – The Autumn Hearts (self released)

It’s brash, bracing psychedelic pop from a Newcastle band that deserves to be known outside their hometown.

You won’t find a big digital footprint when you go looking for their backstory, but don’t let that stop you. The Autumn Hearts formed in 2016 and are seasoned players with songwriters Ed Peters (bass, guitar, vocals) and Dave Robson (guitar, vocals) at their core.

Members were in a Newcastle band The Longknives who were active in the 1980s, and The Autumn Hearts have a solitary eponymous 2018 EP in their back catalogue.

Lonesome Sundown – The Breadmakers (Soundflat)

“Lonesome Sundown” is the ninth album for Australian rhythm ‘n’ blues ravers The Breadmakers and if you’re reading this outside Melbourne, Japan or Europe, you’ve probably never heard of them.

The Breadmakers have their origins in Victorian bands like Shutdown66, Cracked Jaffers and The Puritans and if there was a trademark available on the word “retro” they’d have dibs on it. They’ve been cranking up their valve amps to celebrate the roots of R ‘n’ B since 1989.

It’s not as if they haven’t done their share of touring, visiting Europe and Japan and well as most Australian capitals, but in these times of bands finding it hard to make ends meet when they go on the road, they’re stop at home types these days. “Lonesome Sundown” is on German label Soundflat so the international profile is there for those in the know. But these guys should be household names.