It's really difficult for me to review this CD 'cos I can't say it's bad, but I don't really like it. I can't say the music is not my taste 'cos it is. The biggest problem with Anna And The Psychomen is Anna's vocal. Well, The Psychomen are pretty good punk band with catchy songs in Ramones, Misfits style inspired by horror movies and 50s and 60s trash stuff. Anna sings ok, but vocal just doesn't fit into punk. It's too folky and too poppy. I think I'm an open-minded person and I like strange combinations, but in this case it doesn't sound attractive to me. I think it's really pity 'cos songs are good. Psychomen, try to make Anna angry before you record your tracks next time - it should sound more punk.
 

Cantakerous are from Australia. Australian bands always had special place in my record collection. One of my all time favorites are Radio Birdman and The Fun Things and I really dig their 70s psych punk. Cantakerous also play 70s psych groove punk with nice acid guitar and fat bass. Unfortunately their singer doesn't have the charisma in his voice that I'm used to hear by many Ozzie bands - I want to hear more anger and more emotions. Cantakerous have their own style and they are not easily comparable with other bands, their music swings, but still they need something so I can say they're great and not just good.
 
 

2nd "Chronics" album "Make You Move" brings quite different sound comparing to their great 1st "Soulshaker". Stronger influence of soul is obvious, but also there are more late 60s/early 70s sounds. Song "Make You Move" is the best example for soul/high energy influences - great song with Hammond organ, nice brass section and female backing vocals, it's a real killer and I'm sure you'll hear this song quite often on your favorite radio. "Honey Blue" is nice souly southern rock ballad typical for early 70s and Chronics really caught that vintage atmosphere. "Feel Allright" is more honky tonk up-tempo r'n'r. I think that "Make You Move" is pretty good record, but well I like "Soulshaker" a bit more 'cos it's more into 60s. Still "Make You Move" has nice sphere and sounds like the best record of your favorite long haired 70s r'n'r band, nice and souly with great acid guitars, raw vocal and groovy rhythm section. "Hot Blood Boy" is one of my favorites on this album - it's punky hard rock. "Rub Off" is more garage punk and of course I like it. The Chronics change styles very easy and mix them so good to get their own style at the end. "Soulshaker" is great soul punk song in similar style like "Make You Move" and I wish there will be more songs like this on their future releases. I was never much into soul, but I really like the way The Chronics do it.
 

Curlee Wurlee are from Germany, but they are strongly influenced by 60s french girl pop. Their music is power pop mod mixed with garage punk with sexy female vocal and nice keyboard. Curlee Wurlee are not pure retro band, they have slight touch of indie rock in style of Helen Love. "She's A Pest" is great and very melodic album with 17 pop killers of which few are great groovy surf instros. All songs are almost 2 minutes long and that's the perfect timing. Cecile Musy plays organ and sings (she was with Boonaaraaas on one of their first 7"s). It's really difficult to pick out the favorites, but still here's my choice: "Echo Park(a)" - the longest song on this album (2.37), nice groovy 60s instro, "Do The Monkey" which starts with typical The Who guitar, but turns into furious punky power pop, "Dustbin Life" - nice up-tempo fuzz garage punk with nice new wave kinda vocal - really great combination, "Cool Na Koi" sounds like japanese girl fuzz pop and "Run" - The Gestures "Run Run Run" cover, but faster and more power pop than original and it sounds really great. Anyway "She's A Pest" is a perfect pop album for warm summer days, but also cold and rainy winter to make it sunny. It's great that there are so many songs, so you can enjoy it for long time.
 

Estee Louder are 3 girls + one guy who is the singer. Musically they are somewhere on the edge between trash punk and late 60s/early70s hard rock like Blue Cheer. "Screamin' Sum Voodoo" has some early grunge influences. "Girl I See You" sounds like trash punk version of Velvet Underground poppy stuff. Dwarves "Drug Store" cover is my fave on this EP. "Bob City" is more 77 style punk. This EP is good, but they need something so I can say - I like it a lot.