A short end-of-summer roundup of recommended listening, moving from free samplers to standout singles and ending with a retro EP. It covers two compilation samplers from Rum Bar Records and Wild Honey Records, then singles from Duncan Maitland, Second Grade, and Brent Windler, and closes with Shampoo’s “Five Favorites.”
Rum Bar Records Summer School Sampler, Second Semester is a freebie with 33 songs, featuring Cindy Lawson, the Trash Kickers, High on Stress, and more.Wild Honey Records Sampler is another free collection with 19 tracks, highlighting power pop acts like Radio Days, the Pee Wees, Radioactivity, and Weird Bloom. Next, Duncan Maitland’s “Dummy” a catchy carney narrative after a long absence. Second Grade’s “Cellophane Girls” is also particular memorable standout. Brent Windler’s “Girls of Wild Strawberries” is a pastoral charmer with its jangling rhythm guitar. Finally Shampoo’s “Five Favorites,” an amazing 60’s sunshine-bubblegum retro EP and each song is stylistically different, but I really love “Forgotten Lane.” Enjoy this last weekend of summer sun.