Welcome back to the Real Gone Singles Bar, the place where we explore some of the more interesting individual tracks that have landed in our inbox over the past few weeks. This time out, the SB takes in a little country, a couple of arty numbers that cross genres, and also welcomes back an up and coming singer-songwriter. With the return of a much loved ska band and a great pop number also present, we hope you find something new to enjoy!
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There’s rarely such a thing as overnight success, but at the beginning of 2025, it almost felt as if Scottish pop punk band Around 7 have been lurking on the underground without a “major breakthrough” forever. That’s certainly not a reflection on the quality of their songs or playing abilities, however – the four tracks that make up their ‘A Tale of Martyrs & Heathens’ EP are absolutely superb.
Very few people who heard The Donnas’ third album, ‘Get Skintight’, in the late 90s would’ve believed the band would have been snapped up by a major label, but that’s where Allison Robertson, Brett Anderson, Maya Ford and Torry Castellano (formerly Donnas R, A, F, and C) found themselves just three years and two albums later. Every Donnas album up to that point had showcased a stronger band with a bigger sound, but their ‘Spend The Night’ album (Atlantic Records, 2002) was streets ahead of anything they’d recorded before. Not just in terms of all round punch, but also songwriting chops, and it sort of goes without saying that a much bigger budget worked wonders for the girls’ trashy rock sound.
From there, it was onward and upward for a relatively short time, and The Donnas were praised by fans and critics alike, finally earning their place as the true successors to the pioneering Runaways.
Electric Children’s 2022 single ‘Triste Journee’ was an interesting recording. It featured prominent garage rock guitars, punchy keyboards that drew as much influence from novelty horror rock as much as 60s fare from the likes of Question Mark and The Mysterians, and topped that with a muli-lingual lyric that further escalated their slightly trashy vibe. It was certainly nothing like you’d expect from an act being promoted with the stoner rock/desert rock label. Their 2024 single ‘Scene of The Crime’ gave more of a stoner link due to a guesting Nick Oliveri, and although the recording was driven by fuzzy riffs with the tone of Queens of The Stone Age in a particularly punchy mood, the end result, again, owed a little more to garage rock. Shouting gang vocals and a massive drum sound invited stronger comparisons with a ‘Tomorrow Hit Today’ era Mudhoney, but labels aside, it was a huge step forward and an indicator of potentially great things ahead from this band.
With two very different jazz numbers, a slice of alternative metal with a theatrical quality, a strong offering from a cult singer-songwriter and a track that’s practically uncategorisable, the selection for this Singles Bar adopts a little more of a “go hard or go home” approach. By casting a light on a couple of the more adventurous tracks from the last couple of weeks, this bunch of tunes might take a little longer to make an impression, but we feel that every one of these artists is bringing something of great interest to the table. What’s more, it’s probably just the beginning of a great, creative period for some of the featured performers, whether genuinely attempting to push boundaries or choosing to share some solidly familiar riffs. As always, we hope you find something new to enjoy!
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