http://www.frontarmy.co.uk/music/band-of-the-week-...

Strawberry Blondes have been named as Front magazines latest band of the week.

Better late than never!
http://www. glitzine. net/recensioner/thegoodtimecharlies. htm
Now here's another little unknown gem of an album that got released last year and yet slipped under the radar - well it slipped mine at least.

At 15 tracks it's a great value for money and is definitely a case of "no filler". Instrumental opener "Tricorn" is a very pleasant little rock 'n' roll ditty - insistent guitar supplemented with the occasional farfisa organ that takes you instantly back in time but it's not exactly representative of the rest of the album, which is chock full of the kind of classic song writing that frankly, I'd given up on hearing from a UK band. It's not exactly rock and it sure isn't glam - jangly Indie guitar band is as close as I can get but one free from hype and self-conscious posturing.

As I listen to it, there are nods to other bands and I'm reminded of The Loveless and Beat Angels. They too knew how to turn out perfect pop rock records, well played, crammed full of melodies and the odd wry little lyric that shows a keen observation of day-to-day life. The humorous "Howard Stern" - a tongue in cheek dig at the well-known shock rock DJ - could easily have fallen off a Trash Brats CD. Then again, "Fancy London Ways" could easily have been on any of Tom Petty's first couple of CDs though I doubt that his record label would have let him get away with a lyric like "who made you queen of f***ing everything?" or indeed the character assassination that makes up most of the lyrics.

I like lots of different styles of music but I'm a complete sucker for quality song writing and this delivers in spades. It's well played, the production is polished just enough to make it radio friendly without losing any warmth and they've got a rather excellent vocalist (or two) that can actually sing in tune. Live, I'll bet they're brilliant. The fact that these guys are not being played on the radio on a regular basis and making a decent living from this is just so so depressing. Go out, buy a copy and then plague your local radio stations and get them to play it too. A little cracker of a CD!

ROCK MIDJETS
3/5
With one new song each and both bands covering a track of the others, this split single isn't likely to radically alter either band's trajectories, but nonetheless is more than likely to please both of their existing fanbases. Rising from the ashes of The Yo-Yo's, Deadline and The Black Halos, London's The Loyalties are all set to record their debut album and the confident rock'n'roll swagger of 'Green Eyes' points to potentially good times ahead. Berlin's Radio Dead Ones meanwhile mange to keep their end of the bargain up manfully with their cover of 'Jimmy Does' and the grittily delivered punk of 'Anchor Song'. All in all it's an entertaining enough score draw between two acts with big years ahead of them.

www.dieshellsuitdie.co.uk
We rate this 8 out of 10
OK. This is slightly confusing for me, here we have 2 bands each releasing a single together. You might say nothing new there, but has any split single released before been a cover of each others song? And further more has both songs been about a person with the same name?

Well anyway that's the case, I think, and from the outset it's obvious that these bands are heavily influenced by The Clash. Which is really a good thing, as these are some stonking numbers.

First up are The Loyalties and event though I was never a fan of Tom Spencer's vocal when he was in the Yo-Yo's these 2 tracks are great. The guitars sound a little understated, but that could be just some slick production. Next are the Radio Dead Ones and their recording is a lot more raw, with belting guitars and throaty vocals.

STREET VOICE UK
This is an excellent four track single with both bands contributing two tracks each to this splending punk/rock release. From start to finish you're treated to some great numbers. The Loyalties combine punk and rock in to their sound really well and while many bands have tried this formula before none have been as excellent as what you hear on 'Black Jimmy' and the 'Green Eyes' demo. The Radio Dead Ones are full on Punk and their contributions were by far the stronger songs on this EP. 'Jimmy Does' is a classic Punk Rock number while 'Anchor Song' isn't far behind. German should be proud of the Radio Dead Ones as they're the best thing I've head come out of Berlin in a fair while now. Top stuff from two excellent bands and all I can say is it's a shame this isn't a split album. 9/10

Trakmarx
More excellent stuff from those diligent types at Not On Your Radio on this split 45. Barely a year old as I type, The Loyalties remind me of The Starjets in full on "War Stories" mode (one of the greatest ever 45s in the history of popped up punk rock, fact fans!). Radio Dead Ones, on the other hand, obviously 'walk it like they talk it', because they sound pedestrian by comparison! As Meat Loaf never said: 1 out of 2 ain't bad! Keep one eye on Not On Your Radio over the coming months. These folks know their shit!

http://www.zeitgeist-scot.co.uk/
German band Radio Dead Ones and Lahdahn outfit The Loyalties have teamed up for a split single after playing a series of shows togethers both here in Her Majestys Great Britain and over there in Her Majestys Motherland.

Some of you may recall members of The Loyalties from their days in The Yo-Yo's, and if they've brought anything with them it's an infectious Wildhearts style melodic pop punk approach which is rather endearing.

It's not going to shake the charts but they make a damn fine racket and probably guarantee a good night out. And yes, it is the same Tom and Rich who did time in the Dogs D'Amour. Rawk!

Radio Dead Ones are a tad more raucous with their more pub punk leanings. Fans of Sham 69 will probably find them ideal listening for that drunken night in when you've only got enough cash for a bottle of White Lightning. They both do that split single thing of recording one of the other bands tracks, but it's The Loyalties who run out winners.

ORGAN MAGAZINE
Split single, two tracks from each band and two well matched outfits. The Loyalties are from London, they're people who've done time in the Yo-Yo's, Dogs D'Amour, Black Halos and such – that rough edged, wildhearted gravel-throat low slung barroom punk pop sound. Berlin's Radio Dead Ones sound like a leaner sharper slightly more hungry, slightly brighter and slightly better version of The Loyalties.

WWW.GETREADYTOROCK.CO.UK
After several shows together, these two bands hook up for this split single, 2 tracks by each, that showcase both bands well.

The Loyalties open with Black Jimmy, and uptempo mix of hard rock and guitar pop with a hook, a catch and a decent guitar solo. There's a hint of punk in there too. The demo of Green Eyes is very retro, nodding back at when punk, pub rock and proto 70s rock'n'roll, all given that bright'n'breezy guitar pop edge.

The Radio Dead Ones follow up with Jimmy Does, a not too dissimilar sound to The Loyalties, but a much harsher and brighter guitar sound; a nod back at Fergal Sharkey and his band. If it got more retro you'd expect a Tenpole Tudor style sing along chorus. Final song Anchor Song is rougher, a more metal edge.

Modern and breezy, but two bands who clearly enjoy their sound and play their guitars. Two hopefuls. ****

WWW.NOFRONTTEETH.NET
2 tracks each from ..:NAMESPACE PREFIX = U1 />England's THE LOYALTIES and Germany's RADIO DEAD ONES and each band covers one of each other's tracks. Even though the bands' sounds are different with RADIO DEAD ONES being in the'77-revival style with raucous vocals and a lot of backups blending the classic early English sound with the more-contemporary American style of US BOMBS, STITCHES etc. and THE LOYALTIES coming from a much more melodic punk angle with some bigger riffs ala SUPERSUCKERS. They are well suited together and they recently toured Europe together and I caught a London show that ruled. Cool split.

SUBBA CULTCHA
3/5
The Good Time Charlies go for classic garage sound, only very much cleaner than the likes of Jack White and his Stripes.

According to their Myspace these boys sound like 'The Beatles play the Clash, The Rolling Stones maul the Ramones and The Byrds mangle the Sex Pistols.'  This isn't so far wrong in the sense that they are a tuneful barrage of 6o's style garage rock.  It certainly ain't the most inventive thing you'll hear this year but it is a good ol' bita Dad Rock none the less – not so much Ocean Colour Scene … more like a tame version of The Sonics.

The Good Time Charlies were formed from the ashes of 60's Garage kings The Green Hornets and Link Wray/Dick Dale lovers TV 21.  This, their 4th album, joyfully thrashes its way through its short lifetime.  It touches base with all the right elements that any good clean rock album should: playful guitar solos, 3 part harmonies, novelty lyrics concerning the radio legend that is Howard Stern and the odd bit of swearing.   Tracks like Last Days Of The Summer, Fancy London Ways and English Mustard have an Evan Dando (of Lemonheads fame) appeal, plain and simple melodic catchy pop songs.  The woefully named Everyone Hates Me is a good example of what happens when these Charlies are having a Good Time and the instrumental opener, Tricorn, is savage surf guitar heaven.

Pillars Of The Community is a fine example of a standard garage rock album.  This, as we all know, does not guarantee a great listen but it does ensure a good formula for some lasting pleasure. Nothing really to shout home from the mosh pit about, but you might shake your long hair gently from side to side in its honour

STREET VOICE UK
This is the first time I've come across this band and what I'm hearing isn't bad at all. The Good Time Charlies combine Ramones style Punk Rock with the 60's Garage Rock Sound and to throw you a little more you can hear some Rolling Sones in the sound too! All good stuff you'd expect from an American band but the truth is this band are British though they'd probably be bigger if they came from the USA. There's fifteen tracks in all and every single one of them really does the business for me. Ok so I have my faves on here like 'Last Days Of Summer', 'Fancy London Ways', 'Too Good For Me' and 'English Mustard' but don't be fooled in thinking the other songs are fillers. Far from it and once you hear this album you'll soon find out you can't just it off half way through. It's one of those albums that has to be played from start to finish to get the most from it and that's what makes this band so appealing. 9/10

www.the-mag.me.uk
7/10
There are plenty of bands containing musicians that have been around for absolutely ages, so in this respect The Good Time Charlies have a collective vintage that's far from unique. Where they do differ, though, is that they have the vigour, pace and freshness of a college band (and most college bands don't even have all that)!

This combination of excitement and experience makes for a great album and Pillars Of The Community is exactly that. Smoky guitars, a punk meets rock and roll sound and generous harmonies are the order of the day and there's a nice bit of Hammond organ to sixties it all up.

There's a chunky 15 tracks on this record with 'Howard Stern' impressing lyrically, 'Tricorn' rocking out like the musical version of a concrete monstrosity and 'Fancy London Ways' shining like a power-pop beacon. The list continues with the great 'Oranges And Lemons' and 'Too Good For Me', which supply a dark twist on The Beatles and 'English Mustard' kicking out a bit of extra pace. In fact, the only song I'm not in to is 'Let Me Down Again' and 14 out of 15 is a good deal better than you get from most LPs.

This is a great sounding record with great lyrics and I can highly recommend it to fans of late-sixties pop, early seventies punk and timeless rock and roll.

TRAKMARX
Absolutely superb 15-track collation of feral garage punk with yearning pop sensibilities from that there London's Good Time Charlies. Formed from the ashes of The Green Hornets & TV21 back in 2000, "Pillars Of The Community" is the group's 4th long player thus far, & if you like your punk rock & roll soaked in the perspiration of the Ramones & embroidered with the lineage of Lenny Kaye & his infamous "Nuggets" collection, then you're in for a maximum treat. This is the best collection in its genre I've heard in some time: the hits just keep coming. Literally! Stand out tracks? Get out of here, they're all fucking brilliant! Lovers of that age-old garage aesthetic should investigate forthwith. It doesn't come much better than this!

WWW.NOFRONTTEETH.NET
THE GOOD TIME CHARLIES blend the sounds of THE RAMONES, BYRDS, ROLLING STONES, THE SEVENS, LENNY KAYE and TOM PETTY with that huge dose of '60's garage right at the forefront – not surprising since this band features members of THE GREEN HORNETS and TV21 and they throw in a touch of surf too. There's an element of that classic Lookout! sound to THE GOOD TIME CHARLIES too, that melodic style of MTX, THE QUEERS, SMUGGLERS etc. They take those elements of 1950's rock 'n' roll, 1960's pop and 1970's punk / power pop and create a really attractive sound and that's because they blend it all so well – the mix is perfect. The DICK DALE guitars with Hammond organs and classic punk powerchords is irresistible. This is THE GOOD TIME CHARLIES fourth full-length and the best material they have released to date.