Benny J. Ward “SUPER!”
Benny J. Ward (Rinehearts) isn’t shy about going big — ‘SUPER!’ is fuzzed-out, hook-heavy, and unapologetically loud. From the start, Benny rides thick distortion-filled bass riffs, his vocals buried under garage fuzz, and it hits like a wall of sound on the opener “TELEVISIONS!”
But the hooks aren’t far behind. “Scratch That Itch” delivers a great punk-pop melody that lives up to its title, while “Ice Cream Headache” is just as sticky and infectious. Benny throws in some deeper influences with “Tell Me Tell Me,” where 70s acid rock vibes (think Cactus or The 13th Floor Elevators) seep through the pop earworms. It’s a great balance — no matter how sunny the melodies get, there’s always a grit bubbling underneath.
The momentum dips a little at the midpoint, but things fire back up with the scrappy punk blast of “I Didn’t Mean It.” His cover of Dusty Springfield’s “I Only Want to Be With You” is another surprise — rougher around the edges, but it works in his fuzzed-out framework. Closing highlight “Up and Down” rides buzzy guitars and a shakeable chorus, ending the album on a high-energy note. ‘SUPER!’ might wobble in spots, but Benny J Ward’s mix of distortion, melody, and sneering energy keeps you invested. It’s a scrappy, fuzz-pop ride that’s both messy and fun — exactly the kind of garage rock chaos you want. Highly Recommended.
The Sonny Wilsons “Maybe”
The Sonny Wilsons are a 5-piece band from Memphis, Tennessee. While Jon Auer (The Posies/Big Star) lends his production touch and some contributions, ‘Maybe’ is really the vision of Adam Yancey and Allen Couch. What they’ve crafted here is a clean, melodic rock record that dips into different styles without ever feeling like a cookie-cutter effort.
The title track “Maybe” sets the tone with a crisp, polished sound. The vocals stand out most here, landing somewhere between Chicago, The Posies, and The Well Wishers. “Deserea” shifts gears with a country-rock flavor and gentle harmonies, showing the band’s range early on. An early highlight is “Miss Kinetic,” driven by solid drumming and a strong chorus hook, with layered harmonies toward the close that tie it all together. “The Art of Letting Go” leans more into that Posies-style fuzz, building tension with climbing harmonics. Similar thick riffs show up on “Ones and Zeros” and the droning “Who We Are.”
But The Sonny Wilsons also know how to pull things back. “Desert Song” is a relaxed love ballad, while “Quicksand” stands out as a lighter, sing-along gem with a breezy, catchy vibe. Together, these tracks hint that the band is still exploring and defining their voice — and that’s part of the charm. Overall, The Sonny Wilsons deliver a debut that’s polished, versatile, and worth keeping on your radar.
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