It seems like I just posted my picks for the best records of 2019 on my Facebook page (The Neighborhoods, Starcrawler, The Hangmen, Dave Hause, and Foxhall Stacks, by the way), but now I’m already excited about 2020. The first great full-length record of the year - by Beach Slang - is already here, and based on a single that dropped January 10th, there’s another great one coming. Here’s what I’m talking about:

Let’s start with this single by Tuk Smith & the Restless Hearts called “What Kinda Love.”

Tuk Smith was the driving force behind the Atlanta band called THE BITERS. The Biters are easily in my top ten favorite bands of all time. They called it quits in 2018 (“indefinite hiatus,” they said) after about nine years and a bunch of superb records. Tuk started this new project, and if this single is any indication, he is picking up right where The Biters left off. His songs are all rock n roll anthems; part metal, part punk, with a huge dose of big 1970’s sound. It’s not retro, it’s fresh and it’s great, trust me. His new record was produced by Rob Cavallo, who has worked with Green Day and many other big name bands. Amazingly, it has just been announced that Tuk Smith & the Restless Hearts will be going on the full stadium mega-tour this summer with Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Poison and Joan Jett. Good for Tuk, he deserves some big-time exposure. The video for this single is highly entertaining as well…….

I took this shot of Tuk at a Biters show a few years ago.

Next up – “The Deadbeat Bang of Heartbreak City” by BEACH SLANG. This one is a full-length, 11 songs. It’s too early to tell, but I won’t be surprised if I declare this to be one of the best two or three records of 2020. Beach Slang has been around since 2013 and they have some nice records. They are led by a kid named James Alex who is dripping with talent and takes that “wearing your heart on your sleeve” thing to the absolute extreme. His new record is spectacular. The most important thing you should know, and he will readily admit to it, is that this record has the influence of The Replacements all over it.

One of the best songs is even called “Tommy in the 80’s” and features Tommy Stinson on bass. It’s about listening to Stinson in the 1980’s and it is a rocking song that should make the ‘Mats proud. The vocals on the slower songs sound like Paul Westerberg to me. Check out “Nobody Say Nothing.” The track “Kicking Over Bottles” is another rocker that is just awesome. Those three songs I have mentioned are enough to make this record be important to me, but it is strong start to finish. If you like The Replacements, you really should listen to this from beginning to end, a few times. You won’t regret it.

James Alex of Beach Slang, thank you for this record.

Happy listening in 2020! We are off to a great start.