New EPs by Tommy & The Rockets and New Trocaderos

Let’s take a look at two recent EPs, Tommy & The Rockets’ Rock ‘n’ Roll Wrecking Machine and The New Trocaderos’ New Trox. Since both are projects of songwriter Micheal Chaney, it seems only appropriate to take a look at these together. They’re both pretty much straight-up rock ‘n’ roll. But with different collaborators, each has its own charm. First, let’s talk about Tommy & The Rockets’ Rock ‘n’ Roll Wrecking Machine.

Tommy & The Rockets is a collaborative effort between songwriter Chaney and Danish singer/guitarist Thomas Stubgaard (The Hitchcocks). Their most recent full length, Beer & Fun & Rock ‘n’ Roll was #18 on this site’s best power pop albums of 2016 list. Why screw with a good thing, right? Just as with Beer & Fun & Rock ‘n’ Roll, fun is the order of the day with Rock ‘n’ Roll Wrecking Machine.

The title track is a runaway train. I mean that in all the best ways. The disc closes with “Gonna Be Alright”, another keeper. While there’s nothing shockingly different about these offerings, Chaney’s songs have a certain fu**-all, reckless abandon that I find really appealing. You can get Rock ‘n’ Roll Wrecking Machine at Tommy & The Rockets’ Bandcamp page.

The New Trocaderos follow up their 2015 LP, Thrills & Chills, with another strong effort. Entitled New Trox, these three tracks are in fact left over from those same sessions. That having been said, they are in no way inferior to those on the LP so if you’re a fan of the band, you’ll want this one. New Trocaderos are Michael Chaney with Kurt Baker (perhaps the busiest man in rock n roll today) and Geoff Palmer (perhaps the second busiest man in rock n roll).

Both Palmer and Baker handle lead vocals on and off, and each is really good. Like Tommy & The Rockets, The New Trocaderos is no frills rock n roll. If that’s your thing, you wanna check this out. GET IT HERE.