This is now my 12th time reviewing The Melmacs, and my enthusiasm only grows with every write-up. There’s no band out there that does a better job of marrying classic punk, power pop, and new wave influences in a way that sounds genuinely fresh and current. Beyond that, there’s something special about The Melmacs. In times that have grown increasingly dark and cold, they are a lightning bolt of hope and love. They bring positive energy into a world that desperately needs it. They’ve made a record that acknowledges the seriousness of life but will ultimately put a smile on your face and add some skip to your step. 

One trend I’ve noticed in the modern era of punk rock is bands getting better and better as they go along. That is certainly the case with The Melmacs. I liked the band’s 2022 debut Good Advice enough to proclaim it one of my favorite albums of the 2020s. But that record was a mere warm-up for EUPHANCHOLIA, which finds The Melmacs making that big leap from very good band to truly great band. Even as the band’s musical appeal has remained very much the same, the quality of its songwriting and the distinctiveness of its sound have been refined considerably. The Melmacs fully know who they are and what they want their music to be. The organ plays a larger role on this record, but the guitars don’t take a back seat. Bimmi has become one the most likeable and expressive vocalists in the indie/punk universe, and Max’s production on this release (with the help of Brown Barcella and Magnus Lindberg on the mixing and mastering side) is pretty much perfect. This is the kind of music I live for. It’s catchy, powerful, and exciting, but it’s also full of tremendous substance and comes straight from the heart. 

It’s no shocker that singles like “Lazy Hearts” and “Run for Your Life” are standout cuts. They were singles for a reason. But The Melmacs left plenty of killer tunes in reserve for us to enjoy when we finally dove into the full album. “The Tide is High” has me pumped to go out and live this day to its fullest. “Falling” is another vintage Melmacs high-energy, booty-shaking, earworm sing-along. I was blown away by “These Days,” a song that sounds unlike anything the band has done before. It’s a very sophisticated and modern-sounding pop-rock song that could legitimately be a hit if anyone in the music industry had a clue. Likewise, “Deadbeat” shows the band’s command of pure pop with a bittersweet taste. Elsewhere, “Showdown” and “Lifetime” find the album taking a full-fury punk rock turn. The ballad “Crying My Heart Out” is a classic example of why The Melmacs are so amazing. It comes on sounding like jangly ’60s pop, then seamlessly fast forwards into the ’80s, and all the while Bimmi alternates between anguished spoken word ranting and the purest singing she’s ever done. A song like this would not have been within The Melmacs’ capabilities a few years ago. “Electric Night” puts a glam-bam exclamation mark on an extraordinary album. 

On Good Advice, the Melmacs dispensed some tough love and sage guidance. With EUPHANCHOLIA, the vibe is a little different. These German sweethearts are here to lift you up. They’ve got your back and want to remind you that it’s never too late to live your best life as long as you’re still breathing. They’re here to cheer you up and cheer you on. In tough and trying times, The Melmacs have brought us the album we need: a pep talk, a kick in the pants, and a giant hug all rolled into one urgent package of anthemic and infectious punk/pop/rock ‘n’ roll. When it comes to records that live at the intersection of punk rock and power pop, this is about as good as it gets. The Melmacs might remind you of bands you loved decades ago, but they aren’t trying to sound like anyone but themselves. I might be guilty of hyperbole if I called them the best band in the world, so I’ll show some proper restraint and contend that they at least need to be in the conversation.

Though the first day of Coachella was mostly a success, it wasn’t without problems. Anyma had been slated to perform at midnight, but the Italian-American DJ’s set was canceled last-minute due to severe weather conditions.

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Today marks exactly two years since Sabrina Carpenter’s rise into main-girl pop stardom with “Espresso.” Before that song, the idea of her headlining Coachella would’ve been ridiculous, but now it’s a given. She did just that last night, and her Hollywood-themed performance included appearances from various actors, plus several Man’s Best Friend live debuts.

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