Part 1: Reviews of some of the most recent Ugly Pop Records releases (UP076, UP079 and UP082-UP088)
I have the slight suspicion that the few “regular” readers I have out there in the wild wide world of the intranet will by now know that they need to be very patient when it comes to new content on this site. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again that I sure as hell hope to change that and make it a far more regular occurrence. With having said that this post is all about the wonderful city of Toronto and Ugly Pop Records. Back in August I visited Toronto for three days, and had a blast. I lived in T.O. for over two years back in the ‘90s, and have not been back too often since then. Since having moved to Buffalo from NYC, Toronto is just a quick trip north of the border from us. Last year I visited for the first time, albeit only for a night when seeing Hard Skin. This year I wanted to bring my wife along, but she unfortunately wasn’t able to make it. With my Airbnb reservation and plans to see UK old school hardcore punks Mau Maus in the books I traveled on my own. Having enough time to not just visit some sites I haven’t been to in years, I also had plenty of time to hang out with my old friend Simon who runs Ugly Pop Records. In detail that means we talked a lot about PUNK and other more serious related issues such as how to run your life in the Mid-50s. Two years ago I reviewed a batch of Ugly Pop releases, and this time it’s an even bigger load, hence enjoy the ride of Part 1!
Label: Ugly Pop Records (UP-082); Year: 2026; Format: Vinyl LP
Since 2026 marks punk rock’s 50th anniversary let’s kick off with this fantastic compilation LP which is not just a tribute to five decades of punk rock, but also Simon’s own journey into punk rock four decades ago and his healthy obsession with 7”s from around the world having been recorded roughly between the years of ‘77 and ‘84. If you ask me this is the best tribute I’ve seen and heard when it comes to 50 years of punk rock and that should mean something. And if you ask yourself why this record exists Simon wrote the following in his foreword to the amazing booklet the record contains:
“In the last days of 2024, it occurred to me that it would soon be forty years since the fortuitous loan of a couple barely-punk records had dramatically and irrevocably changed the entire course of my life, and that a record of friends celebrating some of the music that has most affected me over those decades would be an appropriate way of marking the occasion. Luckily, I have the good fortune to know a lot of talented, generous people, and what was to be a quick 7” became the album here, marking both fifty years of punk rock in the world and forty years in my own.” - Simon (April 5, 2026)
While the booklet alone is worth buying the record, don’t think this is just another unassuming record full of cover versions. And this comes from the mouth of someone that is generally not a huge fan of cover versions, but each number on this record is a great rendition of the original version by the likes of Jawbreaker, Motorhead or the Circle Jerks to name a few. This labor of love is a must have for anyone willing to widen their punk rock horizon while drooling over the countless record sleeves that enrich the booklet. And last but not least it’s worth mentioning that Simon went out of his way and compiled a list of 500 killer songs you should hear, not a small feat in my opinion. Get this record while it lasts!
In the left photo: Hardcore punk lifer Chris Colohan and myself. Chris covers the Blitz classic “Razors in the Night” with Unwell on the LP. Was a great pleasure seeing Chris for the first time in decades. - In the right photo: Myself and Simon having a pint at the Horseshoe Tavern on Queen Street West.
From left to right: View of CN Tower and Downtown Toronto while walking down to Sneaky Dee’s (in the middle). On the right a back alley off of College Street by Sneaky Dee’s.
Label: Ugly Pop Records (UP-076); Year: 2024; Format: 7” Single
Back in late ‘23 or early ‘24 a certain Matt Menard released a demo cassette containing a few songs, all of them recorded by himself as a solo project. I would assume that at some point the demo has reached the ears and the attention of Simon at Ugly Pop Records and two songs from said demo were pressed onto a limited run of 300 copies on a classic punk rock 7” single. Both tracks are inspired by old school punk rock somewhere between late ‘70s snotty punk and early ‘80s hardcore punk, preferably Southern California. Glad to see Simon crankin’ this one out as the release prompted Matt to turn Cult Crime into a full blown band.
Label: Ugly Pop Records (UP-079); Year: 2025; Format: 12” 45 RPM EP
First and most importantly while most bands and labels would refer to this as an LP, Ugly Pop sets the record right by flogging this as an EP. Hey, don’t you worry as this 12” clicks in at 22 minutes, quality length for an EP me thinks. Glad that Matt decided to turn Cult Crime into a band because this has turned out to be one of my favorite new(ish) records. I mean I love early ‘80s Southern California hardcore punk, and that’s exactly where this record takes its clues from. What you get is snotty and aggressive punk rock straight in your face, and with an attitude on top of that. Think early Circle Jerks meets late ‘70s Black Flag and you should have a good idea what this Toronto trio offers you. On top of the abrasive sound you get lyrics that will take you on a trip to the darker side of society, as well as top notch production by Jimmy Vapid. This record is killer!
Label: Ugly Pop Records (UP-085); Year: 2026; Format: 7” Single
I have become fond of this Toronto trio when I reviewed their previous release on Ugly Pop back in 2024. It shouldn’t come as a surprise then that these guys deliver yet again, this time around with two cover versions. While the B-Side is certainly known to freaks like myself I sure hope it opens the eyes and ears to younger people not aware of the Sonics because “The Witch” is a killer tune and Ichi-Bons crank out a great version of their own. Now though the A-Side is a lecture for all of us open to expand our Rock’N’Roll horizon as I personally am certainly happy to have come to hear “Little Lil”, originally released in ‘59 by Mel Dorsey, Chuck Wayne and the Heart Beats on the Black Jack label. Trust me though, it’s hard to decide which version I prefer as the Ichi-Bons version is just as great as the original number, especially the Saxophone part by Spencer Evoy. Great little pladder!
Label: Ugly Pop Records (UP-088); Year: 2026; Format: 7” 45 RPM EP
What I really admire about Simon and Ugly Pop is the willingness to expand and to enter territories I would not have expected him to touch. I could see this EP having come out on a label like Get Hip or the likes, but not Ugly Pop. But the label is a different one it used to be, and that’s the great thing about it. Mamoru Banzai is the guitar player in Ichi-Bons and the three instrumental tracks on this EP are truly stunning and beautiful. The back side of the EP has a little story for each of the three tracks and I was at most taken aback by the story to “Strollin’ At Dawn” wherein Mamoru describes his hardships of having been involved in a car accident just before heading to Japan to play shows with Ichi-Bons. All the headaches and pains led to the recording of aforementioned song, and what a killer instrumental it is. Drunken Dog and Indigo Walk are equally strong tracks and round off this fantastic EP. This rounds off Part 1 of my Ugly Pop reviews, stay tuned for much more in Part 2.
This trailer gives you a good idea what Ichi-Bons are about and why they are loved by Rock’N’Roll fanatics around the world.
Toronto’s ever changing skyline taken from Toronto Islands, one of my favorite places in the city, if not the world.
Oh, and I nearly forgot. Buy Ugly Pop Records releases here.
Last but not least, Simon says when in Toronto drink at Inter Steer, Thirsty and Miserable and/or Black Dice. Cheers!
At Thirsty and Miserable, excellent bar in Toronto.
