50 Years and Still Wailin’

It’s official, The Sonics have released the hippest, most fun record of 2015 so far. Considered by many to be the first ever garage punk band, The Sonics released their first record, Here Are the Sonics, in 1965. Now, 50 years later, they’ve released the aptly titled, This Is The Sonics, and it barely feels like they’ve aged a day. Full of horns, catchy drum beats, and raw vocals, This Is The Sonics would be one of the most exciting releases this year, with or without their immense and influential history. Most impressively, you can hear the 1960s right in their music, and it somehow doesn’t feel at all out of place. If only more bands could do that!

This Is The Sonics comes wailing out the door with the impossibly energetic “I Don’t Need No Doctor.” Two minutes in and any worry you might have that age has slowed these rockers down will be quickly subdued. Another enthusiasm-packed track is “Sugaree,” with enough horns to get you up on your feet and dancing the night away. A highlight on the record is the moody “I Got Your Number,” which grooves harder than anything you’ve probably heard in a while and solidifies that these guys just get rock n roll.

The Sonics certainly sound a shade different than they did in the ’60s, and nothing on this record can quite compare with the lo-fi coolness of songs like “The Witch,” but it is probably the best a band can aim for after so long. They have kept up with the times, blending their old sound with styles brought about by newer bands, and that is a feat all to itself. With a surprising number of original members for a band with such a long history, This Is The Sonics is definitely one of the best reunion releases, especially considering their last record came out in 1980!