DAVIE ALLAN AND THE ARROWS
"Fuzz for the Holidays 2" - CD
Looking for a suitable stocking stuffer for the '60s instro freak on your list? Look no further. The King of Fuzz is back with another Christmas CD. The first is still available and is a recommended Yule time treat. I am a fan of all things Davie and also a bit of a sucker when it comes to tunes about mistletoe, spiced cider and fat bearded guys bearing expensive gifts. Lots of hits are prominently featured here. "Frosty the Snowman," "Jingle Bells" and "Blue Christmas" aren't exactly obscure tunes you think you sort of remember from childhood. These and other chestnuts (a very apt term if I do say so) are given new life via Davie's trademark guitar zest. The rest of the band is stellar too. Longtime drummer and percussionist Dave Winnogrond and current bass player Bruce Wagner are joined by Arlan on Clavioline, Farfisa and piano; Jack Chandler on saxes and flute; and Lisa Haley on violin. This holiday beat fest also includes three original tunes, two vocal numbers "A Winter Song," "Santa on the Run" and an instrumental closer "Seasoned Greetings." Rudolph would be sooo proud! (www.spinoutmusic.com and www.lifeguardrecords.com)

THE AQUASONICS
"Play Songs for the Surfin' Set!" - CD
I guess if you were a band called The Aquasonics, playing songs for the surfin' set would be a natural thing to do. Just in case you might still have doubts about what to expect from this four-piece double guitar, bass and drum instrumental combo, they put a photo of a pair of bonsai brothers on the cover riding a wave the size of an apartment building. Then there are the songs. If you don't recognize "The Cruel Sea," "Mexico," "The Lonely Apache" and "Squad Car" as songs that Frankie and Annette loved shaking a tail feather to on the beach at Malibu back in 1962, you must be some sort of gremmie (surf slang for a square from Delaware). All kidding aside, the Aquasonics are a fine surf band that offers up 15 standards for every hot dogger's listening pleasure. (www.bigk.com/wormtone.html)

ART BRUT
"It's a Bit Complicated" - CD
I love their first album and this one is growing on me more and more with every listen. I've missed both of the shows I could have seen them at, but won't make that mistake again. The band is a rather standard five-piece arrangement with a couple guitars, a bass, some drums and a bloke who just sings. Nothing else about this outfit is very standard, though. I think the female bass player is named Freddy Feedback. One of the guitarists that played on the last CD, Chris Chinchilla is out and another, Jasper Future is in. The band is a solid new wave pop group with an instantly recognizable sound and rather thick British accented vocals riding herd over everything. The songs are about uncomfortable liaisons with the opposite sex, damp laundry, clumsy dancing, avoiding falling in love, and frustration-induced insomnia all told with clever lyrics and served up with a quaint mixture of angst, boredom and excitement. Yahoo! (www.downtownmusic.com)

PETER BERRY & THE SHAKE SET
"For Goodness Shake!" - CD
This is one of the absolute best modern recreations of the Liverpool beat scene of the early to mid '60s I have had the pleasure of grooving to. The lads from Norway go all out to present their craft in as exacting a manner as one could hope for. They play vintage instruments, use vintage amps, dress and groom themselves in 1963 style and know their chops. Like The Kaisers before them, though, the most exciting thing about the band is that they take the genre into new territory that seems familiar because they have a knack for writing such catchy, evocative songs. Eight of the gear fab dozen presented here are band originals. These are songs The Escorts, Applejacks, Fourmost and any number of other bands of the day would have been proud to call their own... if they had existed 44 years ago. If you can't hully gully to this you need to trade your winklepickers in for a pair of therapeutic shoes. (www.spinoutmusic.com)

BLACK TIE REVUE
"Code Fun" - CD
One of my favorite bands that have recorded for this label out of Davis, California is Red Planet. Black Tie Revue possesses a lot of the same good time elements that managed to draw me out of my usual steady diet of '60s music for a while a few years back. They play energetic songs with tight harmonies, new wave keyboard flourishes and hooks all over the place. One of the beauties of bands that style themselves after a particular era is that they can give you the impression that you are listening to a greatest hits collection of The Cars, Cheap Trick, The Sweet and all your other favorite power pop idols rolled into one without ever having to resort to doing a cover song. If you don't feel like jumping around and dancing to "Red Everywhere," "I'm So Sure," and the other eight tracks here, the seat belt on your wheelchair is probably a tad too tight. (www.gearheadrecords.com)

WILD BILLY CHILDISH & THE BUFF MEDWAYS
"The XFM Sessions" - CD
Like the Energizer Bunny, Billy Childish keeps going and going and going... The Buff Medways have split up, but four albums of studio material just aren't enough for some rabid fans. The lads were regulars on a British radio show called XFM and the fruits of that long association are found here. Half of this set is taken directly from a live broadcast from a London club, The Barfly, and the rest is from studio recordings for XFM. There's something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue presented via a variety of songs from Billy's prolific career. While I've seen a number of Billy's bands through the years in America, this is a cheaper way to experience the garage rock veteran in his natural habitat than buying airfare to England. If, like me, you never tire of songs like "Troubled Mind," check out this last gasp of Buff Medwaysmania. (www.damagedgoods.co.uk)

BOB BURNS AND THE BREAKUPS
"Terminal Breakdown" - CD
Fast paced, punky rock and roll from a trio of cantankerous dudes. There is a driving energy coupled with a general distaste for all the little things in life that bug the shit out of them that permeates this steamroller on speed album. "Fashion Hippie," "Don't Follow Me," "I Hate the City," "Little Fake," and others are perfect examples of the punk ethos. Perhaps the best example of this attitude is summed up in the song "In My Way, On My Nerves," an anthemic title if ever I heard one. The guys know their chops and the level of excitement is maintained from the first strains of "Rip it Up" right through to the last blast from "Silent Treatment." The mile-a-minute garage barrage was recorded and mixed in Bob's basement over the course of one frantic week. They did a top-notch job. (www.gearheadrecords.com)

THE CONDORS
"Wait for it" - CD
Pat DiPuccio, better known as Pooch, has been a friend of mine almost as long as anyone else I know. We both used to write for Flipside Magazine, but his history with the punk rag goes back considerably farther than mine. It's obvious from the music he's been writing and performing through the years that his connection to the scene was more through an appreciation of acts like Nick Lowe, Wreckless Eric and the Count Bishops than the Exploited and Crass. This is the most rocking set I've heard so far, but the emphasis is on strong songs, tight musicianship and impeccable vocal work rather than brute force. From the opening line on "Waiting Half the Night" ("Somewhere over the Rainbow Bar and Grill") through the closer, "Wake Up," Pooch displays a clever command of the English language and he knows how to breathe raspy fire into every line. (www.rankoutsiderrecords.com)

GRAHAM DAY & THE GAOLERS
"Soundtrack to the Daily Grind" - CD
I'm glad Graham is still making engaging music. I was a fan of The Prisoners in the early '80s and have enjoyed his work with Billy as the drummer in Thee Mighty Caesers and the bassist in The Buff Medways. Dan Elektro and Buzz Hagstrom of the Woggles join Graham. This international lineup works well. The group's sound is rooted in the more driving elements of '60s rock and roll, but Graham has always had a knack for writing songs in which his personality shines through and pushes them beyond mere parody and/or tribute. The song's themes reflect a more mature look at life, but "Part Time Dad," "Come Home Soon" and the rest are all served up with youthful excitement and urgency. There is also a somewhat funky instrumental called "South Avenue," that would make an excellent spy movie theme. All in all, an excellent debut for a new conglomeration of musicians who have been around the block a few times and know the score. (www.damagedgoods.co.uk)

DI MAGGIO BROS.
"When I Hit My Stride" - CD
This CD kicks major country, rockabilly, pop booty! The band is made up of Massimo and Marco Di Maggio. They play guitar, double bass and drums throughout and are given a break by double bass player Matteo Gianneti on five of the fifteen tracks. Both brothers sing and show remarkably little evidence of Italian being their native tongue. Some of their stated influences are Elvis, The Everly Brothers, The Burnette Brothers, Chet Atkins and Junior Brown. Here is yet another testament to the beauty that siblings' voices often display when they are raised in song together. Most of the songs are Di Maggio Bros. originals that you'd swear were hits your parents were boppin' to at hayrides when you were just a twinkle in their eyes. They also do some choice covers including Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line" and Roger Miller's "If You Want Me To," that are given fresh and exciting interpretations. Boy Howdy! (www.areapirata.com)

THEE FINE LINES
"Set You Straight" - CD
I love this band for all the same reasons I love all the band Billy Childish has been in through the years. If the first Fine Lines CD was a sonic recreation of the energy of Thee Headcoats with a smattering of Headcoatees thrown in, this one is the logical Buff Medways progression, wherein the overall level of angst is ratcheted up a notch and the female vocals are relegated to backups on a pair of songs. I'm sorry I missed both of my chances so far to see this group live as I dig what they have recorded and have heard their shows are just as raw and exciting. Brothers Justin and Jason Kearbey are joined this time out by Jonathan James. He's not as cute as Trista Winn from the band's original lineup, but then his significant other might argue that point. A sound like The Kinks on amphetamines and fed through a meat grinder might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it sure appeals to me. (www.licoricetree.com)

THE FLESHTONES
"Hi-Fi Stereo" - CD
I saw several shows by these guys back in the early '80s that were quite inspirational. I saw them last year and they were every bit as energetic and fun. I wish I had a video of the guitarist kicking up his heels mere inches from our martinis as my gal and I shook our money-makers to their wild set. I like this latest batch of garage rock and roll dance stompers even better than those from their last album. There are more than a few tunes on this platter that remind me of the feel good boogie beat of the best early J. Geils Band tracks. Did I just say that? I meant no disrespect, I assure you. Actually the band has always had a distinct sound and "Going Back to School," "Feels Good to Feel," "Shiney Hiney," and the nine others have that certain Fleshtones vibe down pat. Yet another winner from one of the longer running rock institutions. (www.yeproc.com)

LOS GATOS SALVAJES
"Complete Recordings" - CD
Esta es un disco bueno estupendidado!!! If my impeccable Spanish is lost on any English only types I said, "this platter kicks extreme butt!!!" The Savage Cats, as the same ESL folks (that's English as sole language) would insist on calling them, were one of the more important Spanish speaking bands (They hailed from Rosario, Argentina) of the '60s. They went on to become much more popular as Los Gatos and lead vocalist Litto Nebbia had a sizable solo career. For fans of mid '60s Liverpool inspired rock and pop, though, this is the real deal. The lads were quite young, Litto was 14 and 15 during the band's life, and were completely immersed in teen culture. The musicianship is a bit shaky in places and the occasional harmonica work makes Dylan sound like some kind of genius, but this is satisfying throughout. The originals are very cool and their choices of covers range from The Dave Clark Five to The Rolling Stones. No Herman's Hermits, you ask? Not hardly. Heck, they are so into the Stones they listed "Little Red Rooster" as a Mick Jagger composition. This CD includes their lone album, all the singles and even some live tracks. Caliente, Bambino, Caliente!!! (www.nofunrecords.com)