Seven years ago, I wrote one of my first Lost Gems articles about early 2000’s alternative rockers U.S. Crush and their single “Bleed.” After writing that article, I decided to look more into the band, and managed to track down their lead singer, Denny Lake, who at the time was battling cancer. I shared the article with him, and we started a correspondence over the years, where I learned about some of his pre-U.S. Crush bands, including Atomic Boy.
Yet, much like U.S. Crush, Atomic Boy‘s music was nowhere to be found (legally) on streaming services. which feels like a crime because much like Denny’s later band, the music of Atomic Boy is simply great. And I’m not the only one who thought so.
When the group first formed in 1992, they toured and gained a fan in Dramarama bassist Chris Carter, who went on to produce their debut EP, Love and Revolution. The five song collection contained powerfully melodic, yet lyrically outspoken punk tunes, led by the anthemic rally cry “We Want a Revolution.” Famous KROQ DJ Rodney on the Roq began playing the song, and it became the most requested track on his show. That song and the melancholic alt rock track “Everywhere and Nowhere” would start getting played on radio stations across the U.S.
A mix of Bob Mould/Sugar‘s passionate melodic fury, The Replacements‘ raucousness, and The Ramones‘ punchy songwriting, Atomic Boy are simply a great rock n’ roll band who don’t deserve to be lost to time.
Thankfully, that’s about to change. When I told Denny Lake (thankfully now cancer-free!) about the launch of Indy Review Records, it became the perfect opportunity to bring Atomic Boy (and soon, all of his other bands’) projects into the digital world in an official capacity. And it starts tomorrow, with a release of a deluxe edition of Love and Revolution, featuring a ton of bonus tracks (some of which have never been properly released).
I am super stoked to bring Atomic Boy’s music back into the world, and check-off this lost gem as FOUND. Big thanks to Denny, Justin Bolker and Kevin “Strangler” Pawlak for working with me to make this happen!
Click here to Pre-Save the album, or starting tomorrow, stream the album wherever you listen to music!
The Indy Review 