Real Romancer by Paint Fumes

Paint Fumes have survived a decade of being in Paint Fumes. No small feat for a group that’s released 3 albums for 2 distinct luminary labels (Slovenly and Get Hip Records), and swayed their way between opposite ends of a sonic spectrum (garage and punk; old and new) on a no-fucks-given wrecking-ball pendulum. Evolution occurred steadily from their earliest primitivism to more tuneful rockers. Road dogs when allowed to be, they toured exhaustively (including stints with legends King Khan & BBQ Show and Shannon & the Clams). Throughout, they racked more hospital stays—not to mention near-death experiences— than advisable by even the most nihilistic breed of rock’n’roll life-or-deathers. And yet now, after all the years and rigmarole, they’ve never sounded this good!

Real Romancer, Paint Fumes’ 4th LP—and first for Dig! Records (US) and Bachelor Records (EU)—is a whole new world of glam stompin’, duel-guitar with added bass hammerin’ sounds taken to anthemic heights previously unexplored by this born too loose group. If leader of the pack Elijah Von Cramon’s description of the band as “panic attack punk and power pop nightmares” rings true, this is Paint Fumes’ KBD-benzo treat-all for a 12 song long wet dream.

Expertly engineered, mixed, mastered and produced by Dan Dixon at RCRD studios.

RIYDig!: Paint Fumes previous output, The Nerves, Ramones, and Gun Club.

But don’t take our word for it, check out these hot takes:

“Savage pop that really smokes! Sounds like a delinquent 20/20.”
-Christian Blunda, Mean Jeans

“Elijah’s voice has never sounded better. Fuck yes to this album.” -Stephanie Luke, The Coathangers

“Paint Fumes have moved up one decade; their early stuff was very 70s-fucked-up-dirty-punk-rock this new record is very Midwestern-80s-American-punk” -Jacky Cougar, Des Demonas

“How Paint Fumes manages to do it all, I don’t know, but I already have a few songs stuck in my head after a round of listening. Absolutely killer.”
-Natalie Carr, pop artist