It's been a busy March for Atlanta-based No Breaks Records. The imprint has released a string a local releases, including a four-way split titled Dummy Up that celebrates four unsung punk and pop acts.
The split begins with a track by a band from the label's past, as North Trolls' other vinyl release is a split with now-defunct Atlanta act Wrister, released by No Breaks in 2009. Their new offering, "Migranes," is more polished than previous recordings while maintaining the band's expected pop-punk meets Americana sound, with an added doo-wop-inspired breakdown toward the end. Hopefully, this is a preview of that once-rumored LP.
Next is Campaign, a throwback to the '90s that apparently was listening to Leatherface and Hot Water Music while many of its contemporaries were crafting ways to rip off Dinosaur Jr. If "Old Blues" does not wet your melodic punk whistle, check out the Black Album 7-inch, released by No Breaks the same day as Dummy Up.
Local punks Posey and the Party Pirates split last year, and they get a lasting record of their good-time party tunes with their inclusion on this split and a full-length cassette dropped simultaneously by No Breaks. Both releases include "13 Breaks in a Bone," a display of raspy-voiced street-punk bravado. The band's chant-along, oi-influenced choruses might be too macho if the lyrics were not silly and smart enough to draw Screeching Weasel comparisons. Overall, these recordings are good beyond just being good for a laugh.