Sonny Vincent “Snake Pit Therapy” 2021. Svart Records, limited edition silver vinyl. Signed on the back cover (this was a gift so I’m not entirely certain about the signing circumstances). Sonny Vincent is OG punk, part of the 70’s NYC scene with his band Testors and toured with the Dead Boys. Over the years his musical collaborations have included Dead Boys’ Cheetah Chrome, Replacements Bob Stinson, Hüsker Dü’s Greg Norton, the Damned’s Captain Sensible and Stooges’ Scott Asheton. He even toured and recorded for nine years with The Velvet Underground’s Moe Tucker and Sterling Morrison. His discography is insane so figuring out what number release this is…too much for me to deal with – he’s been recording for over 50 years.

Snake Pit Therapy is gritty, punk-inspired rock ‘n roll. Much of it has the 70’s punk sound (think Dead Boys, Rocket from the Crypt) but it also feels modern with way better production than those 70’s recordings and he has serious guitar licks. My top tracks include the harder-edged ones like “The End of Light,” “Higher Than Charlie,” “Japan Mofo” and “Ruby Diamond.” I’m not as fond of some of the more melodic punk/power pop songs (think more like Replacements/later Hüsker Dü) like “Another Land” and “Forest” but his guitar work is still very impressive.