The Cleveland Steamers “Best Record Ever” 2018. Smog Veil Records, blue vinyl. The third LP from the Cleveland-based (obviously) power pop/punk “supergroup” (according to the album’s hype sticker). Band members have been in a bunch of underground groups like Pink Holes, Floyd Band, Singing Angels and Arch and the Bunkers. This is the second record by the Steamers now in our collection but not by design – the same person who gave me their 2022 release 10 More Steaming Piles of Hit gifted me this record, too. Like that more recent release, Best Record Ever is just OK and certainly doesn’t live up to its very ambitious name. The opener “See You Tonight” is alright, power pop with a garage punk edge and “Hung Up on You” is a strong garage punk rocker; it looks like it was originally released as in 2016 as a collaborative single by both the Steamers and Archie & the Bunkers. “My Asshole Cousin” is funny with a goth-punk vibe and “Maple Leaf Girl” is super-60’s inspired, and quite fun. “Never Saw You Again” is a bit dark, a raw 60’s inspired garage ballad. But “Dream of Me” kinda sucks, a gothy dirge with some squealing sax that seems to be attempting a garage-psych sound (but failing), however once it morphs into the next track, “Monsanto,” it gets a bit more interesting: heavier with some doom and gloom death metal vibes accented with theremin (totally not my thing but at least unique). For some reason, this album isn’t readily available for links so I guess buy it to hear the rest on the little I was able to link above. Happy to sell my copy, make me an offer: