W/e 26/06/26 -Graham Coxon, Hard-Fi, Fancy Weapon, Pond, The Mighty Lemon Drops
Album Club — Week of 19th June 2026
Album of the Week: Pond 🏆
Pond topped the table with a trimmed average of 7.45, narrowly ahead of The Mighty Lemon Drops (7.39). It was the most consistently liked record of the week, with several reviewers calling it the standout.
Tune of the Week: Pond's "Terrestrials" and "Two Hands" both picked up multiple votes, alongside scattered support for other Pond tracks — the band dominated the individual song picks across the board, but TOTW is Hard-FI - Looking for Fun with 3 votes
Happiest reviewer: Guy 😊 — averaged 7.48 across the week, clearly the most enthusiastic listener.
Saddest reviewer: Carlo 😞 — averaged 6.30, the toughest critic this round.
A few quotes on the best album — Pond
Jim declared it the winner by a few lengths, praising how the band kept things driving rather than drifting into dreamy psych excess. Sam called it this week's winner too, describing it as fun, bouncy, and the most enjoyable record of the week. Mark K found it a cracking listen, noting how hard the band was to pigeon-hole, while still being clearly part of a strong run of Antipodean acts. Andy was similarly won over, admitting he'd been wary going in given Pond's connections to Tame Impala, but ended up calling it cracking stuff once he heard the proggier, Rush-indebted side of the record. A little more measured, Carlo found the opening promising but felt the album lost him as it went on.
A few quotes on the most divisive album — Hard-Fi
Reactions to Hard-Fi were the most split of the week. Guy was firmly in their corner, defending the record's nods to their classic era as a strength rather than a weakness, in direct contrast to Andy's view. Mark D was pleasantly surprised, having never listened to them before and finding a decent mix of soul, synth, and mainstream indie sound. On the other side, Phil Cox was openly disappointed, saying the album had none of the grit or swagger that made their debut so good, with the opening tracks falling flat for him. Andy was similarly unconvinced, joking that one of the tracks was bad enough that even Kaiser Chiefs would be embarrassed to release it.
Andy
Graham Coxon - The usual kind of stuff you’d expect from our Graham with the added bonus of his vocals not being as reedy as they can be 7
Fancy Weapon - Dirty, grungy psych, great stuff 7.5
Hard-Fi - Bit disappointed in this. It’s not that it’s bad but it’s just a bit of a copy of their debut. Oh and I Ain’t Going Out Tonight is bad, a track Kaiser Chiefs would be embarrassed to release 6
Pond - Sometimes prog instead such a dirty word, I was a bit worried when I saw they were mates with Tame Impala but I guess these were the ones that were listening to Rush. Cracking stuff 7.5
TotW - Casuarina by Pond
The Mighty Lemon Drops - Pretty decent indie very much of its time that sounds a lot like The Teardrop Explodes 7
Guy
Graham Coxon – Didn’t really get on with this. Seemed a bit of a hobby project. The tunes were weak and overall sound disconnected as he tried a mix of C&W, flamenco, classic and various other styles. He probably thought it was clever but it was a mess – 5.5
Fancy Weapon – A decent debut. Some good blues rock even if it doesn’t step up to the level of some of the royalty in the Musolytica hierarchy – 7.6
Hard-Fi – My mates! Stars of CCTV was an absolute classic of the time. Although they were unlikely to hit those heights, I thought this was a pretty good effort. A few of the tracks have their landmark sound from that era and whilst Andy sees that as a disadvantage, I think that’s a good thing! – 7.7
Pond – I enjoyed this. Hadn’t heard of them before. Good tuneful, rock p-opera with some 80s synths. Reminded me a bit of a soft rock version of Phoenix – 7.8
TOTW – Looking for Fun – Hard-Fi
The Mighty Lemon Drops – All time classic 80s Indie. Andy’s right that it sounds ‘of the time’ perhaps but this band were one of the best of the genre and I think it still stands the test of time. Discovered them through C86 and played the vinyl off this album when I got it. – 8.8
Mark KE
Graham Coxon - 7 - nice Kinks influenced DIY indie vibes, reminiscent of those Jim Bob solo albums we did.
Fancy Weapon - 5.5 - liked this initially but it's very unfocused and rambling, sounded like they were pissed when they recorded it.
Hard Fi - 6 - wasn't aware there was a clamour for them to reform, but this is a decent enough middle aged effort to recapture their youth, unlikely to sustain more than a couple of comeback albums though.
Pond - 8- cracking listen, hard to pigeon hole this lot but it's yet another tremendous antipodean act we've come across.
TOTW - Two Hands by Pond
Sam
Graham Coxon : this was amateurish and a bit annoying . No ta . 5
Fancy Weapon : I love languid scuzzy rock but this was a bit too loose for me . Not bad tho . 6.9
Hard Fi: where is the swagger from the debut ? Some of the lyrics are laughable . 6
Pond : fun , bouncy . This weeks winner . Most enjoyable. 8.2
TOTW : Nashville I’m Dying by Pond
The Mighty Lemon Drops : Didn’t know they were Brummies and connected to the Wonderstuff ! Top drawer jangly indie , I recognised some of it . Very well paced and put together. 8.5
Simon
Graham Coxon 6.3
Much as I like Graham Coxon there's not a great deal here that would sit alongside his output with Blur and the Waeve - given his back catalogue though I think he's entitled to the odd misfire.
Fancy Weapon 7
Interesting stuff - spaced-out, distorted psych/blues from Melbourne, it really is a hotbed down there at the moment.
Hard-Fi 6
Not a band I know - this had a couple of decent moments but overall I didn't think it was anything special.
Pond 7.5
Liked this a lot - occasionally proggy but mostly 80s style new wave/psychedelia, engaging and upbeat.
TotW: Pond - Skyworks
Mighty Lemon Drops 7.5
Was aware of this lot at the time although never really listened to them - enjoyed this more than I was expecting, thought it might be in that slightly dour Sarah Records style from that period but was much more upbeat and appealing.
Justin
Graham Coxon - I thought this was a good varied indie album. I quite like his quiet slacker style vocals. 7.2
Fancy Weapon - Enjoyable distortion guitar. 6.8
Hard-Fi - They have a bit of a unique style. The debut was very much of its time. This was enjoyable but didn't quite hit the same highs albeit that might just be a time and place difference. 6.7
Pond - Enjoyable rock album with a few prog bits. 7
TOTW. Graham Coxon - Melodie Pour Christine
Mighty Lemon Drops - Inspirals obviously nicked their sound (and improved it in my view). Enjoyable but lacking a bit of magic. 6.7
Mark D
Graham Coxon 5.75
Bit of a 60s feel to this. Slightly chirpy cheery-chappy sound didnt work for me. When the songs slowed they felt quite forgettable..
Fancy Weapon 6.75
Very raw and unfinished feel began to blur. I cant deny the groove and blues guitars arent good but felt like I was stumbling through the outback drinking a strong spirit. Maybe the weather this week didnt help.
Hard-Fi 7.25
Hadn't listened to them before but quite a nice mix of influences w soul and synth alongside a quality mainstream indie sound. A little generic at times but no weak tracks.
Pond 7.5
Retro sound and definitely most original of the week. Loved the bass / drums. Songs were all strong but lacked something in the energy / emotion stakes for me to push up score.
TOTW A Rose Electric - Hard-Fi
Mighty Lemon Drops 7
Can't deny the energy and liked the strength of bass in mix but found the (pretty) constant tempo and range of the guitar meant I was struggling to enjoy as much towards the end.
Carlo
Graham Coxon – 6.1
This has a bit of a throwback sound, reminding me of some of The Kinks’ lesser-known material. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite have the classic substance to match, although it certainly wasn’t bad at all.
Fancy Weapon – 5.2
I found the guitar playing a little strange. There was very little melody, with the guitarist seemingly playing his own thing over staccato drums that never quite fitted together. Add in the screechy, out-of-tune vocals and it quickly became a wall of noise for me.
Hard-Fi – 7.0
First listen. Hard-Fi are new to me and I must say, I thought this was a quality album. Lively and fun, with enough electronic touches to keep me interested.
Pond – 6.0
Started off promising with a great electro feel, but then just seemed to tail off and lose me.
TOTW: Hard-Fi – A Rose Electric
Classic: The Mighty Lemon Drops – 7.2
Again, another first for me. They feel like one of those bands I’ve probably seen live before… which I mean as a compliment. It means I would have happily paid to see them.
Jim
Graham Coxen 6.5
Sounded a little dated to me 😊. Just the right side of quirky, I like his dulcet tones and the obvs Blur vibe. The tracks just needed some ommph.
Fancy Weapon 6.5
Enjoyable ramshackled rock and roll, Kings Of Leon lite. 27 Minutes was a top track.
Hard-fi 7
Was never gonna get close to their classic, and the first 2 tracks are duff, but it picks up and had a few nods to some of their hits.
Pond 8
The winner this week by a few lengths. Aussie rockers often go overboard on the dreamy psych- 70s sounds, but this kept it’s balls to the wall and finished with a flourish
TOTW Pond’s Personal Hell
Mighty Lemon Drops 8
Cracking 80s indie which I’m not sure I’ve heard before. Inspirals and Roses took plenty of tips from this I reckon. The closing track is ace.
Phil (OG)
Graham Coxon 5.8
There’s some nice slide guitar on Easy. That’s about it, really.
Fancy Weapon 7.4
I enjoyed the musical chaos that this lot create but although I enjoyed the Neil Young-style scruffiness, this could have used a bit of tidying up. Most tracks sound like one-off jams. If they’d tightened up just a touch this would be a winner.
Hard Fi 6.7
I didn’t really get on with their debut album, when we did it as a classic, though I did comment that they weren’t your average guitar band. Well, they’re still not. This has much more of a pop sound. Amusingly, the band reminded me a bit of Wham! In places, especially on Humpback whale.
Pond 7.2
Another of those bands that knows what they’re good at and just gets on with it. I enjoyed it but without being bowled over.
TOTW – Fancy Weapon – Squirmin’ merman
Classic
The Mighty Lemon Drops 6.8
I’d enjoy this a lot more if I’d never heard the Teardrop Explodes and Echo and the Bunnymen. This sounds like they just chucked both band’s debuts into a blender and put out the result.
Paul
Graham Coxon (7)
Nice lo-fi indie which works well with his thin voice. A decent collection of songs if not particularly memorable.
Fancy Weapon (7.7)
Folky blues rock, a genre that I seem to be enjoying more and more of late. Maybe works well with the hot weather.
Hard-Fi (7)
A decent effort that stays loyal to their sound without breaking any new ground. A couple of misses on there dragged the score down.
Pond (7.5)
Quirky indie, slightly more interesting than I initially thought.
TOTW - Hard-Fi - looking for fun
The Mighty Lemon Drops (7)
A new one on me but it’s decent quality indie without blowing me away.
Erol
Graham Coxon - a bit all over the place in terms of styles. Much of it sounded like the output of a pub band. 5.8
Fancy Weapon - lazy, languid blues rock. I usually love stuff like this but it’s not the tightest musically and could have done with a lot more structure. They sound smashed for most of this. 6
Hard-Fi - not as good as Stars of CCTV, but still a decent listen. 7
Pond - psychedelic space cadet rock. While a basic sound, it was at the same time lively and engaging. 7.3
TOTW - Looking for Fun, Hard-Fi
The Mighty Lemon Drops - so 80s sounding but still listenable after all these years. Not a band that I was massively into and a lot of the tracks are very similar but I can hear the indie rock appeal. 7.2
Matt
Graham Coxon - 7.8
Fancy Weapon - 5.8
Hard-Fi - 6
Pond - 6.5
TOTW - Graham Coxon, Billy Says
The Mighty Lemon Drops - 7.3
Adam
Graham Coxon 6
Know he’s a legend but found this all a bit ponderous.
Fancy Weapon 7
Chaotic and interesting.
Hard-Fi 7
More straight shooting indie. Not the same highs as their 2005 debut.
Pond 7
Very enjoyable psych-rock.
TOTW - pond - terrestrials
Classic 8
Some belting 80s indie here. Good stuff.
Phil (New)
Graham Coxon 7.1
Wasn't expecting much from this after other comments, but I enjoyed it. Definitely had a 60s vibe in places. Paired nicely with a beer in the sunshine. Easy was the standout tune.
Fancy Weapon 6
I don't really get on with this bluesy rock style and the music and vocals on this being mediocre didn't help win me round, this was a bit of a slog.
Hard-Fi 5
Stars of CCTV was superb, this had none of the original grit, or swagger that made the debut such a good album, the first few tracks were garbage. Gutted I thought I'd like this one.
Pond 7.5
Enjoyed this quirky 80s sound, preferred the tracks without the reverb vocals.
TOTW Pond - Terrestrials
Mighty Lemon Drops 7.6
First time listening to these for me, looking forward to listening to some of their other stuff, enjoyed it.
Annette
Graham Coxon: 7
Fancy Weapon: 6.5
Hard-FI: 7
Pond: 8
TOTW: Two Hands by Pond
Classic: Mighty Lemon Drops - 7
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