A couple of years ago, Spells released “Loose Change Vol. 2,” a compilation of previously scattered or out-of-print tracks, standing as an archival document of a band that never released a bad tune. Released via an international coalition of independent labels, Keep It A Secret, Motorcycle Potluck, Big Neck, and Shield Recordings, it carries many hits and deep cuts by a band that immediately wraps around your ears and refuses to let go. Spells hail from Denver, but their impact is not limited to local basements and dive bars. They are the kind of band that has, over time, built a cult not by courting visibility, but by delivering every second of every set like it might be their last. If punk is about haste, then Spells are lifers. “Loose Change Vol. 2” plays like a riot distilled to its essential parts. It’s raw and polished, accessible but uncompromising, and intelligently loud. The album opens, metaphorically speaking, like an engine turning over. No theatrics, no atmospheric buildup, just punch, rhythm, and melody. You’re thrust into a sonic universe that runs on pure conviction. What makes this band stand out, and this compilation so vital, is how deliberately constructed each track feels despite its off-the-cuff vitality. The guitars churn and beam in tight cycles, flipping between brash, three to four-chord barrages and more thoughtful, melodic climbs. These aren’t happy accidents, but punk rock miniatures, carved to feel rough around the edges. Vocally, Spells offer more than the genre’s standard fare. The lead vocals carry grit and clarity, a kind of street-corner preacher cadence balanced by the inclusivity of gang vocals, shouted refrains, celebratory chants, and the unexpected sweetness of harmonies, often accompanied by a female counterpoint that cuts through. These are ornamental and structural features. They transform choruses into rallying shouts, verses into collective declarations.
The bass, often a background casualty in punk recordings, is front and center here. It’s warm, clear, and heavy, pushing every track with weight that grounds the more acrobatic lines. The drums push the songs to the max while always being responsive to the shape of the melodies. This is not the furious, collapse-at-the-end-of-the-song drumming, but strategic and confident. It knows exactly how much space to occupy. Spells’ sound, particularly on this collection, balances lightness with determination. The band does not pander to darkness, but neither do they lean into irony. You can hear their politics, not overtly shouted, but built into the DNA of the music. It’s the sound of a band that believes community is resistance, and that joy can be revolutionary. For a compilation, “Loose Change Vol. 2” feels unnervingly coherent. Each track bleeds into the next not through thematic narrative but through tone, texture, and tempo. The record moves like a proper LP, despite its fractured origins. That cohesion speaks volumes about their identity. No matter the session, the lineup, or the circumstance, there is something unmistakably Spells about every song here. That consistency is rare in punk rock, and it is a sign of a band that knows itself. These songs, some of which were once only available digitally or on short-run tapes, now sparkle with fidelity, but that polish doesn’t sterilize them. The remastering enhances rather than diminishes their grit. Spells are not innovators in the traditional sense. They’re not deconstructing punk or experimenting with genre fusion. What they’re doing is harder, refining a known language until it feels brand new. That’s what “Loose Change Vol. 2” accomplishes. With these moves, they showcase that energy and intelligence are not mutually exclusive, melody does not weaken anger, and that real punk rock is still about connection. Not posturing, trends, or streaming stats, but presence, sweat, voice, volume.
“Loose Change Vol. 2” is not essential because it’s rare, but because it captures the heartbeat of a band that makes no compromises but also offers no barriers. The music is welcoming while simultaneously being furious and kind. Spells are gloriously, defiantly real, and this compilation is a perfect modern punk rock record you should immediately grab for your collection. Head to Keep It A Secret Records for more information about ordering.
Thoughts Words Action 