Record Roundup, month 12

The new EP from Miramar-based pop-punk rockers Hard to Hit, Better Than I’ve Been, drops on December 1 at Soma. “This is our first show since March, as we had a lineup change, losing both of our guitarists,” says bassist TJ Feasby. “Losing those members was a significant setback, and often can crater a band. We retooled and wrote this record.”

The roster shift inspired both the album’s name and cover art. “'Better than I’ve been' is a line from the first single, ‘Lunchbox Special.’ We chose this title because we feel strongly about always trying to be a better version of yourself, and we feel like it’s especially fitting, considering the turnover in the band. The album art depicts a young man with a ‘monster’ for a shadow. It represents leaving past ‘monsters’ behind, and evolving from them.” Also appearing is Nights Like Thieves, Bad Kids, Headstone, and Misadventure.

Jumbotron, a hip-hop duo formed earlier this year by onetime Kneehighs bandmates Edgar Alminar (aka DJ GarGar) and MC DayDay, will premiere their debut album, Carefree Coliseum, on December 16 at Winstons. “There will be appearances by another member of our former group,” says Alminar, “and we might cover a Justin Bieber song.” The bill includes Parker Edison and Terry Matsuoka.

Sixties-inspired garage-rockers the Loons have a new cassette on Burger Records called Diamonds, Garbage, and Gold – the Best of the Loons. “The track choices were based on what we thought we liked best and would make the most interesting cross-section from over the years,” says bassist Anja Stax, “including a few rarities that didn’t appear on any of our four albums.”

Comic-book fan Eben Brooks is releasing a new collaborative full-length with Allison Lonsdale called Heroes. “There’s a song about Robin Hood, a song about Groot from the Guardians of the Galaxy, and one about the Black Canary from DC Comics,” says Brooks. The album cover was to feature other DC characters. “Unfortunately, the original cover art was rejected by CDbaby for incorporating trademarked characters, so there’s going to be a new cover very soon that will be for all online sales. I’m still keeping the original one for in-person sales, though.”