Brad Marino On The Brink

"I’ve been playing this CD in the car for a couple weeks instead of listening to the news, and my mental health is better for it." - Lord Rutledge
"Same." - The Ledge
"We love every reason to hear Brad and his straight rocking catalog." - Boston Groupie News
"Perennial pop punk flag waver Brad Marino follows up 2023’s stellar Grin & Bear It with a kitchen sink and all collection of rarities, remixes, and covers. The record boasts everything Marino is associated with — strong hooks, stellar singalong choruses, fast/loud guitars, and a timelessness that clocks his music anywhere between the late ’70s and now." - New Noise Magazine
"This collection of rarities, remixes and unreleased tracks is elemental pop rock in the groove of Paul Collins and Kurt Baker, only more roadhouse, more garage, beginning with “Girl, I Want You,” which sounds like Brad wrote this after listening to the Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.” The songs are short, sometimes just fragments, but there are so many of them! Marino has always been about the machine gun burst as seen on his last record, Basement Beat. Marino turns Buddy Holly’s “Peggy Sue Got Married” into his own grittier version, followed by the elemental “C’Mon C’Mon,” on which he plays all instruments, as he does on most songs. Dee Dee Ramone’s “Somebody Like Me” and “Outsider” fit seamlessly into Brad’s roadhouse sensibility. Brad pays tribute on “Ramones and Stones,” and on the lickety-split “A.D.H.D.,” which summarizes his approach. None of these songs overstay their welcome. In fact, you wish there were more." - Bloody Red Baron (Pop Geek Heaven)
"On The Brink showcases all sides of Marino: decades spanning ramones-leaning pop punk (Dame Darcy, Hamburger U), garage power pop (C’Mon, C’Mon, C’Mon remains a favorite, as does Should’ve Known), classic rock’n’roll and ’60s pop influences, and killer covers of What’s My Scene? (Hoodoo Gurus) and Peggy Sue Got Married (Buddy Holly). This is good-time music from one of garage power pop’s finest songwriters today AND a lesson in how to make a rarities collection feel like a greatest hits album. On The Brink is out now on CD/LP at a label that feels like Marino’s conjoined twin or soulmate: Rum Bar Records." - Add To Want List
"The old guard of Rum Bar Records. That's Brad Marino. One of the two bosses of The Connection who happens to be one of the musicians who has remained with the Boston label since its beginnings. Marino, in addition, is one of those musicians who publishes non-stop. A restless ass with whom his followers have to keep their attention so as not to miss any of his always interesting material. The latest corresponds to the title of On The Brink." - Ruta 66
"Alright alright! Rum Bar Records release #200 is the fifth (or sixth, if you count Subterranean Jungle) album by Mr. Brad Marino. The label's debut release was Seven Nights To Rock by The Connection, which came out 13 years ago. So Brad Marino has been there with Malibu Lou from the start, and the two have decided to celebrate in style. On The Brink is an odds and sods compilation of some standout singles that have never appeared on a Brad Marino LP along with some unreleased tracks and alternate versions of old favorites. What I like about this release is that since it was designed to be a vinyl LP, they couldn't just throw every single non-album Marino track on there. Editorial decisions had to be made. Marino hand-picked all these tracks, which together give us an ass-kicker of a new album to enjoy while we await new material from one of the greatest artists of the present-day rock 'n' roll universe." - Lord Rutledge
"Known for his consistent output of high-energy rock, Marino unearthed a treasure trove of songs that showcase his signature blend of classic rock, and punk influences. ‘On The Brink’ leans more towards early rock and roll as a template, not that far from his old band The Connection. If you’ve never heard Marino before, this is a great “instant” record collection. I love the re-made “Peggy Sue Got Married,” a shout out to Buddy Holly. Marino’s variety is on display too, from the mid tempo “Not Fooling Me” to the Ramones inspired “Hamburger U.” Included is the standout single duet “Over My Head” with Natalie Sweet. Overall a fun collection. Highly Recommended." - Power Popaholic
"Brad Marino released an album filled with leftovers and rarities. How is it possible that even his leftovers are so much fun? From beginning to end his rock pop songs sparkle and spread a smile on my face. Some may be in The Ramones style others more inclined to garagerock or powerpop from the late 70s, it simply doesn't matter. Brad Marino is in his element from song 1 right up to number 17. You may hear an odd cover here and there as well. Brad Marino is the kind of rocker the whole world ought to get familiar with, fast." - WoNo Blog
"Some of these tracks rate among Marino's very best — like 2022's digital-only Kinks homage "Girl, I Want You," "On the Brink" and "Should've Known" from 2018's Four Track Attack 7", and "Over My Head" from Marino's collaboration single with Natalie Sweet. These are essential songs in Marino's catalog, and it's great that they now appear on a proper LP (most of them remixed for this release). Unlike some compilation albums that have to resort to heavy filler, On The Brink can stand toe-to-toe with any of Marino's studio albums. This is a dandy selection of songs, and delivers a nice mix of Marino's '60s pop & garage side and his Ramones-loving side. It highlights a guy who's a triple threat: a really good singer, a superb songwriter, and a red-hot guitar player. He's certainly one of my favorite artists, and I've spent several hours enjoying this release in the car. Another reason why this album matters is that vinyl still matters. Even in this age of streaming and downloading, there's still something special about taking an LP out of its jacket and putting it on the turntable. I mean technically you can collect MP3s, but can you truly collect them? For those of you whose tangible format of choice is the compact disc, the CD version tosses in the Ramones and Stones 7" in its entirety. Any way you slice it, this is a super-cool release and an absolute treat for fans. Let's drink to another 200 releases from Rum Bar Records (at least)!" - Faster And Louder
"Among its 17 songs we will find that "Girl I Want You", a tribute to The Kinks that was released in 2022, but also songs taken from the seven-inch Four Track Attack, from 2018. He does not forget the wonderful "Over My Head" with Natalie Sweet, and he fulfills what was announced by covering Hoodoo Gurus in "What's My Scene?" and Buddy Holly in "Peggy Sue Got Married". Surprisingly homogeneous, the album works beyond a simple compilation and maintains the unity of one more album to add to his lustrous discography. He, and his sidekick Geoff Palmer, do not stop giving us joy in garage rock, punk rock and even sixties pop, proving that, if the Ramones had to tease us with some gifted students of their proposal, this pair would be among the nerds of the class." - Ruta 66
13 years ago we opened shop with 7 Nights To Rock.
Rum Bar Records turns 200 and Brad Marino is On The Brink.
Rarities, Remixes and Unreleased recordings from Brad Marino that have never appeared on Vinyl LP Record pressings. Hand picked by Brad Marino, re-mixed and remastered just for you. Including bonus tracks and deluxe art packaging, Alright Alright! Limited Edition Vinyl LP on Junkyard random color Vinyl. CD Edition includes 19++ tracks total!
"In advance of the new compilation album On The Brink: Rarities, Remixed & Unreleased, Marino has leaked the song "Not Fooling Me." The track features Marino backed by a stellar supporting cast of Craig Sala, Dave Strong, and Bobby Davis. I dig this song because it's got that classic '60s pop sound. It reminds me of being a young punk rocker back in the '90s and refusing to listen to any radio station except the oldies station. If you like timeless melodies, stellar hooks, and really great rock 'n' roll guitar, this song is for you. Rum Bar is gonna be bringing the heat in 2025!" - Lord Rutledge
"Brad Marino is on this blog like forever my brain tells me. The first time was only 2019 though. Of course that is already close to six years. Since than he became a staple artist with singles and albums almost once a year. In 2025 Marino is cleaning out his closets and came across a bunch recordings he had recorded but not released. The album is called 'Rarities, Remixed & Unreleased' and On the Brink and Not Fooling Me are released as teasers. The former is a rocker in the finest Brad Marino tradition. Somewhere between The Ramones and The Romantics he manages to find another great melody that invites, well almost demands to be shouted along to. The song has a great riff and all the solo notes a good rock songs needs. The latter song is softer and slower, the kind of song I do not associate with Brad Marino. Without coercion I will always opt for On The Brink, let's rock, baby. The darker song and more 60s influences is alright. Marino gets away with this other side with ease, as the song has a great melody and sound. The kind that could get a The Kik treatment here in NL, as in a translated lyrics and make everything a tat poppier. Even Brad Marino leftovers sound great, but don't leftovers often taste better the next day?" - WoNo Blog