Uni Boys

Uni Boys — 2026

“Hook after hook, harmony after harmony, this is a band locked into the moment.”

Uni Boys started as a group of high school skaters from Aliso Viejo in Southern California. Songwriters and co-vocalists Reza Matin and Noah Nash formed the core of the band alongside drummer Arthur Fitch and bassist Michael Cipolletti. Their early records were self-released during the pandemic and had a rawer, less focused sound. Their third record, Do It All Next Week, put them on the map with fans of the genre, and 2023’s Buy This Now!, recorded with The Lemon Twigs producing, pushed them further into the underground spotlight. Now on their fourth album, the self-titled Uni Boys, the band returned to New York to work with Paul D. Millar, the engineer behind much of The Lemon Twigs’ recent output, cutting the record live to analog tape over two weeks in Brooklyn. Brian and Michael D’Addario show up again here, contributing backing vocals and piano on select tracks. The result is 12 songs, plus two bonus tracks, that feel like the most complete version of this band so far.

This is straightforward power pop built around loud, ringing guitars, strong two-part vocals, and tight, fast drumming. Matin and Nash trade lead vocal duties depending on who wrote the track, and both are good at it in different ways. The record was cut to tape and it shows in the best sense since there is a live, immediate feel to it that a lot of modern records lack. I like how the production never oversells the songs. There are no tricks here, just well-arranged rock and roll that leans on its hooks rather than its atmosphere. The Lemon Twigs contributions, especially the stacked harmonies on tracks like “Maybe I’m Wrong,” add a little extra warmth without making things feel padded or overproduced.

The earlier Uni Boys records had more rough edges and a slightly looser feel. Buy This Now! was a real step forward in terms of songwriting clarity, but Uni Boys takes that a bit further. The arrangements are tighter and the choruses land harder. I think Matin and Nash have figured out how to write to each other’s strengths rather than just alternating tracks. The songs feel more unified this time around even though the two of them still write separately. Working with Millar instead of the D’Addarios in the producer chair also gives the record a slightly leaner, more stripped-down character.

If you already know Shoes, The Flamin’ Groovies, The Nerves, or The Beat, this album will land immediately. I’d also point people toward Cheap Trick for the dual vocal dynamic, and even early Weezer as the band harmonies are dynamic. For something more current, GUV and The Gnomes covers similar ground, and any fans of The Lemon Twigs will obviously find a lot to like here given the overlapping personnel.

“Victim of Myself” opens the record strong as its guitars stand out over the first of many catchy melodies. “I Don’t Wanna Dream Anymore” is probably the best example of how the band handles New Wave era punk pop, short and punchy with a chorus that sticks. “Maybe I’m Wrong” is one of the best things on the album, with the D’Addario harmonies adding real depth to an already strong song. “Want You Back” is a straightforward crowd pleaser, and “Sin Your Life Away” is worth calling out for having one of the better guitar solos on the record. “Abra” rounds out the highlights as one of the more melodically adventurous moments Matin brings to the table.

The lyrics across Uni Boys stick mostly to the basics: love, loss, self-doubt, and getting it wrong. That is not a knock. These are young guys writing in a tradition where the song always comes first and the words serve the melody. Lines like those in “Victim of Myself” or “Without a Broken Heart” do not reach for anything complicated, but they are honest and they fit. I think the emotional core of the record is strongest on the Nash written tracks, which tend to carry a little more weight lyrically. Neither writer is reinventing anything, but both are good at this style and the words never get in the way of the music, which is really what you want from a record like this.

Uni Boys is another slab of solid power pop. A few tracks settle into familiar territory, and if you are not already a fan of the genre, nothing here is going to convert you. But for what it sets out to do, it does it well. Matin and Nash continue to grow as a writing team even while working independently, and it is good to finally hear them arrive at a record that reflects that. I will say this album slides right up behind Buy This Now! for me. I still enjoy the looser, old school feel of that record’s production, but the harmonies here are the best thing the band has put to tape. With Matin now splitting time as a full member of The Lemon Twigs, and the D’Addario brothers showing up throughout this album, it is no surprise how much that connection shapes the final product. If anything, it only makes you want more. I have no doubt Uni Boys will keep sharpening their craft, and I look forward to hearing what comes next.