The Glimmer Stars - The Rise of the Glimmer Stars (2025)

Tracklist

01. One Glorious Moment
02. Pictures of You
03. Nice
04. Alleycat
05. Country Line
06. Sunday
07. Marcella
08. Dreaming Where You Are
09. Here We Go (Baby)
11. I Would Do Anything
12. Story
13. Hey! Hey! Hey!
14. Where She's Going
15. Sugar Blue
16. Time and Place
17. Paulina
18. It Won't Be Long
19. Would You
20. You and Me
21. Roller's Show
22. We've Already Said Hello

Please enjoy The Rise Of The Glimmer Stars, a retrospective compilation of tunes from the band’s inception until now. It’s a compilation that was made just for you. Seriously.

What a wonderful surprise this 22-song compilation from this Los Angeles band is! One of those best little secrets passed around among insiders! Their first album was released in 2005. Since then, they've self-released a beautiful collection of EPs, and compilations of their work have already been released. But for me, it's thanks to Rum Bar Rds that I discovered them, and once again, this label is a delight!!! Here's everything we love: Power Pop at its best, scintillating Garage Rock, Glam in the spirit and in the mind, Punk 77 in its most melodic and catchy form (The Boys...), and eternal Rock from the great outdoors, just like Americans love! Deceptively simple songs that catch your ear from the first time and never let go! Guitars that are always in the right place and sound just right! A voice made for rock!!! And a rhythm section that knows how to modulate perfectly, round or tense, as the song demands!!! Over 20 of his career's best songs, assembled here in 22 gems sure to make your rocker's heart race! - Voix de Garage Grenoble

We’ve been waiting for this The Glimmer Stars album to come out. We loved those initial songs “Pictures of You” and the “Rollers Show.” There are 22 songs on this generous album. We live for things like this. This goes on the top shelf. - Paul Blowfish

Rise collects 22 tracks across a quarter century, but they sound like they were all recorded in the same afternoon. Whether on poppy rockers such as “Sugar Blue” and “Pictures of You,” sweet ballads like “Marcella” and “Time and Place,” or mature melodies like “Sunday” and “Shine (Half-Read Books and Coffee),” Mendez and Co. keep the rock rolling as naturally as breathing. - Big Takeover

The Rise of the Glimmer Stars is a compilation from material that they've released since 2005. We know them from being on Rum Bar Records recently, so it’s all new to us. Judging from this album alone you would think that they have never made a wrong move ever. The album presents them as if writing and performing these pop gems is all natural and effortless. If that’s not the case we still rather not know about it because this material has cast its spell on us! We love the singer’s voice, it takes us to a romantic place where we pine about their girl fixations like “Marcelle” and “Paulina” with them. The guitars don’t slash, they ring, chime and flutter with heavy tremolo. The drummer has a few Keith Moon like moves where the hits seem random and chaotic but always end right in place. - Boston Groupie News

Rum Bar Records artists The Glimmer Stars now have their version of “Rollers Show” originally done by Nick Lowe. It was funny to hear this song in the throws of punk back in the day. It wallows in the Rollers sound and fan mania. The Glimmer Stars likewise immerse themselves in the whole package and there’s no sense of irony at all. They get in there and play the sweet pop and they love it. - Paul Blowfish

All rock and roll was meant to be fun. Pure and simple. That’s the bottom line”, says singer/ bassist Mini Mendez in describing the vibe of The Glimmer Stars. For two decades now, this Southern California band has been writing, gigging, and most importantly, recording, one song after another of Rock/Pop (or sometimes Pop/Rock) tunes with solid backdrops of loud, sweet, romantic, and memorable hooks, but also somewhat tough songs that can leave a mark on the heart and soul of anyone that has chosen to give ear.

Starting back in 2000, The Glimmer Stars have taken listeners to the upbeat, frantic drive of songs like “Sugar Blue” and “One Glorious Moment”, to melodic crafted gems like “Time And Place” and “Marcella”, just to name a few. The music is soulful yet serious; faithful yet fun. And, here’s the good news; this band may have not even peaked yet. (One writer’s humble opinion.)

The Rise of The Glimmer Stars covers some ground for sure. The band has been able to fit on many a different live lineup or compilation disc because they can fit almost anywhere. Tough enough to hang with leather wearing rockers, but also Power Pop enough to round out a fizzy/fuzzy stroll thru the park. It’s not groundbreaking, but real, and damn, it can bring the smiles.

“We’ve always been somewhat inspired by the chart-topping pioneers that soothed a broken heart with a simple AM radio hit”, adds Mendez, laughing. “Hooky Pop fistfights ruling the airwaves, but our sound has always been slightly on the rougher side, especially when we play live. This band has had a life of it’s own. We’re just trying to stay out of the way.