New York City’s Acid Dad has a lot going for them beyond a great band name, colorful artwork, the best Twitter handle (you’ll have to search it out), and residing on one of the most exciting labels in indie rock. On this first album, these psych-meets-garage punks are on top of all things unusual and full of writhing rock, with plenty of twists and turns in their blurry formula.
The album leads with the soft and spacey “Die Hard” that abruptly bursts from ambient noise into a punky, power-pop anthem. “Mr. Major” follows with shimmering guitars and jangly retro-rock before the subdued and darker “Child.” While both of these tunes fit into their landscape of hazy punk well, Acid Dad is also no strangers to jangly sounds, especially on the calmer strumming of “Come Outside.”
“2ci” is one of the album highlights with its chilling and swift post-punk stabs, and “Mistress” is another standout track that’s experimental with proto-punk dissonance that sounds completely untamed and frothing with energy.
Later in the album we get some not so subtle but welcomed Sonic Youth influences, especially on the mysterious “Mow My Lawn” and the ultra-melodic “Marine,” while tracks near the end like “Dissin’” brings to mind Lou Reed in its gentle building into tense explosions.
There is so much going on on this debut album, you’ll need a dozen listens to even scratch the surface of the inner-workings within each tune. The band seems right at home in any decade since the ’60s, and their sounds will sit well with fans of The Velvet Underground, The Stooges, Supergrass, or even Blur.
Whether you fancy surf punk, garage rock, proto-punk, or just alternative rock that’s far from predictable while being exciting, reckless, and daring, Acid Dad has you covered on all bases.
