Turning down the fuzz, Brooklyn-based trio Acid Dad emerged from the pandemic with a more melodic sound, focusing on songwriting in less buzzy and catchier fashion for their newest release Take It From The Dead.
Opening with “Searchin’” the band (singer-guitarists, Vaughn Hunt and Sean Fahey, and drummer, Trevor Mustoe) wanders through everything from explicit sex to blissful hypnotic swelling to bullshit ticket fees before stating that they are “Still stuck in the seventies”. While there are certainly classic rock flourishes, the band takes influences from all eras of rock.
The bass-led groove and disco-infused guitars of “BBQ” shine the flashes of T-Rex while the popping post-punk of tracks like “Smile You’re On Camera” and “She Only Eats Organic” call to mind Joy Division with a darker sense of foreboding.
Where the outfit produces its finest results is in the neo-psychedelic, light-shoegaze realm. Tracks like the breathy guitar-driven “Good Time” and the rising energy of “2 Face.” The strongest of the bunch is “RC Driver” which delivers echoing vocals, a motoring low end, and dynamite guitar work. When “RC Driver” seems ready to explode however it wraps up, saving the jamming for the slow-burning album closer “Djembe” which stretches out majestically over a great bass line and ringing guitar riffs.
Having recently built a studio in Queens, NY, and coming out of lockdown in a new direction, Acid Dad looks to be in it for the long haul. Keeping the catchy tunes flowing throughout Take It From The Dead is a great start.
Photo credit: Devon Bristol Shaw
