Surf Dads, Gloin, and Skye Wallace
Surf Dads
Baby Blue // Grind Central Records
On their first full-length release since 2017’s satisfying All Day Breakfast, Regina’s Surf Dads are back with a fresh serving of their boisterous and polished brand of melodic power pop. Taking cues from the early-2000s alternative rock era (remember back when guitar music was cool again for a short while?), their new and slickly-produced long player Baby Blue is packed with lively choruses, crunchy riffs, and the type of youthful pluckiness that thankfully keeps refusing to act its age.
Honed on hardcore sensibilities, but never ones to shy away from the sugar-high head rush of anthemic pop-punk melodies, the principle duo of Gage McGuire (on guitar and lead vocals) and Chris Dimas (on drums) have been the core of Surf Dads since their 2015 debut. The relentless drumming of Dimas – a world-class player and an absolute beast behind the kit – coupled with McGuire’s youthful energy as lead singer, gives Surf Dads an indelible restlessness and charmingly adolescent sheen. Centering on themes of friendship, insecurity, and anxiety, the subject matter of Baby Blue also seems to catch the Dads grappling with some fairly mature tensions, as in teetering on 30-something while still making a brand of rock and roll that they loved as teenagers. This is most palpable on “Stories of Ghosts,” where McGuire looks at his peers and has to wonder: “Am I falling behind, or are they falling in line? I’ll die a lonely old man with six strings and blistered hands.”
Surf Dads have in turns described their approach as “Weezer on speed” or “The Strokes on multi-vitamins”, and while the latter might signal a more recent evolution of their sound, taken together these descriptors offer a good signpost for what to expect on Baby Blue. Whereas opening track “Time Is A Flat Circle” – with its classic quiet-verse-loud-chorus dynamic, distorted guitar licks, and contagious hook – will easily recall Blue album-era Weezer, follow-up “Last Night” veers (as its title suggests) towards Is This It territory, textured with downstroked rhythms and slinky, jagged, and altogether highly danceable, Y2K-esque riffs. At the intersection that is Baby Blue, Surf Dads rattle off busy and layered vocal lines, with complex earworming melodies, top-of-yer-lungs choruses, and unabashed sing-along harmonies. It makes for a fun, tightly-packed, and infectious 35 minutes of rock and roll, and a hell of an argument that guitar music never stopped being cool.
- Julie Maier
Gloin
We Found This // Mothland
Gloin’s We Found This is an eclectic adventure - blurring styles and sounds effortlessly. Their music inspires and challenges the listener, while highlighting occult themed imagery and celebrating individuality. It is a memorable and unique take on the depths of the unknown.
The distant vocals of the first song, with the prominent suspenseful drum beats help to embolden the echoing screams and the crash of cymbals. The lyrics give the listener pause, as they digest lines like “Thoughts are all we have of meaning.” Excellent space alien sounds throughout. The synthesizer in “FZero” confirms this futuristic and alien sonic influence. The lyrics are easy to follow, and become more resonant and powerful throughout the song, etching their echoes into the listener’s mind.
The adventure continues through the rest of the record: the third track, “Winter Abroad,” is very modern, and also plays with the sterile. “The Maw,” features upbeat drums, with a building bass sound, and the same intergalactic influence (here featured on the vocal production) as the early part of the record. The lyrics are disjointed, and amount to a spooky chant. A memorable song, to be sure.
The last third of the record features three of the strongest songs. “Positivland II” is an instrumental that features sounds of wind and whistling that makes one think of cold climates. The song also features a delicious fadeout - something Gloin does so well on this album. “Work Patrol”, meanwhile, is pure punk freedom. The drums are distant so that the vocals can truly stand out, with kaleidoscope distortion, the aural equivalent of petroleum jelly on a camera’s lens.
The tenth and final track, “Brique Chaude,” is a perfect close to the album. It contains a piercing guitar that collides with the whirring and echoes of an interrupted broadcast. One would struggle to find a better close to the album - a truly extraterrestrial adventure.
- Kyra MacFarlane
Skye Wallace
Terribly Good // Six Shooter Records
Skye Wallace erupts from the flames in her new music video for the first single off her new record, "Tooth and Nail". Literally forging her "axe" in a blacksmiths shop. We see her working hard in her shop (though the guitar builder in me has some serious questions about her process) as she brings her guitar to life from the iron and the ashes.
It’s a great metaphor for the new record, Terribly Good. As this one feels like she is embracing a change, and is not gonna take much shit along the way.
I wouldn’t advise getting on her bad side at least, she burts forth angrily from the flames as the album opens with said track. The driving guitar being one of Wallaces trademarks (Rumbling soul from a few years back has become a personal favorite.).
And if you are a fan of the guitar, as I am, this one is going to be a treat. It’s a rock and roll record to be sure, through and through. And Skye has mastered the relationship between tool and master, wielding it with agressive precision all throughout the record.
After the rousing fight song feel of the first track, we are then treated to a catchy as hell littlle number called "The Doubt". In this one she gets self reflective again but this time with an air of caution....I mean she’s still sharpening the knife, but she’s also trying not to cut herself as she does so. This is great tune with really great imagery in the lyrics. Very human, very sincere. And very catchy.
I’m not one to go track by track as I want the reader to dive in for yourself. But I will say that this is a great representation of Skye Wallace as an artist...where she’s been and where she is going.
She is definitely not scared to fight for what she wants and is one to embrace the changes in life.
The sixth track, "Keeper", fetaures a nice intro with an intimate glimpse of just artist and her medium, one she forged from steel.....though I’m still not sure about the logistics of that one?
She ends the record with a warning to those who will choose to oppose her run as one of this country’s best guitarist/singer/songwriter triple threats.
Challenges them really…..as I said, I wouldn’t mess with her. But I will rock out to this uplifting rock and roll treat again….that much I promise….really Skye, I promise….please don’t hurt me:)
- Chris Vasseur
