OPM: Post Genre, Punk, & Pure Rock

D3ad_un1corn – Let Me Cope in Peace

A set of diverse and dynamic instrumental tunes that embrace everything from Big Beat to post rock. With the live sounding drums (either a real drummer, or carefully selected samples/and programming intended to sound like one) and guitar work, there’s a definite and strong connection to the rock tradition. 

There’s also plenty of synthetic tones, weird timbres and textures and other hallmarks of electronic genres such as electro, Big Beat and IDM. It’s a genre agnostic and engaging set of instrumental music that’s considerably more interesting than a lot of the generic synthwave, lo-fi and ambient that fill so many playlists.

(Listened to the entire album)

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Doctor Deathray – “Back Away”

A short, sharp and spiky blast of fuzzed-out swamp punk. Fuzzy guitars, thumping drums and swaggering bass, with a vocal that’s just this side of sneering are the recipe here. I’m reminded of both the Cramps and Roky Erickson, but based solely on the vibe – I wouldn’t say it sounds all that much like either of those things. 

It actually sounds a bit like the Ramones, but not quite so punk primitive – there’s definitely more musicality here than in your typical Ramones bop. It’s a great mood and a catchy tune. What else can you ask for from a punk single?

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The Coffee Sergeants – Racing Shadows

A nicely produced collection of singer-songwriter style rock and roll. Track to track, the influences can shift quite a bit! The main influence on “I Thought You Knew” seems to be ‘70s rock – think any of the many acts that featured dual guitars, a tinge of country, and some heavy emotions put to song by a guy with long hair and a beard. 

The very next track, “Non Reflective,” sounds like Echo and the Bunnymen at their best, leaning into their ‘60s psych pop influences but clearly delivering that ‘80s goth vibe. Overall, that ‘70s Dead-meets-Gordon Lightfoot approach is probably the most prevalent, but taken as a whole, you have a skilled rock band with a deep set of influences and some smart songs.

(Listened to tracks 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, & 10) 

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Mike Brunacini – Dying Leaves & Naked Trees

A collection of heartfelt, piano-driven pop songs with an autumnal theme. Musically, this reminds me a bit of a less cheeky, slightly mellower Ben Folds. Your mileage may vary in that regard – I am sure there are better points of comparison, but it’s not an area of expertise for me. In any case, these songs are well produced, radio-friendly compositions. 

Sonically, they pop, almost leaping out of the speakers. It’s all very polished and well put together. Whether you’ll connect with it is going to depend largely on your take on the songs themselves – if they speak to you, this could very well hit the sweet spot.

(Listened to songs 1, 2, 10 & 11)

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God Ribbon – “Motion Picture Soundtrack”

Unusual cover of the classic Radiohead tune that starts off rough-edged folk punk and ends with a full-blown psyched-out electro punk ambient twist. It opens with a roughly strummed acoustic guitar, perhaps a bit out of tune, for a few bars. Then the voice joins, a touch less rough than the guitar but of a similar quality, amounting to a decent folk-punk take on the tune. 

Two minutes of that, and then everything stops for a second, only to come roaring back as waves of effected electric guitar, a heavily reverbed vocal and some noise for a minute or so, before going full psych freakout, with wild pitch bent tones and general weirdness, for the ending.

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