In No Particular Order: 3 Debut Albums You Need To Hear (08/21/20)
Come say hi to your new friends.
At least give them a wave from afar. Introductions aren’t always easy but this week we make things a little simpler. This particular In No Particular Order is full of new beginnings as we break down three debut records, including the breakout album from German alt-rock group KID DAD, soul-pop duo Brasstracks, and major label debut from hip-hop artist Duckwrth. Time to put the speakers up!
As always, you can find Dusty Organ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify to stay up to date on new releases. Also, you can find tracks from these albums and more on our Monthly Spotify playlist.
Most importantly, if you enjoy something, don’t forget to share it around!
KID DAD – In A Box
7/10
Alternative
Out of Paderborn, Germany comes KID DAD – the breakout alternative rock group that have such a strong, defined sound it’s hard to believe they’re only now making their debut.
In A Box is an explosive entrance into the music scene, heavily influenced from their rock predecessors, such as Nirvana, At the Drive In, Radiohead, and AFI. The 11 track project blends together the intensity of ’90s grunge, the weight of ’00s post-hardcore and dashes of emo-punk to create a modern alternative rock album that is surprisingly fresh, new, and approachable.
Fronted by vocalist/guitarist Marius Vieth, and rounded out by bassist Maximilian Alexander Zdunek, drummer Michael Reihle, and guitarist Joshua Meinert, KID DAD find their strength in the invigorating guitar riffs and hooks. On lead singles “A Prison Unseen” and “What You Call A Dream” (a song that came together in an hour), the band showcase their cohesion and power as a young group with the searing energy from the instrumentation. Slamming percussion, palpable guitar strumming, and dynamic vocals eventually come together on each track, giving them their own source of speaker-blasting power. Following suit, previously released singles “Limbo”, Royal Blood-esque “Happy”, and “Naked Creatures” illustrate KID DAD’s powerful songwriting style.
Naturally, it’s not a perfect album. There are lacklustre moments (“The Wish Of Being Alone”, “Your Alien”), and at times Vieth’s vocals get drowned out by the rest of the band, but as an introductory release, In A Box has the workings of a pivotal career for the young German band, and with mostly good things to say, it will be exciting to see what comes next.
Notable tracks: “A Prison Unseen” // “(I Wish I Was) On Fire” // “What You Call A Dream”
Brasstracks – Golden Ticket
8/10
Funk/Soul-pop
Horns and drums; a powerful duo when the energy is buzzing and the creativity is flowing. GRAMMY-award winning songwriters Ivan Jackson and Conor Rayne have come together as Brasstracks, working together to ditch the rigid structure of professional songwriting and bring in a fresh sense of “fun”. After spending most of their career in recording studios with big stars, Jackson and Rayne picked up some tricks a long the way – but also realized how uncreative the recording process can be.
So they eliminated that from their debut album Golden Ticket. Everything is done to their standards and with their vision in mind. As trained jazz musicians, Jackson and Rayne bring out their roots, exploring the genre’s charismatic musical-cousins like R&B, soul, and funk to create something fun, organic, and irresistible.
Bringing along some friends for the ride, Brasstracks hand out vocal duties to a number of different artists, including Masego and Common (“Golden Ticket”), Tarriona Ball (“Not Far Away”) , and Samm Henshaw (“Change For Me”), while expanding their band size with artists like Lawrence (“Hold Ya”), and Robert Glasper (“Disco Break”) .
Even with such an eclectic group of features on the album, the record’s 13 tracks flow together seamlessly. From instrumental opener “Basket Case”, into the soul-pop “Hold Ya”, and even down into the electro-dance interlude “Disco Break” (1 & 2) with Robert Glasper, and for 45 minutes, Golden Ticket feels like a revolving door at a party, as guests and friends file in and out, taking turns to take over the dance floor and bring their unique energy to the space.
And although it may appear as a pop record, deep down it is a showcase of stellar songwriting and music virtuosity. Subtly sprinkled around, bass, piano, and horn solos find their way across the track list, while crisp production and irresistible hooks turn Golden Ticket into a high-value collection.
Notable tracks: “Hold Ya” // “Will Call” // “Change For Me”
Duckwrth – SuperGood
7/10
Hip-hop/R&B
Los Angeles rapper/hip-hop artist Jared Lee has been making music since 2012 as Duckwrth, and now the 32-year old musician has finally shared his major label debut SuperGood. With a handful of EPs and mixtapes under his belt, Duckwrth is now reaching a wider audience with his new feel-good collection, flexing his status as an established musician and rising star. The 16-track effort dabbles between hip-hop, R&B, and soul, bouncing between the genres to bring out the energetic and euphoric aspects of each.
At 16 tracks long (2 interludes accounted for), it can feel bloated and overpacked at times, but for the most part, Duckwrth and his handful of features – including EARTHGANG and Julia Romana – make the most of their energy and charisma. Sometimes slow and sexy, other times upbeat and lively, SuperGood is strictly good-vibes only, making it a record that proves useful as well as enjoyable this year.
Notable tracks: “Money Dance” // “Quick” // “Superbounce”
