Hailing from Norman, Oklahoma, pop-rock band Bad Athlete has released their debut album, Super Bad Athlete. The band proclaimed to specialize in cool music, but who knew that fulfilling that promise would bring us a blast from the past with songs inspired by 60’s rock.
The debut album is an exploration of love and love lost laced with hopeless romanticism. The opening track, Waste My Time, is a lovely reminder that time well spent with good people is truly never time wasted. With vibrant guitar riffs in conjunction with lively bass lines and drum beats, listening to this record is reminiscent of the feeling of being in good company.
Super Bad Athlete tastefully delivers heartache and longing in a way that will have you dancing the tears away. It’s no simple feat to write a song that is so drenched in a longing that it’s palpable, but Bad Athlete is triumphant in such a delivery. Evidence of this is crystalline in tracks such as Numb and Do You Want Me Now?
As I previously mentioned, Bad Athlete pulls inspiration from 60’s rock icons. These include The Beach Boys - harmonic chord progressions in guitar and tambourine features gives this influence away in Waiting So Long, and in effect makes this a perfect summer anthem. Additionally, The Beatles also play a hefty role in inspiring the writing style of Bad Athlete. As you listen to Oh Darlin’, an anthem of the melancholic lover, you can hear the influence of The Beatles’ Oh! Darling from Sgt. Pepper’s. Bad Athlete honored their inspiration and made it their own in the enchanting waltz that is Oh Darlin’.
I like to listen to albums in full in various locations. This is how I make the listening experience unique so that I can connect to the record in different ways. Upon doing this exercise with Super Bad Athlete, I found myself truly appreciating how such an upbeat record can keep an environment so peaceful. Super Bad Athlete is perfect to add to your record store or coffee shop soundtrack. It’s light enough to keep your customers in a vibrant mood, but it also offers a level of chill that is vital to these environments. Additionally, I found that listening to this album with a glass of wine while watching the sunset is breathtaking. Now, I understand that sometimes you want to enjoy nature in peace and quiet. However, pairing this record with the experience is sure to make you feel like you’re floating.
I would like to take a moment to personally recommend this album for fans of The Beatles, the Beach Boys, The Pixies, and indie rock as a genre. To those who feel like they were born in the wrong era. And of course, to my fellow hopeless romantics.
Bad Athlete puts a modern spin on the classic rock influence, and it is to die for.
Where to find Bad Athlete
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