I'm rather pissed at myself. It's a great feeling to hear a band you touted when they were just starting out grow into something truly great. But it's not such a great feeling when you realize you missed an entire album (which totally kicked ass) from this band years ago. Where in the heck was I when Vicious Dreams released their self-titled LP four years ago? How in the hell did I not know about that record? So now with the release of the new long player Turn Off My Brain, I'm basically discovering two Vicious Dreams albums that are new to me. And they're both great! With its power pop–influenced old school punk style, this Orlando-based trio could not be any more up my alley. A split release between Brassneck Records, GC Records, Swamp Cabbage Records, and Dirt Cult Records, Turn Off My Brain is a super-good album with something very meaningful to say. A lot of these songs articulate what it's like to cope with a crazy, confusing world while dealing with anxiety and ADHD. Those are immensely relatable themes in today's world, and I applaud the band for writing honest and urgent songs about mental health struggles. A lot of you are gonna be feeling these songs in a major way. Everything about this record hits the spot. The songs are thoughtful, catchy, and powerful, and the production allows the band to sound polished yet still plenty tough. I love the way Amanda and James share vocal duties — often taking turns singing lead but sometimes singing together. That mix of personalities is part of what makes this band so appealing.
Short and sweet at just nine tracks, Turn Off My Brain doesn't waste a single second. This is a terrific set of songs, and it's great to hear some straight-forward catchy punk rock that hearkens back to the late '70s and early '80s without copying any bands in particular. I have to admit I was skeptical about hearing yet another band take on Pointed Sticks' "Out of Luck," but I've got to tell you that Vicious Dreams have totally nailed that song and most definitely put their signature on it. Amanda has one of the best singing voices in punk rock, and I'm a bit perplexed as to why more people don't talk about this band. If you, like me, have slept through the last eight years of Vicious Dreams, head on over to Spotify or Bandcamp and get acquainted with their catalog. And the rest of you are probably wondering why I'm so late to the party! Note to self: follow Vicious Dreams on social media!
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