[Repost from Here Comes the Flood; by Hans Werksman, April 22, 2025]
Phoenix, AZ based musicians Jason P. Woodbury and Zachary Toporek hade been eyeing each other's handiwork for more than a decade, before connecting for a joint project, named JPW & Dad Weed. After releasing the Two Against Nurture EP and the It's Happening, their debut full-length Amassed Like a Rat King lives up to its promise, with a wealth of meandering, scuzzy and fuzzy sounding explorations of left-field indie rock.
The funky Frightening sums up their style in nutshell: starting out as borderline radio-friendly tune for parents to pop in the player as they drive the kids to their soccer practice in suburbia, the song makes a sharp left to and comes close to falling apart amidst shattering drums and distorted guitar. JPW & Dad Weed are a duo that will be championed by the knowledgeable staff in independent record stores, who will be more than happy to point all the references and extrapolations. Cool kids of all ages will love it.
