Fresh from the grave, Doggy Daycare’s Posthumous Release is an all-encompassing southern shoegaze album from the now-defunct (but still kicking) North Carolina band. What started as a bedroom coping mechanism by frontman Adam Bastug morphed into a project that became known for their oversized sound and 90s-inflected guitar work. With Posthumous Release, the band makes good on singles “(forgetting) sarah marshall” and “acid walk”, crafting an album that embraces the listener with warm, fuzzy hooks and forlorn lyrics.
Recorded by Jacob Adams in Wilmington, NC and mixed & mastered by Raleigh, NC’s Max Gowan, the album is both scrappy and massive in sonic scope. Calling to mind the effervescent aggression of My Bloody Valentine and Ride, but fitting right at home with local NC darlings Wednesday and MJ Lenderman, Doggy Daycare’s sound swings from heavy, hooky alt-country (“brainworms”), to sneering, sardonic dance-punk (“now that’s what i call music vol. 1”). Rarely slowing to take a breath, save for “depression spike”, the one track that pays homage to Doggy Daycare’s solipsistic bedroom origins.
Featuring songs penned by both Adam Bastug and lead guitarist Joshua Sullivan, the lyrics tend to contrast the energy of the music. With songs about bitter breakups (“fruit”) and pushing against suicidal ideation (“brainworms”). But there’s light in there, too. Humor finds its way throughout, whether it’s a surprising jab at Toby Keith (before he died…), or setting yourself apart from a toxic scene with “some of these dude’s have allegations, but not me, i’m fucking thriving.” “cloud moves slow” is a punchy, rollicking quickie inspired by Jordan Peele’s Nope, driven by Ethan Jenkin’s dancey bassline. While “now that’s what i call music vol. 1” is a purposefully petty retort to a facebook post about the local music scene, a dance-punk epic pushed by Connor Simpson’s bouncing drumbeat.
Though they dissolved in 2024, the long-gestating Posthumous Release is a testament to a band that shaped their own sound out of the southeast. A walloping record that clawed its way through the dirt, a massive wall of sound that leaves the ears ringing long after. Don’t take it too seriously, it’s okay to laugh at the pain.
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Doggy Daycare's debut album titled Posthumous Release will be available everywhere and anywhere on Friday the 13th in November. You can reserve your copy of the vinyl record now here.
TRACK LIST
SIDE-A
- acid walk
- cloud moves slow
- (forgetting) sarah marshall
- pop country bingo
- depression spike
SIDE-B
- i'm fucking thriving
- unbearably bored
- fruit
- brainworms
- now that's what i call music vol. 1
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| Doggy Daycare; photo by Mary Riley |
