--Ada Wofford
Released September 13, 2019
The name might be about bad jokes, the name itself might be kind of bad, but this EP is anything but. Bad Dad Jokes deliver a powerhouse clinic on musicianship and groove in this five-song release—ranging from jazz, to funk, to punk, and everywhere in between. At first glance this amalgam of disparate genres might appear clunky and ill-conceived. Too many bands, with too much training, decide to just complicate things with messy jams in lieu of good song writing; and while Bad Dad Jokes appear adverse to hooks and sing-songy choruses, nothing on Take One is done without careful deliberation.
These songs are performed with absolute precision. They possess layers. So many in fact, that it can prove an assault on the senses but these songs always seem to know exactly what they’re doing and where they’re going; you never get the sense that the band is just jamming or winging it. And while these tracks are loose and full of groove, they are carefully orchestrated pieces of music that resolve themselves fully and competently. Each track is designed to transition seamlessly into the next. This is an old trick used many times by many bands, but BDJ make it sound, not just necessary, but inevitable. It never comes off as a trick or a gimmick but simply the thing that must occur in order to get to the next track. It is brilliantly executed.
When I asked the band about the gear and recording process they had this to say:
"Well, we did the live track of the bass, guitar, and drums using the classic SM57 to track guitar, some random dynamic mic that’s specified for low toms on the bass amp, and six mics on a Pearl maple masterclass kit, the snare was mic’d with an Audio Technica condenser. A Couple of condenser overheads for the left and right and individual dynamic mics on the kick and two toms.
"We then overdubbed with either the 57 or that Audio Technica condenser, depending on if it was guitar, vocals, or sax—But it was mainly that condenser and it was all going straight into my handy-dandy lil Tascam 2488. Sax was Alto- Yamaha Custom Mouthpiece- Soloist Copy (Kenny Garrett). Carter used a 2015 Fender Mustang, a Crybaby wah, a Caline reverb, a Boss OS-2, a Boss DD-6, and played through an Acoustic brand amp.
"Justin used a 2006 Fender Precision bass, an EHX Steel Leather expander, an EHX Bass Soul Food, an EHX Bass Clone, an EHX Bass Blogger, and an MX8 Bass Compressor, all played through a Fender Rumble 200."
All that gear definitely comes through on the recording. The EP is full of wild and spacey sounds popping in-and-out at every turn. If you like unique and interesting music that dips and dives and takes you for a ride (think King Crimson or Frank Zappa) then check out their new EP. And if you’re able to, make sure to check them out live--because they are one of the best live bands I have ever seen.
They’re playing at Lola’s in Ft. Worth, TX, September 13th and at the Holding Cell in Denton, TX, September 28th. Check out the video for the lead single, "Time Spender," below:
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