Gay Dad is attempting to break ground in the U.S. as they introduce their pop-rock concoction of beautifully elegant songs. And what’s up with their name? Who knows. It may be a marketing ploy, but don’t be put off; this is a fabulous record. The first single, “Joy!”, is just that. The song rolls around irreverently until the gospel-like chorus tickles you to death. One thing you’ll quickly notice is that Gay Dad isn’t afraid to break out a guitar solo that screams of rock ‘n’ roll.
My personal favorite is the silly “Oh Jim”. It sounds a lot like Pavement with its off center stance. “My Son Mystic” follows in the usual Gay Dad formula which reads like the A, B, C’s of a good pop/rock record: beautiful verses, swelling bridge, and explosive chorus. But “Black Ghost” follows a road map all of its own. Lasting well over seven minutes, “Black Ghost” is the trippiest song Gay Dad ventures into. Out of that voyage comes “To Earth With Love”, a spacey track that pronounces ‘Aerosmith rules.’ With its blast of anecdotes, this track doesn’t delve into the far reaches of your psyche, but it sure has a great chorus and wonderful melody. “Dateline” is the one track you must listen to over and over again to figure out what it is that he’s singing about. It’s like a timeline of Cliff Jones’ life, but using song titles like Van Halen’s “Hot For Teacher” and “1984” to tell a story. Inventive, to say the least, and a really catchy track.
The last song, “Jesus Christ”, first seemed like another rock ploy, but in listening to it a few times I realized that it’s quite poignant and honest, with the chorus, “Jesus Christ/ make a good man out of me.” While Leisure Noise boasts only ten tracks, they are ten absolutely solid pieces of work. If you have been slow to get into the British scene, jump in now. Don’t let this one pass by.
+ rae gun
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