BAD ASTRONAUT

This post's artist is from the July 2013 Mix. This is track #11.

Band: BAD ASTRONAUT
Genres: Rock / Punk /
Related artists: Lagwagon, Me First And Gimme Gimmes and Joey Cape.
Country: Santa Monica, California, USA
Years Active: 2000-2006, 2010-present?
Song: "These Days"
Album: "Houston: We Have A Drinking Problem"
Year: 2002
For fans of: Lagwagon and Joey Cape.

My wife hates Lagwagon. She pretty much dislikes all early skate/pop-punk. Every now and again I trick her into liking BAD ASTRONAUT. Some of their songs are honestly really well-crafted, and the band in general are similar to Roy is some respects - as they both fully crossed the bridge into rock from a very different genre.

'Acrophobe' is an awkward but successful shift from skate-punk to alternative synth-rock. It's really hard as a die-hard Lagwagon fan to part Joey Cape's voice from his primary outfit, so in many ways this sounds very punk to me - but I would assume that's not the case for people relatively unfamiliar with Lagwagon. I should also mention that synths don't necessarily dominate the instrumental section, but are very noticeable to are the anchor for some tracks.

'Houston: We Have A Drinking Problem' is a pretty straight-forward rock record with a few punk leanings. "Solar Sister" reminds me of Nada Surf - so I would have to say start there. Also check out "Anecdote" and "Needle In The Hay", as they are what initially got me excited about the band and that first record is my favourite.

I should probably get last album, but there are better things for me to listen to first.

The band broke up after the drummer, Derrick Plourde, committed suicide in 2005.

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DISCOGRAPHY

 

2001 - Acrophobe cdEP
2001 - Armchair Martian Split cdEP

2002 - Houston: We Have A Drinking Problem cdLP

2006 - Twelve Small Steps, One Giant Disappointment cdLP

+some comps.
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These are listed chronologically, so remember, the first link is the band's OLDER MATERIAL!!!
youtube )))))embedded official video / audio((((( links


(2001) BAD ASTRONAUT - "Needle In The Hay" (from 'Acrophobe' cd)

(2001) BAD ASTRONAUT - "Anecdote" (from 'Acrophobe' cd)

(2002) BAD ASTRONAUT - "Solar Sister" (from 'Houston: We Have A Drinking Problem' cd)

 

(2002) BAD ASTRONAUT - "These Days" (from 'Houston: We Have A Drinking Problem' cd)

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