Review: The Rainy Day Splish Splosh Band – ‘World’s Warmest Dads’
You know those scenes in action movies where the good guy walks in slow motion (usually away from an exploding car) to confront the leather-jacket-clad bad guy? Well, the perfect soundtrack for said scenes would have to be the garage rock tunes of the Rainy Day Splish Splosh Band. The Seattle-based trio released their debut World’s Warmest Dads on February 16 via Bandcamp, and it combines elements of Tame Impala, the Black Keys, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, all while creating a sound entirely their own.
The opening song “Kendall Kissy” is a hook-laden ditty that makes you want to wear sunglasses at night while bobbing through graffiti tagged tunnels— possibly fighting crime. With minimal sounds in the song, it creates a balance between the grungy vocals, static guitar, and rocking drums.
“Tink” continues down the catchy, pop-like road, this time with clearer vocals. A streamline guitar riff carries the song from start to finish in a seamless second track. “Sweet Licks” experiments with a new vocal effect which sounds much like someone giving a speech in an old stone church on the West coast of Ireland. It is a drum-heavy, mostly instrumental track.
“Give Me Back My Mind You Sexy” is easily the best title on the album. The song probably could’ve made the Iron Man 3 soundtrack. It is very rock at first but opens up in the middle and elements of the PNW indie sound are mixed in. “Old Drum” has almost an alt-J feel to it. Vocal-driven and anthemic, this is probably my favorite track on the album.
“Burner King” is more sporadic but continues being very vocal-centric, while “Don’t Take Me Outta My Home” has a surfer rock feel. The staticky, garage vocals of the first track make a reappearance. “Gone Girl” closes the collection in a mellow, quirky tune with Shins-like, undecipherable lyrics, like rain in puddles.
I can’t wait to hear what these guys have in store for future releases as they refine their sound and make a name for themselves in the PNW and beyond.
(World’s Warmest Dads is available for purchase via the Rainy Day Splish Splosh Band’s Bandcamp page, and can be streamed via the embed below.)
