Drug Store Raid’s, Background Music for Family Arguments, feels like the musical equivalent of a group therapy session in a punk dive bar. It’s chaotic, cathartic, and surprisingly profound, offering a gritty, satirical take on modern life’s absurdities. At just 35 minutes, it’s a compact burst of hedonistic escapism that celebrates individuality in all its messy glory.
The album is a genre-defying mix of post-punk, jazz-funk, noise, and no-wave, with influences ranging from Talking Heads to Madonna. Each track tells a story, whether it’s the biting critique of hipster culture in ‘I Wanna Be a Hipster’ or the dreamy escapism of ‘Suzy.’ The band’s humour shines brightest on tracks like ‘Fashion Fashion,’ a bizarre fantasy about robbing H&M with a banana, but there are also moments of genuine introspection, like the hauntingly beautiful ‘Americana.’
‘Gutter,’ the album’s most incendiary track, is a sonic gut punch that showcases the band at their fiercest. It’s chaotic, intense, and completely unforgettable, with lyrics that veer between absurdity and nihilism. Yet even in its darkest moments, there’s an undercurrent of rebellious joy—a sense that the band is having the time of their lives tearing everything apart.
What sets Drug Store Raid apart is their ability to blend humor and depth, chaos and precision. The album feels like a celebration of the band’s unique character, a declaration that it’s okay to be messy, loud, and unapologetically yourself. Their dynamic range and infectious energy make every track feel like a revelation, whether it’s a funky dance anthem or a blistering punk tirade.
Background Music for Family Arguments, is a rallying cry for anyone who’s ever felt out of place. With their debut, Drug Store Raid has created something truly special: a soundtrack for misfits, rebels, and anyone ready to dance through the chaos.
