Daisys
Guest Room
(Self-Release)
Everyone remembers their first love. For most people, that first love was a childhood friend. For me, it was Green Day’s American Idiot. All groans aside, concept albums in particular have a very special place in my heart, and I hold some of my favorites dearly. Often they can be hit or miss, some bordering on the cheesy side while others shine and paint a story that is so fantastical that only the art form of music can do it justice.
Daisys is a punk rock project sprung from the cracks of Detroit’s lackluster sidewalks. Fronted by a trans woman named Daisy Mosher, the band has already released two EPs and they are now delivering this full-length concept record, Guest Room. The album follows a story of love, loss, sexual assault, murder and suicide – but don’t worry; it will still make you want to dance.
One can hear influences from all over the place on this release and it’s chock-full of heart-wrenching lyrics. The tempo kicks in on the second track, “Then What,” and carries on throughout every song, but each one sounds incredibly different from the last. This is a concept album from a band that paid very special attention to how emotion should be portrayed. One song may be reminiscent of old school Green Day songs (think 39/Smooth), while the next may give off Sunny Day Real Estate vibes. There are hints of hardcore as well, which is a completely different aspect to this record. “Brain Eater” is a track that stands out, with its shimmery guitar work and addictive melody.
While I’m fond of low-fi releases, I would have liked to hear some of these songs in high production quality. Getting to hear the layering of the arrangements and the true nature of the songs in a more sleek setting would give this album an extra ounce of clarity. I had to check in with the lyric sheet most of the time, just to make sure I was getting the message right, which can be a strain on a concept album where the message is the essence of the whole piece.
Overall, Daisys are on to something here. They have big ideas, and grand ways of making them a reality. I’m looking forward to future releases from them, and I’m curious about their next direction. Personally, I’d like to see them tour with Teenage Halloween from New Jersey. You’d catch me at every date in the Tri-State area.
