Sad Dads – I’m Doing Okay

Sad Dads could never be accused of taking themselves too seriously. Their latest album contains a credit for “worst guitar.” The cover font is Comic Sans, for God’s sake. But despite the Athens band’s tendency toward self-deprecation, I’m Doing Okay is not just listenable; it’s a hell of a lot of fun.

Sad Dads’ brand of beer-soaked, sweat-stained slacker rock is as effortless as it is exciting. The album perfectly captures the spontaneous feel of a live performance and that energy lasts from beginning all the way till the end. “Intro (AEIOU)” launches straight into a frantic cacophony of vowels and riffs, while “Chiropractor” features a more straightforward structure and an earworm of a chorus. Even the comparatively slower songs on the album, “Goomon Cometh” and “The Sadness is Not Very Sad,” don’t let up so much as they give listeners a chance to catch their collective breath.

Where Sad Dads really shine is in their ability to laugh in the face of despair by injecting plenty of levity into otherwise depressing subjects. Each song contains the hallmark laments of a sad country ballad: being brokenhearted, penniless and alone. Even the innocuously titled “Fantasy Football” takes an ordinary pastime and turns it into one man’s journey to rock bottom. However, the music floats along an unceasing wave of surf rock that keeps the mood buoyant, and singer Thomas Bauer’s manic vocals and wry tone make the songs sound less like Hank Williams and more like Pissed Jeans for the garage rock crowd.

Is this album for everyone? To put it bluntly: no. Some listeners may not be charmed by the band’s jokey persona. Others may be turned off by the rough around the edges, lo-fi production. But for those who appreciate the econo jams of the Minutemen and need something upbeat to listen to while pounding that first drink of the morning, I’m Doing Okay is a great listen.

More Info
Bandcamp: saddadstheband.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @saddadstheband