I’ve said it many times, but New York State is packed with an astounding array of incredible bands, including artists from many genres. Today we find ourselves talking about a band from the Buffalo/Niagara Falls area named Daze Ago, whose 4-track EP will be released on February 10th, 2023.
About Is This Soup?
The Daze Ago Facebook page says that the band is a …
“Psychedelic reggae funk punk trio”
And promises that …
“You’ll be singing for Daze”
They also throw in some ska and hip-hop influences that may bring to mind bands like Sublime and Kottonmouth Kings. The psychedelic elements may not be the first thing you hear, but they’re in there and add a nice feel to their other influences.
My favorite track is “Demonize the Smoke,” which praises the virtues of Mary Jane (Marijuana for you squares who don’t already know) while also attempting to make people understand that it’s not the terrible plant that it’s been made out to be over the decades since it became illegal.
Using hip-hop-styled rhymes alongside more melodic vocal leanings, this song will grab your attention and fill it with weed smoke. Even if you don’t partake, there’s much to love, with Daze Ago crafting mellow pieces that swirl and sway by pulling in some reggae meet psych sounds. The vocals are executed with style, and their flow is as smooth as silk.
“Drive” is almost totally reggae, but there are some sections that use a bit of pop-punk riffing. This isn’t one of my favorites, but it’s different enough that I wanted to briefly go over it.
“Escape” is a mix of the first two songs we reviewed, pulling in reggae, hip-hop, solid riffs, and excellent studio performances from the entire band.
“Let Down” is currently the only song available on their Bandcamp profile, and it is very pop-punk sounding. It is also my pick for the second-best track.
I love how the vocals are performed; the tone and style fit the music perfectly, as does the melody. I don’t usually say this about music, but the basic riffing is seriously catchy, and the song wouldn’t work as well if they were full of complex changes; it’s true when they say that some of the best music is also the most bare-bones and simple.
Final Thoughts
Daze Ago has put together a good-sounding set of songs with Is This Soup? The clean production helps to enhance the music, and the fact that it’s not super complex really adds to the charm of this EP. I know it’s not the standard psych we usually go over, but it also fits in since that influence can be heard across the album. I suggest you give them a listen before writing them off; I think they will surprise you with the quality of their music. Enjoy!!!
Support Daze Ago by checking out their Bandcamp or finding them on Instagram or Facebook.
This review was written by Tom Hanno, who has been writing reviews for the last 7 years but has been sharing his love of music for the majority of his life. Originally starting out at the now defunct Chimera Magazine, he is currently contributing to Doomed and Stoned, The Sleeping Shaman, The Doom Charts, Tom’s Reviews, and The Third Eye. Read more of Tom’s reviews by checking out his Linktree.
Leave a Reply