ALBUM REVIEW: Do What Ya Wanna – Beddy Rays
Australian rockers, BEDDY RAYS, have put out their second record Do What Ya Wanna. The Brisbane quartet describe their music as a blend of punk nostalgia with playing homage to the earlier years of bands like GREEN DAY and WEEZER, all the while embracing melodic compositions heard with the likes of CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN. That’s on top of their lyrical content managing to be both silly and sincere as they explore themes relating to escapism.
If you were to ask others to simply sum up BEDDY RAYS and their music, it’s a near guarantee that you’d hear the phrase ‘feel-good’ crop up repeatedly. Whether it’s a laidback acoustic track, a bouncy song, or something of the past-paced punk-rock variety, you’ll come out the other end feeling happy and unable to prevent a smile appearing on your face.
Opening track, All I Wanna Do, perfectly demonstrates this and sets the bar for what we’re in for where we’re immediately greeted with a feel-good, albeit tame, pop punk song. The vocals themselves, while emulating that classic punk shouty style, are rather muted with the instrumentals being the sole focus as we enjoy a selection of guitar riffs that serve to give you a boost of serotonin. Yet we then experience a sudden switch in style when we move into A Million Times where we first hear distorted drumbeats, followed by the full band coming in where the production becomes clearer as we move in a more serious sounding atmosphere filled with blues-rock elements where you feel an urge to slowly sway along. Yet it doesn’t dampen spirits, despite the mood change, even when we experience a final style change with a low-quality acoustic section.
It’s fair to say that while this isn’t the most standout album you’ll likely hear in your lifetime, you can still enjoy it and embrace a moment of happiness where you escape your harsh reality. Whether it’s through bouncy, anthemic rock moments in tracks like Fender and Red Lights, with the latter being reminiscent of THE RUMBLE STRIPS’ Girls And Boys In Love; fast, albeit chill, punk-rock that will put you in a good mood with Pocket Rocket, Big Brekky, and Killing Time; or perhaps the much slower songs that serve as the main highlights of the album.
The first being Vices, a moody acoustic track that uplifts you with its lovely chorus and sweet harmonies; and Stay The Same, the record’s closing track that is the most serious and openly vulnerable song on the album that discusses mental health and, while we experience a shift into something of pop-rock variety, that honesty remains and yet you can’t help but feel uplifted with its lyrics that offer realistic hope. Do What You Wanna is a cool and collected punk rock meets pop melodies album that will give you that boost of happiness you’ve long needed.
Rating: 7/10
Do What Ya Wanna is set for release on April 18th via Warner Music Australia.
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