T.V.O.D. - "Daisy"

Bushwick punks T.V.O.D. are the type of trio that’s hard to forget.  Whether you’ve caught one of their off-the-walls live performances or listened to some of their ferocious recent output, you know they play loud, fast, and hard with unbridled passion. However, the current pandemic has forced many to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, and their new EP, Daisy, sees the band following their instincts in a bit of a different direction. 

When compared with the brash in your face style of their first two singles, “Wallmart” and “Buy. Sell. Die.,” Daisy is a bit of a change of pace for T.V.O.D., as it’s largely made up of gloomier sounding mid and down-tempo home recordings. Though written and recorded entirely during the confines of quarantine, the band still manages to bottle up their unique attitude and perspective into an epic seven-song sprawl. The overall mood of Daisy is dark - it’s the type of synth-driven post-punk that’s characterized by thudding tones, steady drum machine beats, and surreal, almost nihilistic lyrics that sharply critique capitalism, consumerism, and greed.

The EP accelerates steadily with the opening track, “Party In The Disco Hut,” featuring a nimble rhythm that’s accentuated by fuzzy guitars, before kicking off the second tracks, “Heaven (Flipper),” with probably the most poignant question of 2020 so far: “Will I find a trophy in this pile of shit?” They ponder that sentiment throughout the track’s duration, finally conceding “When there’s no hope / greetings from heaven.” Their lyrics continue to explore themes of greed and the devastating impact it has on society.  “Wells Fargo Bank Account” is the most direct affront. It’s a stirring track with sparse, dense tones that’ll send chills down your spine with an eerie bass line and haunting vocals that feel post-apocalyptic.  Both “Disco Punk” and “Demons” are gritty with creepy grooves, but the EP’s title track, and final song, truly stands out from the pack. The soft, sentimental song was written by Tyler Wright about a daydream, and it definitely has the hazy, midday vibe of retreating into your own thoughts. 

You can purchase Daisy via Bandcamp.  It’s also available on all streaming services, including Spotify.