Angry Joe and the Holy Socks have created a record that would make any 90s kid revisit their wonder years. The eleven-track LP makes you want to turn the volume up and sing-along no matter where you are. The alternative rock style feels incredibly familiar because of the catchy, guitar-driven tracks and great songwriting.
Angry Joe and the Holy Socks, based in Texas, consists of Joe and Charli who have come together during the COVID pandemic to address issues of heartbreak and loss. The result is an emotional collection of songs that deal with challenges that we face in our own lives.
The record opens in the most interesting way with the track ‘Molly Tried to Ruin My Life.’ A throwback to pop punk tracks with a captivating story about the stalking tendencies of an obsessive ex-lover, the song begins with contributions from Charli’s chihuahua! While the guitars and drums set the tone for the album that is to come, that intro is a symbol of the creative potential of the duo, who have crafted their identity into the songs that follow. ‘While It Lasted’ is the kind of song you expect to hear on a road trip playlist about moving on after a relationship, while ‘So Far’ is a much more somber track that conveys a sense of helplessness when Joe sings “And I can’t even fake it, I try and I try so hard, and I want what I can’t get, so far.” The progression of the album also points towards the different musical influences that Joe and Charli have, captured best on ‘So Far.’ It features elaborate string sounds with some groovy bass and powerful guitars, combining Charli’s classical background with Joe’s admiration of bands like Oasis and Counting Crows.
‘All the Time’ and ‘If I Fall’ mark a change in tone on the album which shows the duo’s ability to put out emotional soft rock songs. Joe asks “whatever happened to my world, the one with you girl?” on ‘All the Time’ and the sincerity of his voice lets you connect with his painful experience. ‘Mary Does’ uses the sound of distorted guitars to represent conviction, while ‘Half Way’, ‘Undo’ and ‘Take-Off’ continue the soft-rock vibe of the album with strong songwriting.
‘My Day’, one of my favorite songs on the record, combines all the different aspects of the duo that we witness throughout the album. It’s a simple acknowledgement that there are bad days, presented masterfully with distorted guitars, pounding drums, and powerful vocals. The duo closes the record with ‘D.C. AI Fine’ which brings forth the same energy that the record began with and promises that they will continue to be themselves unapologetically.
Sonically and lyrically, Angry Joe and the Holy Socks show that they are capable of wonderfully navigating the different genres of rock that have existed in the past to construct their own sound. Whether it was the opening track or ‘All the Time’ or ‘My Day’, the record has something for everyone. It is only the beginning for them and it feels amazing to come across such talented musicians who are trying to revive a genre that has lost its way in the mainstream.