With their 2019 album Pretty Buff, Angel Du$t branched out from their hardcore roots (members also play in Trapped Under Ice and Turnstile) and dove headfirst into jangle pop territory. It was an appealing, well-executed 180, but it wasn't a total pivot to traditional jangle pop; Angel Du$t's hardcore roots still shone through. For that album's followup, YAK: A Collection of Truck Songs, Angel Du$t have moved even further away from those roots. It's the prettiest, most tender sounding music they've ever made. Angel Du$t say the album was "fashioned in the spirit of a playlist as opposed to a capital-R 'Record,'" and a handful of these tracks had already been released on recent EPs, so it does seem a little bit more like a compilation, but it also plays out really well when taken as a whole. It's got more of the upbeat, percussive jangle pop that became the band's calling card on Pretty Buff, but it's also got shambolic folk rock ("Fear Some"), lush baroque pop ("Love Is The Greatest"), Petty-inspired heartland rock ("Truck Songs"), and more. There's also a retro ballad called "Dancing On The Radio" with guest vocals by Rancid's Tim Armstrong, who seems to be an in-demand guest vocalist in the modern hardcore community lately, though this song is basically the polar opposite of that Section H8 song he's on. The album was produced by Rob Schnapf, who's best known for working with Elliott Smith but who also has a history of helping punk bands make prettier sounding albums (The Anniversary, Saves The Day, Joyce Manor), and that Rob Schnapf touch is perfect for these songs. The punk roots aren't totally gone, but they're incorporated in a way that feels a little more intentional. Pretty Buff sounded like a punk band making a jangle pop record; YAK sounds like a genre-less band doing anything they want. [Notable Releases]

Angel Du$t (members of Trapped Under Ice and Turnstile) just released their new album YAK: A Collection of Truck Songs on Roadrunner this past Friday (that's my review above, and vinyl is HERE), and frontman Justice Tripp has now made us a list of 10 songs that influenced the album, with commentary on each pick. It includes classics like Lou Reed, Blur, Orange Juice, Greg Sage of Wipers, Paul Simon, Tom Petty, The Kinks, The Replacements, and more, and it also includes one by Seattle punks Big Bite (who a song on the album is named after) and one by emo-rap acts Cold Hart and Yawn. Read on to see what Justice had to say.

Angel Du$t are also on tour now with Mannequin Pussy and Pinkshift, and they're hitting NYC this week on Thursday (10/28) at Music Hall of Williamsburg (sold out) and Saturday (10/30) at Bowery Ballroom (tickets). They also play a headlining record release show on Monday, November 1 at Brooklyn Made with Mary Jane Dunphe and Restraining Order (tickets). Updated dates are listed below.

Pick up a vinyl copy of the album in our store.

Lou Reed – “Walk on the Wild Side”

This track slaps and cracks. It’s not a pop or a punk track, but it’s also both of those things. Most of all it is 100 percent not pop punk.

Blur – “Coffee and TV"

Really love the track but more I’ve been more so influenced by the production. The guitar sounds are perfect. Vocal delivery is laid back.

Orange Juice – “Rip it Up”

This one made me want to make an album with more dance tracks. I really like how percussive every instrument is on the track. Guitars and keyboards are played like drums.

Greg Sage – “Sacrifice”

Sad acoustic track with high energy. One of the coolest guitar players ever. Acoustic guitar music does not equate to folk music. Furthermore, playing an acoustic guitar on a high energy track doesn’t mean “folk punk.” I hate that shit.

Cold Hart / Yawns – “My Somebody”

I got to work on this track with these legends. Their process and way of thinking had such an impact on the way I would think about music. Love and appreciate them for it.

Paul Simon – “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”

I like the way this man plays acoustic guitars.

Tom Petty – “Time to Move On”

Listened to this song on repeat for a month before recording

Big Bite – “Relentless Healing”

In case you couldn’t tell by the song called “Big Bite” on the album, I love Big Bite. Some of my most inspiring friends.

The Kinks – “You Really Got Me”

The Kinks use the right sounds to make a pop song sound like a sonic ass whooping. The world has been chasing that shit since.

The Replacements – “Alex Chilton”

Song rocks but ultimately this is where I got the idea to just name a song after the artists that you most respect.

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Angel Du$t — 2021 Tour Dates
OCT 26 – UPSTATE CONCERT HALL – CLIFTON PARK, NY^
OCT 27 – THE SINCLAIR – CAMBRIDGE, MA^
OCT 28 – MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG – BROOKLYN, NY^
OCT 29 – UNION TRANSFER – PHILADELPHIA, PA^
OCT 30 – BOWERY BALLROOM – NEW YORK, NY^
OCT 31 – OTTOBAR – BALTIMORE, MD# (Official Record Release Show)
NOV 1 – BROOKLYN MADE – BROOKLYN, NY% (Official Record Release Show)
NOV 17 – THE ROXY – LOS ANGELES, CA* (Official Record Release Show)
NOV 18 – SODA BAR – SAN DIEGO, CA*
NOV 19 – SUPPLY & DEMAND – LONG BEACH, CA *
NOV 20 – STRUMMER’S – FRESNO, CA*
NOV 21 – RICKSHAW STOP – SAN FRANCISCO, CA*

^ – w/ Mannequin Pussy, Pinkshift
* – w Militarie Gun
# – w/ Mannequin Pussy, Truth Cult, Dog Date
% – w/ Mary Jane Dunphe, Restraining Order

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Pick up a vinyl copy of Angel Du$t's new album here.