An Inside Look: Budokan Boys-Dad Is Bad

BUDOKAN BOYS

Today we highlight and revisit our 11th favorite album of 2019, Budokan Boys-Dad Is Bad. This was easily one of the most unique and interesting albums to come out in 2019 and in recent memory in general. The subject matter throughout has a seedy noir vibe that lends itself to being very creepy and the music responded in kind with it's unsettling and unnerving vibe. There are hints of the delirious weirdness of bands like Ween, The Residents and Renaldo And The Loaf, three of the greatest oddball groups to grace this good earth, you can count Budokan Boys amongst that great group of artists! Well enough of my yapping I'll let Michael Jeffrey Lee tell you about the album and what inspired it in his own words!

Their new album is available at their bandcamp right here! 

https://evernever-records.bandcamp.com/album/so-broken-up-about-you-dying

You can also stream Dad Is Bad here: https://open.spotify.com/album/0XSgvYKkhZhx6GU1TDHXcn?si=fN-KWUPzTZC0ve8tPaXcTQ

Name 5 things that inspired DAD IS BAD:

1. A story about a hermit that was murdered on a mountain in New Mexico

2. Teaching in a prison once in Alabama 

3. Being worried about money

4. A devilish person I used to encounter in a BBQ restaurant

5. How people talk about themselves online

What were your favorite instruments to use on the recording and why?

I know for a fact that Jeff’s favorites were an electric guitar that only had two strings, a chorus of chihuahuas that wound up on God Today, and a midi saxophone. I ran my voice through a nice old effects rack. 

What was your favorite aspect of recording your last album?

The best part was that we got to hang out again after a year apart. We met for two weeks in Las Cruces and stayed with Jeff’s brother There was a little shack in the backyard--that became the studio. We cleared it of junk and swept it out and ran an extension cord from the house to power everything. 

What was an activity you kept coming back to while recording DAD IS BAD?

We took a lot of walks in the neighborhood, but most of the time we were in the studio trying to decide whether we were onto something or whether we should just call the whole thing off.

Do you have any advice you'd like to impart to other musicians or up and coming musicians?

We're forever up-and-coming, and constantly ask others for advice.

Because I'm a chef, I have to ask what is your favorite food/dish both at home and on tour.

 

Movie-theater popcorn with extra butter.

What was the overall message you wanted to get across with your last album? Or what do you want people to get out of listening to your last album?

We wanted people to feel excited and unnerved, and we wanted the songs to be riddles. We wanted it to have some mystery and ambiguity but also be really fun. The body count is high, but maybe it’s a comedy record. We wanted it to be a weird mirror of American society circa 2018, when the bad dads were on the march. 

What would you say is the most difficult thing about being a musician?

The constant fear of something blowing up or malfunctioning.

What would you say is your favorite thing about being a musician?

It feels good when it's going right--you feel like you're fighting back against violence and lies. 

Well there you have it folks! Some great info on a great album that we thought was one of last year's most creative and interesting. Their new album is out now and available both digitally and on limited edition CD. The new album is great and as a matter of fact it was our favorite album of last week and definitely once again a favorite contender for our albums of the year list for 2020! 

Once again here is a link to their new album: 

https://evernever-records.bandcamp.com/album/so-broken-up-about-you-dying