Album Review: Daisychain – All In A Name

As algorithms increasingly take over our art consumption — and thus, the creation of art — I find it harder and harder to spot emerging projects with unique blends of influence. The internet has carved out lanes for us all and to go against this will only create more obstacles. Thankfully, that doesn’t stop Chicago’s own Daisychain from releasing one of the more interesting – and certainly badass – albums of the summer. 

Daisychain, described as a psych-rock band made up of Nickole Regala (bass, vocals), Frankie Sripada (lead guitar) and Sophia Williams (rhythm guitar, vocals), is set to release their stunning debut album All In A Name and I’m more than excited to talk about it. I hesitate to simply describe them as psych-rock because if I were to say anything about this album, it’s that it is genre-bending (and did I mention badass?).

All In A Name kicks off with “Shadowfax” a dreamy, fluttery, delicate, and yet haunting psychedelic, spaghetti western / blues oasis. I’m aware of how much of a mouthful that sentence is but I truly mean every word of it. “Shadowfax” spans across genres and influences in a seamless and cinematic way. For fans of the late, great David Lynch, I immediately pictured this song being performed at the Roadhouse in Twin Peaks. I really can’t describe it any better.

That cinematic sound does not leave the album and the bending of genres appears to be Daisychain’s super power. Through the next two songs on All In A Name, you’ll hear the bouncy, garage-psych heartbreak song, “G String,” with its poppy chorus followed by the punk rock, Ramones-sounding jam “Eve.” 

Later on, All In A Name takes you back to the Lynch’s Roadhouse with “The Sound of You,” another dreamy, longing song about heartbreak. The vocals on these softer songs show Daisychain’s range because not only do they stand well no matter the style, they seem to further bring home any vibe the song begs for. There is not a moment of inauthenticity or disconnect on this record.

I’d be remiss if I did not mention the impressive closer “Kerosene Lover.” This song takes the listener on a wild five minute journey through all the sounds and emotions. Starting as if it were an Animals track, the trio eases you in through scaling guitar and flawless harmonies until about two minutes in where it takes a dramatic shift. As if the track drops out from the bottom of your headphones, “Kerosene Lover” suddenly draws inspiration from The Beatles and, more specifically, the tune “I Want You (She’s So Heavy).” With heavy riffs and sharp pauses, the closing track morphs in unexpected but exciting ways that even lead to some great blues-inspired solos. It is such a unique song that really puts the final bow on what I see as an incredible debut LP.

All In A Name drops everywhere on June 27th but you can listen to the latest single below. Listen to the full album when it’s live tomorrow here: