BAD LUCK. PUSH THEMES OF GROWING UP AND FINDING YOUR WAY WITH ‘SUMMER OF PAIN’

If there is one good thing that has come out of the past 16 months since the world was shut down due to Covid, it’s the amount of amazing music that has been creating during it and subsequently released. Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to hear some amazing albums by some talented artists. Each album I hear, I think to myself, “this could be my favorite artist/song/album/whatever of 2021,” and then a few days or weeks later I hear something new that takes over that top spot.

Listening to Summer of Pain, the latest release from New York’s Bad Luck., I have to send my apologies to the artists that I have discovered previously in 2021.

Bad Luck. – ‘Summer of Pain’ album cover

Sitting down to listen to Summer of Pain, I didn’t really know what to expect — I heard the first pre-released single, “ROY,” but that was about it. I put it on while I was doing some work, as I find music helps me be more productive. The first track, “Favorite Smile,” caught my attention and set the pace for the rest of the album. While I was working I found myself tapping my foot along to the beat of the songs and humming the very catchy hooks.

The members of Bad Luck (Dominick Fox, Joe Fox, Charlie Caruso and Michael Sichel) show that they have the talent and drive to make it big. Each song on the album really swings for the fences in terms of quality. Any of the 12 tracks could be released as a single.

The album follows the theme of growing up and becoming an adult. The songs tell of the nitty-gritty middle of trying to find your way. One of my favorite songs on the album, “Way it Goes,” exemplifies this. The song has an amazing bass line and the lyrics layout the hard fact that sometimes no matter how much you plan, hope and pray that sometimes things are left up to fate and the cards will lay as they are dealt.

“IDC” could be the emo anthem of 2021. The hurt and heartbreak is palpable. I had to listen to the track a couple times as the lyrics and song just abruptly ends. At first I thought I had lost connection or something, but no, the song ends mid-sentence. Which just adds to the pain that is transmitted through it.

As things are opening and tours are happening, Bad Luck. will be on the road supporting Free Throw. I’m hoping that travel restrictions will be lifted and I will easily be able to cross the border in November to see them in Buffalo.