Rock? Punk? Pop-punk? Indie? All the above? At the end of the day, it will be up to others to try and wrap a genre around this band if you want to put a label on them. For me, this is simply an outstanding band that writes killer songs that affect the heart and soul of the listener. Durry began during the pandemic as a brother (Austin- vocals & guitar) and sister (Taryn- guitar & backing vocals) combo who became a four-piece band with the addition of Ashley (bass) and Dane (drums). One of their early songs became popular on TikTok and pushed the band’s popularity. As someone who still thinks of a clock when I read TikTok (sic), I found Durry (or Durry found me) when they started releasing the pre-release singles from this album. It gave me the benefit of diving backwards into their first album and the earlier versions of those songs while eagerly anticipating this album. Their debut had a glossy pop sheen to the rocking songs and delivered some killer lyrics about life. The band has come back with a second album that easily avoids the second album curse or jinx by building on what they have done and expanding on it to create an album of the year contender.
Lead track ‘Bully’ gets the tempo going from the start and showcases a less polished production that wastes none of its two minutes. Austin screams out the words to be heard over the music as the band addresses bullies online by pointing out that sometimes the ones pushing back can become bullies as well. The humour they can inject into their lyrics is showcased immediately. Durry reminded me of n old band from San Diego called the Rugburns when I first heard them. The Rugburns were punky but also had these wonderful mellower songs filled with lyrical stories about characters they created. I would add the Refreshments/ Roger Clyne as another similar artist who writes in a similar manner. There is an exquisite talent to this approach, and Durry delivers the goods. The band keeps the rocking going with the nugget-styled ‘Monopoly Money.’ Austin’s vocals make me feel like I could almost sing along with him and be close enough in tune to be okay. The song has a nice bridge that feeds right back into a frenetic chorus.
Changing tempo and approach, the title track allows us to look back over our lives and wish things could have gone a little differently. The build into a chorus that would have sold millions of albums in the 90s explodes from the speakers. Austin’s lyrics again hit a sweet spot where they can be sad or tragic while planting a smile on the listener’s face. Looking back nostalgically will be revisited later through a slightly different lens. The quirky ‘Porcupine’ provides a midtempo rocker with an animal-filled chorus that has been a tongue twister I am still learning- not every band throw hippopotamus into a chorus. I think most of us have experienced those nights where there is no sleep to be had because the brain won’t be quiet. The build and release of ‘More Dumb’ works perfectly with clever lyrics about space dust, language creation, and the meaning of life, with perfect background vocals in parts singing ‘dumb, dumb, dumb…’
Shambolic rocker ‘Start a Band’ reminds us that we can all go start a band, and knowing how to play an instrument should not be a hindrance. Ashley and Dane could have easily lost control of this rhythm, but instead let us feel like we are in control as we bounce off the walls. The poppy ‘Wannabe’ pulls everything back under control and reminds me the most of their debut album. The chorus expands as the song goes, and Austin reinforces that we are all we need to be. ‘Polaroid’ feels a bit like an ’80s rocker that hits right in the feels. When we look back at all our photographs, do we mean all the smiles that we see, or do we also see all the darkness and challenges behind them as well?
‘Idk I just Work Here’ should be an anthem for anyone who has ever worked a retail job. This song is wacky and wonderful. One of Durry’s huge assets is Taryn, who tears it up on the guitar but also helps deliver some killer backing vocals that take songs to a whole other level of excellence. The song should also serve as a reminder to all of us on the other side of the counter that the person across from us may not care as much about the state of our pizza as much as we do (watch the video). This song should have been a huge summer hit with kids at their summer jobs. ‘Good Grief’ keeps us rocking with an anthem for living life to the fullest and making our guardian angels work overtime.
Closing out the album, Durry has delivered two more classic songs that contemplate what life is and what we do with it. The slower ‘The Long Goodbye’ feels a bit like Green Day’s ‘Good Riddance.’ The acoustic guitar gives way to a powerful lyric about the game of life we all play. This will be a song the band won’t need to sing onstage, as all of us in the audience will do it for the band. The band could have closed the album here and delivered an amazing album with a highly emotional closing moment. The band instead injects some humour into the rocker ‘Slug Bug.’ The song provides another look back at our lives, but with a wink and smile to tell us that our best days are ahead and not behind, as we might think. It leaves us with an uplifting message as we then reach to play the album all over again. As a bonus, we get one more golden rocker, ‘Fake Media’, with something of an electronic dance beat hidden after ‘Slug Bug’ on the CD. The vinyl packaging is also very cool as you can build your own VHS Durry case in keeping with the movie theme.
Durry have delivered a killer album that should continue to attract new fans in droves. Effortlessly blending genres and time periods while sounding fresh and made for all moments past and present, this is a timeless album that will provide years of enjoyment. It’s an instant classic for me that has become even better with repeated listens. Not sure why you are still reading when you should be finding this album to add it to your collection… on record and CD.
‘This Movie Sucks’ is available now.
Buy Here: website
Gerald Stansbury
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