Bad//Dreems - Gutful (2017)

Formed in the summer of 2012 in Adelaide, South Australia, Bad//Dreems play a rough-and-tumble sort of jangle rock that has roots in the Australian underground rock scene of the '70s and '80s (Paul Kelly, the Saints) as well as in American punk and college rock (the Replacements, Wipers). Led by singer/guitarist Ben Marwe along with guitarist Alex Cameron, bassist James Bartold, and drummer Miles Wilson, the group released its first single, "Chills," in late 2012 followed shortly after by a second single, "Caroline." Both songs fared well critically and gained exposure through Triple J youth radio. Their ramshackle yet heartfelt sound resonated with the often maligned image of their city as they mixed raw pub rock with loosely downtrodden indie. They recorded four more songs in early 2013 that, combined with their two singles, formed their debut EP, Badlands, which was released in the summer of 2013 on indie Mirador Records. Shortly thereafter, the band signed with Sydney label Ivy League Records and released a pair of singles, "Dumb Ideas" and "My Only Friend," in April 2014. Their debut LP, Dogs at Bay, arrived a year later in August 2015. ~ Timothy Monger.