Dani Miller has learned to cope with a world gone mad. On “Reality Star”, her third album with Surfbort, the singer shares her earned wisdom, nutty obsessions, and weird tangents to the crushing riffs of her blissfully eccentric punk rock band. Most of the songs are barely two minutes and rock hard, starting with “Lucky,” as Miller offers some dazed philosophy: “I love it when you call me on the phone / And tell me that you saw a UFO … Life is beautiful if you just let go.”
This is hand-made punk rock that keeps the hardcore cliches at arm’s length, but the record still delivers speedy blasts of noisy melody on “Hot Chicks Cold Beer” and “FUGOMF” (a handy acronym for “Fuck You Get Out of My Face”).
The L.A. band’s line-up remains a revolving door of comrades built upon the foundation of Surfbort founders Miller and drummer Sean Powell, with new guitarist Adam Laidlaw thrashing the irresistible riffs.
There’s a bit of Pixies guitar and vocal textures on “Notorious Brat,” as Miller sings, “Delusionally in love with living / My heart is empty but I keep giving.” Words of wisdom from the DIY underground.
The Fat Angel Sings 