Album review: Bad Idea – “Sonic Hellride”

04 Feb 2022, vinyl release 30 Jun 2023

Punk and roll is alive and well in the land of The Replacements and Husker Du.

I was familiar with Bad Idea vocalist/guitarist John Ensley from his two excellent records with Twin Cities punk and roll duo New Rocket Union. It turns out the rest of Bad Idea have a fairly deep Minneapolis punk pedigree. Bassist Tim Kelly was in The Kung Fools, and guitarist Spenser Sinn was in The Baldies. Drummer Mike Henderson really takes the cake. He played in Model Prisoners with former Replacement Bob Stinson. I would hope that at the very least that means that he never has to pay for his own drinks in the city. 

Bad Idea formed as a quintet in 2015, and in 2017 they released their self-titled debut on CD and cassette. Sonic Hellride is their first release as a quartet, with Ensley taking over second guitar duties. After a digital/CD release last year, it’s finally getting proper vinyl treatment. 

Musically, Bad Idea and Sonic Hellride would also fall into the punk and roll category. The songs have chunky guitar and gruff vocals, and are generally about unsavory characters. Opener “Psychomania” sets the sonic precedent with its aggressive punk speed, hard rock guitar riffs and leads, and shouted chorus. “Splitting Headache” is a minute of howling rage. “Fist 2 Cuffs” and “The Fall” are good old fashioned fight songs. “TV Brain” is a catchy nod to our inability to turn off the idiot box. 

“Balance of Terror” and “Act of Violence” are like the soundtrack to a stabbing. It’s a strange musical stew that might appeal to punks and bikers alike. “I Don’t Care” is the definitive “punk” song on Sonic Hellride. It could have easily gone snotty, but the husky vocals and thick guitar took it in a different direction. “Living Nightmare” puts the “Hell” in Hellride. Closer “Suicide Mission” might be the record’s strongest track, and is the only one that clocks in over three minutes. 

Ultimately, Sonic Hellride lives up to its name. While it’s not really very scary, it manages plenty of thrills and spills across its 11 tracks and 24 minutes. The year is only half over, but as of now this is among my handful of favorite records of 2023.

For vinyl fiends: No pressing info is available, but it comes in a nice heavy yellow wax. No insert or printed inner sleeve, just a plain white sleeve and a good looking full color jacket.