by Rex Banner (@zmudafilms)
Brooding in the deep river valleys of Madison, Wisconsin, Baby Tyler's unique brand of garage punk has forged a path few have dared follow. While the past five years have seen the band evolve from a solo act to five-piece wrecking crew, Tyler Fassnacht's vision remains painstakingly in-tact on their 2025 release, Sucker With A Dream. Full of unrest, anxiety and rage, this record never leaves you feeling bored or alone. A spastic, catchy blend of progressive, heavy riffs fused with digressive breakdowns and sharp hooks makes for one chaotic listening party.
The twelve songs blast by in 22 minutes at a fevered pitch, but still allows space for introspection with tempered, moderate rock moments. Sonically, the album is a relentless powerhouse of driving guitars, blistering drums and overdriven bass lines that teeter on the brink of hardcore and punk. Buried late in the record is the standout riff on “Hard To Tell” which sounds like peak 90s grunge and is a top contender for best guitar tone on the record. The production approach is punchy, straight forward, and doesn't veer too far off in any one direction, choosing instead to stay the course from song to song. Engineer Graham Hunt captures and mixes a raw and stripped down performance from all members of the band that echoes Steve Albini's DIY approach on F-Minus' Wake Up Screaming. Seemingly dedicated off the floor recordings add to the chaotic energy of the record's urgency.
The vocals are presented in a very relentless matter-of-fact manner. Unimpressed, screaming and always full of disgust, vocalist Fassnacht's voice is reminiscent of early Jello Biafra (though his words speak more to the current human condition rather than political meanderings). Taking a decidedly pessimistic approach to the subject matter in themes explored, his lyrics create a dystopian landscape littered with unbridled anger and internal conflict. Though his thoughts seem to saunter between angry and grim, songs like “Forgotten Trash” reveal his apathetic sense of self-awareness. Lines like, “and if you've given nothing, what do you expect in return?” offer a perfect karmic sentiment for those struggling with finding meaning in the post-covid era.
Independent label NightBell Records is quickly making a name for itself with bands like Baby Tyler on their roster, proving that old punk ethos of “never say die” is alive and well in the Midwest. Sucker With A Dream’s title speaks to the irony of hope. It is a perfect example of the trajectory most artists take these days when following their passion: start your career off with unbridled optimism, get confronted by the sheer number of others lost in the digital streaming weeds, and ultimately end up joining the majority struggling to find a job in the real world. Sucker With A Dream resonates on a deeply personal level with musicians - because if history has taught us anything, it's that there is no stopping the stubborn urge of creative pursuit. So then, as loud as a Wisconsin church bell chimes, the old adage also rings true: there's a sucker born every minute.