Bad Galaxy
Performance: 3:00 PM, King Killer North
Original songs with powerful vocal harmonies and poignant lyrics
Alex Pastuhov, lead vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar; Michael Abiuso, backing vocals, electric bass guitar, electric keyboard
While assuming the moniker Bad Galaxy marked the start of a creative evolution for Brooklyn’s Alex Pastuhov, the musician’s eponymous 2017 album is still undeniably him. Bad Galaxy seeks to differentiate itself from Pastuhov’s earlier work through the exploration of electronic textures alongside his trademark lyrical sentiments and impassioned, stacked vocals. Pastuhov remains true to his tongue-in-cheek writing style, clinging to a catastrophic yet humorous outlook on life. However he does manage to push forward his own unique brand of indie-rock by embracing the use of synthesizers, drum loops, samples, ambient noise, and a bevy of other instruments not featured on past albums. At times, Bad Galaxy delves into the realm of experimental and avant-garde, but it remains rooted in its adherence to straight forward, verse-chorus-verse, pop sensibilities. Bad Galaxy covers a lot of ground, sonically and thematically, and offers music lovers of all kinds something new to discover with each listen. Pastuhov wrote, recorded, mixed, and performed all the instruments on the release, a testament to his musical abilities and creative energy.