Album Review: Brad Sucks Tries To Perfect The Mess On New LP “Guess Who’s a Mess”

By: Selina Perrone –

The catchy electronic sound of Brad Sucks’ third album Guess Who’s a Mess will leave you wanting to hear more. Brad Turcotte, the one-man band behind Brad Sucks, has been writing the album since 2008 and for all that time he has perfected his unique blend of pop, electronic, and ’90s alt-rock while still having significant lyrical substance without holding anything back, while still managing to stay true to his unique sound.

The sound manages to catch your attention from the first few seconds of the opening song, similar to Turcotte’s  previous albums I Don’t Know What I’m Doing, and Out of It. Guess Who’s a Mess tells an inside story of how things really are.

This album deals with the desire to belong, as well as the reality of truth. Compared to his last two albums that dealt with feelings of depression, isolation, feelings of distress and relationships gone horribly wrong. The album’s title reflects on a celebrity culture where pop stars are often praised and ridiculed simultaneously. The track “Feel Free! Plastic Surgery,” deals with wanting to change for the sake of being famous, “Come Back”, refers to the feeling of being alone and the last track “Just in a Phase” ends the album on a truthful note, while referring to overcoming some of life’s obstacles.

The album is very catchy, reflective and truthful. Turcotte’s willingness to experiment is a refreshing sound within a musical landscape that has fallen too far into a black hole of formula. His social consciousness should only broaden his appeal but he’ll have to do more to make his music more widely known in a sea filled with socially conscious musicians who are willing to go just a bit further with their music.

Essential Tracks: “Just in a Phase,” “Model Home,” and “Guess Who’s a Mess.”