Black Adidas is back with album number two, self-titled and a statement of purpose. The project, led by aerospace engineer and punk rocker Courtney Ranshaw, returns for its second album backed by a full band that expands the classic meets contemporary punk sound.
It’s hard to pick a subgenre. The opener, “Be Cool,” sounds like street punk meets Andrew W.K., and other songs recall everyone from Ramones to Swingin’ Utters, all while maintaining a logical trajectory that makes it sound like, well, Black Adidas.
On album no. 2 the band has expanded, but the songs have gotten more personal. “The songs have a more mature, developed feel to them,” Ranshaw says. “I tried to plan and rehearse them more, take some care and time in the recording process. And get a little more of a different perspective on the playing styles.” That includes a song written directly to his wife, “In My Head,” though other tracks on the record go in different directions.
"If there is a theme for this album, I'd say it's really about the love of making music, playing music, playing shows, and all the good and bad that comes along with it. It's a concept I go back to often, that as a musician, what's more inspiring than music itself?," Ranshaw adds.
Ranshaw is joined on the album by Daniel Alexander (keyboards), Carl Raether (bass), and drums split between Kari G. Child and Rob Wolk.
The record is out on March 3. Preorders are online here and here.
