Episode 263 : Drew Auscherman (Playland)

Joe Dirt on VHS, cool things happening in Indiana, and coaxing a song out of something mundane. Drew Auscherman (Playland, Hoops) “In a world of constant change, one of the few things that provides consistency in our lives is the upcoming release of another album by Drew Playland and his Playland recording project, and the increasingly likely fact that it will, in all probability, be essential listening! Playland 2 marks his fifth album of 2025 and is arguably his best to date. It showcases his penchant for eclecticism, that is so deeply rooted in originality that listeners are completely immersed in new aural discoveries with each repeated listen (…and I assure you, there will be many!). In tracks such as “Red Hot Ranch”, “Everyone in the Park Is In Love”, “Power Outage”, and “Interactions”, a sense of dulcet jangle reminiscent of Porch Kiss or Van Chamberlain is juxtaposed with the melodic, Lush-style aesthetic that is found at the most melodic end of the shoegaze spectrum. In contrast, the shoegaze influences in “Luv Like That”, “I Don’t Want To Live Here Anymore”, and “Vanity” take on a more muscular pop quality, with sounds oscillating between fuzzy Mo Troper-style power-pop modernity and the incessant energy of Motorists. When the intensity diminishes, a playful C86 vibe emerges, revealing the cult 80s jangly indie-pop style of contemporary ‘retro acts’ like Zenxith and I Wanna Be A Truck Driver. This is accompanied by a rich, fractured baritone that is perfectly unsuited to its surroundings, offering an entirely original blend of sounds. Drifting with consummate energy through both prolificity and originality without ever diminishing quality, Playland truly is a modern day act to be celebrated." Excerpt from https://janglepophub.home.blog Playland: Bandcamp: https://smokingroom-label.bandcamp.com Instagram: @playland.webpage Records: https://smokingroom.bigcartel.com The Vineyard: Instagram: @thevineyardpodcast Website: https://www.thevineyardpodcast.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thevineyardpodcast