Beardo: Beardo

There’s a new breed of rap/rock hybrid (please banish all thoughts of Limp Bizkit/nu-metal pariahs this instant) slowly emerging. Beardo is the latest one to come down the pike, joining the likes of Hollywood Undead and Mickey Avalon (Beardo’s comrade in the Dyslexic Speedreaders collective). Embracing his inner deviant to the fullest, Beardo’s self-titled debut features a catchy mix of hip-hop and punk — a throwback to the old school, drug-cramming Iggy variety punk with more of a Ramones’ guitar chaser. Guitars crunch and crank and the beats fly fast and furious behind Beardo’s very personal lyrics. While “John Lennon” touts conspiracy theories, “Fight a Revolution” points an accusatory finger at the government and shoddy treatment of returning soldiers from the Middle East.

In spite of a chunk of serious subjects, Beardo’s raunchy humor features prominently on every track, ripping trough a laundry list of topics. “Alien Man” is rooted in anger and feelings of disenfranchisement, while the fist-pumping “American Anthem” is a call to suburban youth rebellion. “Girls & Pills” stands as a dual ode to threesomes and Beardo’s love/hate relationship with booger sugar — a subject that crops up on several songs. At its core, Beardo is more than just a freaky-deaky ode to promiscuity and partying. It’s a solid debut with unpretentious heart and humor, linking old and new sounds together and bringing credibility to an emerging genre.