It took the irreverent Brooklyn band Surfbort almost five years to release their last record, but Reality Star makes the wait worthwhile. Their third album arrives fully formed and unapologetic: a contemporary punk collage built from chaos, where small emotional confessions are hidden inside absurdist jokes, sharp cultural references and an almost reckless sense of fun. Rather than describing the world, these songs react to it, a crucial distinction that gives the album its restless, kinetic energy.
Surfbort have always worked in two styles, and Reality Star is no different. The first is their signature modern punk, with garage-rock grit and post-punk sarcasm reminiscent of the caustic alt-rock of Hole, Bikini Kill and L7. The second is a more energetic hardcore-influenced style, reminiscent of Black Flag and the Dead Kennedys. This places Surfbort alongside the finest acts of the current punk revival: Amyl and the Sniffers and The Paranoyds. Holding it all together is vocalist Dani Miller, whose powerful presence is the defining force of the album. Her unique style, which combines singing, speaking, shouting and almost recitation, gives Reality Star a distinct identity that feels genuinely difficult to replicate. Fuzzy guitars and a loose, repetitive rhythm section maintain the raw, proudly DIY texture that has always been central to the band’s style.
The album wastes no time establishing itself. Tracks such as the explosive FUGOMF, which is stuffed with American cultural clichés, and the gloriously honest Hot Chicks, Cold Beer are bold and direct, delivering their punch with precision. In contrast, I Need Music offers a more reflective moment, exploring how music can serve as a form of identity and salvation in the face of isolation. Lucky, MK Ultra (which closes with a wink to The Dicks) and Rebel showcase the band’s garage punk and alternative rock influences at their sharpest. The latter is the album’s most explicitly political track, confronting social decay, institutional intimidation and the degradation of democracy so that the conclusion is inevitable: when the system fails you, you rebel.
Hot Dog is the album’s gleeful centrepiece. Rhythmically irresistible in the finest punk tradition, it features an absurdly catchy hook: ‘Eat a hot dog!’, with acidic, almost spoken-word humour, as the narrator boasts about her own coolness through a succession of deliberately ridiculous claims. The accompanying video, featuring friends from other bands and showcasing an almost complete absence of shame, is essential viewing. It perfectly captures what makes Surfbort so addictive.
Reality Star closes with Jessica’s Changed, a brilliant final statement that proves this band has not lost any of its edge. After five years away, Surfbort are back with all their freshness, energy and irreverence intact. Seeing them live is an absolute must.
Album Release Shows
- March 15th – TODO Records Showcase @ Radio East – Austin, TX
- March 27th – Zebulon – Los Angeles, CA April 3rd – Night Club 101 – New York, NY
- April 4th – Market Hotel – New York, NY
Follow Surfbort on Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube | Bandcamp