Album Review: Social Crutch by Dipsomaniacs – A Wild Ride Through Power Pop and Indie Vibes
Alright, let’s talk about Social Crutch, the 2009 gem from Dipsomaniacs. If you’re into that sweet spot where rock meets pop with just enough edge to keep things interesting, this one’s for you. Released under FDR Label, it’s got all the hallmarks of a DIY indie project but polished enough to feel like they knew what they were doing (spoiler: they totally did).
First off, can we shout out Jacob Potterfield for the design? The cover art is simple yet packs a punch—kinda like the music inside. And big ups to Drew Mazurek, who wore multiple hats here, handling recording, mixing, and mastering alongside Kim Rosen. That teamwork shows in how tight everything sounds.
Now onto the tracks themselves. This album has some bangers, but two songs really stuck with me: “Blame It on the Gin” and “Together We Can Rule The World.”
“Blame It on the Gin” feels like your go-to party anthem if you're hanging with a bunch of friends who are slightly too self-aware. Mick Chorba’s songwriting shines here—it’s catchy as hell, with lyrics that are equal parts clever and relatable. You know those nights when you’ve had one too many and suddenly every bad decision makes perfect sense? Yeah, that’s this song. Plus, it gets repeated three times throughout the album, so either they REALLY loved it or someone lost count during tracklisting. Either way, no complaints from me.
Then there’s “Together We Can Rule The World,” which hits different. It’s got this anthemic vibe, like you’re rallying the troops for something big—even if that ‘something’ is just surviving another day. The energy is infectious, and I found myself air-drumming way harder than necessary. There’s something about the layered guitars and steady beat that screams, “Hey, maybe we’re not completely screwed after all!”
The rest of the album keeps the momentum going. Tracks like “Drop Your Guitar” bring raw indie rock vibes, while “Wake Up Sue” throws in some quirky storytelling. Even the slightly repetitive nature of certain songs doesn’t drag—it kinda works, like hearing an old friend tell their favorite joke again because, well, it’s still funny.
What’s wild is how fresh this album feels even though it came out over a decade ago. Maybe it’s the timeless appeal of power pop, or maybe it’s just that good production holds up. Whatever it is, Social Crutch deserves more love than it probably got back in the day.
Oh, and random thought—can we talk about how “Kids on Base” sneaks in twice? Feels intentional, like they wanted to remind us not to forget it. Or maybe they ran out of ideas. Who knows?
Final takeaway? Dipsomaniacs didn’t reinvent the wheel with Social Crutch, but damn if they didn’t make it spin real smooth. Put this on at your next low-key hangout session—you won’t regret it. Unless you do, in which case, blame it on the gin.
