Lucy Fitzgerald 
Drakulas are back in their own strange corner of the night with “Midnight City”, a record full of neon grime, crooked hooks, and that cool basement-party energy the band wears so well. The Austin group, featuring members of Rise Against and Riverboat Gamblers, returns with a 12-song LP that sounds like it crawled out of an old VHS tape, found a busted keyboard, and decided to start trouble. From the first stretch of “Going Going Gone Gone”, the album pulls you into a city that feels dirty, bright, funny, and slightly dangerous. Drakulas mix proto-punk bite, garage-rock grit, new-wave chill, and synth weirdness in a way that never sounds overly polished. The record has a rough little pulse to it, and that is part of the fun. It moves like a punk record, but it also has this odd dance-floor glow that keeps sneaking in.
“Midnight City” works so well because Drakulas know exactly how to build a mood without making things stiff. “Singin’ With My Tongue Cut Out” has a nasty little spark. “Head In The Clouds” brings more of that foggy late-night charm. “White Off Your Nose”, “Garbage Strike”, and “Sex” keep the record feeling sharp and strange, while “Morning Night” and “Guys Like Me, Girls Like You” add more color to the album’s shady city-life atmosphere. By the time “Wheelhouse” rolls around, the record has made its point with style and a sly grin. My personal take: this album is weird in a way that feels natural rather than forced. I love how Dracula makes the creepy parts fun and the fun parts a little creepy.
There is a real sense of personality here. The liner notes mention dirty basements, menthol cigarettes, cathode ray TV glow, and ugly keyboards, and honestly, that description fits the sound perfectly. “Midnight City” has grime under its nails, but it also has hooks, movement, and a lot of character. It is unsettling, danceable, and full of little details that make repeat plays worth it. Make sure to follow Drakulas and keep “Midnight City” close to your playlist rotation. This is the kind of record that deserves to be played loud after dark, when the room is a little messy, and the lights are low. Add your favorite tracks, share them with a friend who likes garage punk with a weird edge, and keep an eye on what Drakulas do next. They have built a whole nocturnal world here, and it is a fun one to get lost in.
Listening to songs so you don’t have to! Just kidding :D, you totally should. Music blogger by day, nurse by night
