The Dare: What's Wrong with New York? Vinyl LP

Why you'll love it

Harrison Patrick Smith wrote, produced and designed the album himself. It came out on Republic and Polydor in September 2024 and scored 72 on Metacritic, with five-star reviews from The Skinny and KTLA.

About the album

For anyone who spent the early 2000s in a sweaty basement with a fringe in their eyes, The Dare sounds like a very welcome flashback. Harrison Patrick Smith built his sound on the New York dance-rock of LCD Soundsystem, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Fischerspooner, and the New York Times heard the album as part of an electroclash revival. He wrote and produced nearly every track himself.

"Girls" and "Good Time" come over from his 2023 debut EP, and "Perfume" and "You're Invited" followed as singles with their own videos. "I Destroyed Disco" is a cheeky rave-up, "Open Up" and "Elevation" keep the strobe lights on, and "You Can Never Go Home" closes the night on a wistful note. Smith also produced the bonus track "Guess" for Charli XCX's Brat the same year.

Clash called it a party anthem record for the indie sleaze renaissance, which we take as high praise. The skinny ties are optional, though in our experience they never really went away.

Also at Kops: more The Dare on vinyl · browse Alternative