Captivating electronic punk musician, The Dare, released his debut album Sept. 7 — and it lives up to the hype.

“I destroyed disco,” The Dare boldly claims in a track off of his debut album “What’s Wrong With New York?” 

For most, the title will not mean much, but for the few that were a part of the post-pandemic electroclash scene in New York, they’ll understand what The Dare is referring to.

Besides making music, The Dare, also known as Harrison Patrick Smith, likes to have fun. He wears his influence on his suit, representing the current generation’s revitalization of indie sleaze and electro-rock.

 Similar to other punk icons of prior decades, such asLCD Soundsystem in the 2000s and Talking Heads in the 80, Smith showcases his attitude with his persona and music. 

Working as a substitute teacher for a private school, Smith held and performed shows, which he called “freakquencies,” in Brooklyn until the pandemic. 

While in the midst of the pandemic, he released the song “Girls,” which would later go on to invigorate the New York indie music scene. 

If you recognize The Dare, it’s probably because of his work with Charli xcx. He produced the track “Guess” from her monstrously successful album “Brat.” 

Since then, he has been seen with her at the Boiler Room club partying and in the music video for the “Guess” remix. 

“What’s Wrong With New York?” consists of ten tracks, marking twenty-seven minutes in length. Through-and-through, it’s an electronic rock album. Expect lots of heavy synths and bass, rebellious vocals and danceable rhythms. 

The album opens with the track “Open Up.” This track is a highlight of the album, completely high in energy with guitar riffs and pounding drums. The Dare invites us to join in the fun with a catchy chorus full of angst-layered vocals. 

“Girls” actually dropped back in 2022, but I’m happy that Smith included the song since it’s his most iconic work. 

There’s a reason why “Girls” became the anthem for the indie sleaze scene back in New York. All the pieces seem to fall in place for this song. Besides the groovy melody, the most memorable part of the song is the catchy lyrics. While they’re purposely tongue-in-cheek, it completely commits The Dare’s entire persona. When you’re at dinner with your great aunt and she says that today’s music is everything wrong with the world, this is the song she’s referring to.

Another highlight of the album is “I Destroyed Disco.” The track incorporates a few acid techno elements with the arpeggiating instrumental and pitched vocals. In a cheeky move, the track references Calvin Harris’ debut album titled “I Created Disco”.

“All Night” contrasts the expectations of moving to a new location with big aspirations and finding a community you belong to. While we’re shown a vulnerable side of Smith, it continues to be catchy.

The Dare is no exception to heartbreak. “Elevation” is our first representation of a man who’s trying to forget a past lover.

Seemingly a reaction to the past two tracks, “Movement” finds itself back into the groove of what we’ve been hearing. However, knowing that the club acts as a vessel for Harrison to feel alive, there’s also the connotation that Harrison is dancing to forget. With this knowledge, lines like “I never felt so alive / … / I never felt so right / Until it stops”, take on a deeper meaning.

After the build-up from “Movement,” the album comes to a close with “You Can Never Go Home.” This is a motif that’s expressed throughout the second half of the album. 

Underneath the mask of The Dare is someone who’s deeply flawed. Sometimes they dance to have fun, but sometimes they also dance to forget about their role in the world.

The Dare’s debut album is special. The trajectory of his career over the past few years makes sense, considering the waves he was making in New York. 

While it remains to be seen if Smith can keep up with the responsibilities of being a punk icon, his enthusiasm for the craft is unforgettable.