Fans of Tee Vee Repairmann, Gee Tee, and Cherry Cheeks, take note: if 1-800-Mikey isn’t already on your speed dial, it should be. Michael Barker’s project blends catchy melodies with lo-fi synth-punk riffs in a way that makes it impossible to sit still.
I liked Plushy, Mikey’s 2022 debut, but Digital Pet? It’s on another level entirely. I expected to enjoy it, but I didn’t anticipate becoming completely hooked, losing an entire weekend to it while ignoring the mountain of other amazing releases.
The ten tracks on Digital Pet are like a shot of pure adrenaline—twenty minutes of uncontainable energy that hits you like a freight train about to fly off the rails. Honestly, prepare yourself: you might need a neck brace because my head’s been bopping non-stop.
Digital Pet is out now through Under The Gun Records and Erste Theke Tontraeger. Trust me, it’s worth the chiropractor bill.