DRINKING BOYS AND GIRLS CHOIR - Marriage License LP (Yellow Vinyl)

Label: Damnably

Their hometown of Daegu, South Korea, may be known as a conservative city, but there’s nothing conservative about Drinking Boys and Girls Choir (DBGC).

On their latest record, Marriage Licence, DBGC channel their frustration into a collection of melodic punk rippers, exploring more complex emotional territory while maintaining their trademark spunk.

At 11 tracks, this effort is more focused than their sprawling debut, and its politics are similarly honed. The band’s songwriting has matured, reflecting “the story of a worker in their 30s and punk rocker women,” according to the press release. “When we made our first album, we were a little shy about standing up for our LGBTQ community,” says Bae.

On Marriage License, however, DBGC has found their voice. By making music that’s both cathartic to perform and educational for their audiences, Bae reminds us to stay positive. “Someday we can be happy without hate,” she says.