Local Review: John Andrew McCool — Psychedelic Soul Punk

John Andrew McCool
Psychedelic Soul Punk
Brudal Buddha Media LLC
Street: 05.22.2026
John Andrew McCool = The Beatles + The Beach Boys

This seven-song symphony is nothing short of symmetry. The album, Psychedelic Soul Punk by John Andrew McCool — released just last month — is exactly how I needed to start my summer: with songs that give artists of the 70s and 80s. 

Oftentimes, when someone drops the “what’s your taste in music” bomb, one might find themselves in temporary mental combat combing through the collection of favorable genres in their subconscious. When someone asks me this intimidating question, sitting on display in the windows of my mind is the somewhat newly coined genre: Divorced Dad Rock. Think of every favorable artist from the better third of the 20th century, and there lies Psychedelic Soul Punk — a modern take on it.

McCool’s latest album, totaling 30 minutes, is a walk through the past, present and future. Not only does he bounce around from thought to feeling, but McCool utilizes the new and the old and does it in style. Each song seems to have its own guitar solo, my favorite being the fifth track, titled “Parade.” 

Originally released as a single in 2025, “Eureka Rebecca” is a track that leaves you wanting more. It’s a cross between The Beach Boys and The Beatles if they were up for some headbanging. If it were up to me, I’d say this is the most vocally strong song on this album. While simple, it leaves such a satisfying feeling that by the end of the song you’re in a good mood and ready for what follows. 

In this day and age, it feels as though everything, even music, needs to be perfectly polished. I think this is an oversight, and clearly so does Mr. McCool. The raw sound of the drums and acoustics gives a real-life feel — like you’re listening live. This is the authenticity that we so crave. 

As I scanned the internet, social media and music platforms, I couldn’t find out much about John Andrew McCool. Perhaps that’s the “cool” factor we see in his name; the mystery of it all. In his Spotify bio he writes that he’s a “musical chameleon that has been everywhere and has done everything, and will do it again.” In an age when artists document every moment online, that absence feels almost intentional. The mystery surrounding McCool mirrors the album itself: familiar enough to draw you in, but unpredictable enough to keep you guessing.

While McCool draws inspiration from artists of the past, what sets his music apart is how he chooses to modernize it. Psychedelic Soul Punk does not feel like an attempt to recreate an era, but rather a celebration of it. — Joy Nelson 

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