Reviews are starting to come in!
"When you think you have a choice… you’re just a dataset. When you think you have a voice… you’re just a dataset,” Kyle Harms sings early on the brand new (third) Cherry Cheeks LP. Later on, he kicks off the insanely catchy Cruel Bore by stating “I love my A.I. girlfriend.” If there was any doubt of where Kyle Harms’ mind is right now, D.O. & The Bytes is very much a punk record for 2026.
The album tackles life in an increasingly digital world, and it doesn’t shy away from sounding digital either. Synths play a prominent role throughout, while the songs balance genuine frustration with the playful weirdness of the mutant punk scene. At the same time, there is a filthy thowback sound to this with many of the riffs trace their DNA back to late-’70s punk. The poppy one-two punch of Cruel Bore and D.O. Gets Hitched even carries a strong Dickies vibe. Cherry Cheeks feels like one of those rare projects that could unite punk kids from multiple generations.
The label describes the album as “a rock opera by way of a Saturday morning cartoon,” and that’s not far off. The sequencing hints at a larger narrative that gradually reveals itself with repeated listens. Opener D.O. Theme could easily soundtrack a quirky Cartoon Network show, but the arc underneath is far less innocent. D.O, The digital protagonist finds itself pursued by forces seeking to erase its memories, while themes of surveillance, algorithmic control, digital isolation, identity, and the commodification of our online lives lurk beneath the surface.
Still, you don’t need to follow the plot to enjoy this thing. The songs are ridiculously catchy. Seriously, catch-freakin’-y. Harms, handling virtually everything himself, has outdone himself here. And when closer Bytes Ballad arrives, all those ones and zeros reveal a surprisingly human heart."- Add To Want List
"Kyle Harms’ first Cherry Cheeks album on Total Punk from 2021 was a classic—a no-skips collection of punk songs that were vibrant, bouncy, and had just enough edge. It was a rock’n’roll star turn for the Portland punk, resulting in “artist to watch” status. The 2023 follow-up CCLPII was solid, but every time I put it on, I wondered why I wasn’t just listening to the 2021 album. The songwriting was solid, but I ultimately preferred the old stuff. The new album D.O. & The Bytes has done the unthinkable—it’s a new Cherry Cheeks album that easily stands as their best work yet.
The new one begins with the opening rumble and instant pop stickiness of “D.O. Theme,” an incredibly strong start for a record with narrative ambitions. D.O. is the hero and the Reapers are after him. It’s a record about dehumanization (“you’re just a dataset”), falling in love with a chatbot (“we’ll shoot the shit all day”), and surveillance (“if you’ve got nothing to hide/you won’t mind these spying eyes”). You can pretty neatly split this album into hero songs—ecstatic and sugary—and the more dark, synth-forward villain tracks. The hooks are phenomenal on every single track and the narrative never thwacks you over the head with exposition. Up until D.O., every Cherry Cheeks full-length has felt like one you could play on shuffle. This is a true start-to-finish turntable-ass album and an impressive step forward for the Cheeks."-See-Saw
"Cherry Cheeks is back to hit you with how much you've missed him! Honestly, it's hard to stay coherent—or even keep my cool—when faced with a record this damn good. It makes me want to crank the amp to 12, throw open the windows, and yell at the world: "Dance, you fools! Who’s actually resisting this?" Beyond the album's ongoing storyline, in which Kyle Harms chronicles the adventures of digital paladin D.O. and his quest to keep his memories from being erased, this third full-length for Total Punk is an absolutely staggering run of songs. No missteps. Not even a weaker cut. Fourteen tracks crafted around killer melodies and insane hooks, where tags like synth-punk and pop stop making any sense, melting into something bigger, stranger, and entirely unique. A style all his own: "The Cherry Wave". With it, this architect of the unusual has built a universe that is solid, cohesive, and seriously powerful, but still ridiculously fun from start to finish. The kind of record that can rescue even the worst day.
The best Cherry Cheeks album? Of course. Album of the year? Why the hell not?"- Tremendo Garaje
