Bad Cop Bad Cop Turn Tragedy Into Triumph with ‘Lighten Up’

“Life is hard, but it’s still beautiful.” That’s the mantra behind Lighten Up, the electrifying fourth full-length from SoCal’s unstoppable punk force Bad Cop Bad Cop—and it’s more than just a record. It’s a riotous, heartfelt, brutally honest celebration of survival, sisterhood, and Sunday morning Prosecco-fueled songwriting sessions.

The band—vocalist-guitarist Stacey Dee, bassist-vocalist Linh Le, drummer-vocalist Myra Gallarza, and new axe-wielding powerhouse Alex Windsor—have never sounded more alive, more vulnerable, or more free.

“This was the first time we didn’t give a fuck about what anyone else was doing or wanted us to do,” Dee says. “Lighten Up was for us.”

But don’t let the title fool you. Lighten Up goes deep. From the haunting resilience of “Strugglin’” to the cathartic punch of “See Me Now”, the album swings hard and sings louder. Dee opens her veins on “Straight Out of Detox”, documenting a transformational night of survival, while Linh Le confronts self-doubt and grief with unflinching grace. Then there’s “Dead Friends”—a Jim Carroll-esque shout-along for the fallen, years in the making, and finally ready to be heard.

And let’s talk about that groove: there’s punk, yes—but also jazz on “Las Ventanas,” dub on “Note to Self” (with a surprise verse from underground LA legend 2mex), and a ripping cover of Joe Strummer’s “Johnny Appleseed” that turns homage into high-octane renewal.

“We’ve made records that were unapologetically strong,” Dee explains. “But the way we got to be unapologetically strong was dealing with things like this.”

The album was born at The Compound in Long Beach, produced by veteran engineer Antoine Arvizu (Sublime, Ryan Bingham) alongside Dee’s partner Migs, whose laid-back philosophy—”Never a dull moment on a record”—helped shape the LP’s loose, family-style vibe. Sundays were for brunch, booze, and breaking open emotions—the punk rock way.

And behind it all is new guitarist Alex Windsor, whose chops and theory skills elevated the band’s songwriting to new heights. “Alex’s guitar playing is just so fantastic,” Dee beams. “Check out the end of ‘I4NI’. She just rips.”

Bad Cop Bad Cop might be loosening up, but they’re tighter than ever.

“This was family the entire time,” Dee says. “It was who we trusted, who we loved, who we knew we could work with.”

And that family’s about to roll into Seattle. Catch Bad Cop Bad Cop live July 17 at the Clock-Out Lounge—expect loud guitars, loud truths, and louder harmonies.

They’ve battled the demons. They’ve come out swinging. And now they’re ready to dance. You can dance with ’em as up first from, Lighten Up is the buoyant rallying cry “All Together Now”, and it delivers on its title with explosive energy. Kicking off with jazzed-up, jumpy, chunky guitar riffs and driving drums and bass behind, the track feels like a call to arms—an invitation to unity in the face of life’s chaos. Dee and the crew trade verses with spirited interplay, chorusing together with infectious enthusiasm that mirrors the song’s communal spirit. Lyrically, it zeroes in on solidarity and resilience, capturing the essence of friends—all together now—holding each other up when things get rough. It’s a fist-in-the-air opener that sets the tone for the album’s themes of shared struggle and collective triumph.

All Together Now… lighten up—and turn it up!