Why does my homemade bread always have a weird, sour taste even when I follow a simple recipe and use fresh ingredients?

I totally feel your frustration, I've been there too when I was first starting out with bread baking. That lingering bitterness can be really tough to get rid of. I think the first thing you should try is to check your yeast, it's possible that it's gone bad or is just not doing its job. Make sure it's fresh and not past its expiration date.

Another thing you can try is to reduce the amount of salt in your recipe, too much salt can give bread a bitter taste. I'd also suggest trying a different type of flour, like bread flour or all-purpose flour with a higher protein content, it can help to create a better environment for yeast to ferment. You might also want to try adding a bit of acidity, like a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, to balance out the flavors.

As for using a specific type of flour or yeast designed for sourdough, I'd say go for it! Sourdough yeast is a different beast than active dry yeast and it can create some amazing flavors. But, if you're looking for a more straightforward solution, I'd recommend trying the adjustments I mentioned above first. And, just to confirm, are you using a digital thermometer to check the temperature of your dough and proofing environment?

Oh, and one more thing, have you considered the possibility that your water might be the culprit? If your tap water is hard or has a lot of minerals in it, it can affect the flavor of your bread. Try using filtered water or bottled water to see if that makes a difference. Good luck, and I hope you start seeing some improvements soon!