The Hard Quartet – the new indie rock supergroup made up of Emmett Kelly, Stephen Malkmus, Matt Sweeney, and Jim White – have announced their debut album. The self-titled LP will be out October 4 on Matador Records. It includes the previously shared single ‘Earth Hater’, which is followed today by ‘Rio’s Song’. Check it out via the accompanying video below, and scroll down for the album cover and tracklist.
“The ‘Rio’s Song’ video is The Hard Quartet’s homage to street rock in the hot afternoon & clowning around with lifer friends in downtown New York City,” the band explained in a statement. “Director Jared Sherbert shot it guerrilla style on St Mark’s Place and in The International Bar on July 15 2024. It features local NYC artists, musicians, activists, skaters and icons who are dear to the band.”
Each member of the group shared a statement accompanying today’s announcement:
“Leave yourself behind and go into something where you’re actually listening to others and trying to come up with a solution to whatever kind of esoteric thing you are attempting to do in your life. You know what I mean?” — E.K.
“We’re all jazzed.” — S.M.
“The way Jim plays really affected the way I hear things. He has this way of making everything sound good. All of a sudden, you really pay attention to everything else that’s going on because of what Jim is doing.”— M.S.
“There’s this thing where I’ll have a story in my head when I have an intention, and I can hear it in the drums. It doesn’t matter if I tell anyone—even the people I’m playing with. You don’t even have to be particularly conscious of it yourself. But if you have an intention, something happens to the sound. It’s really weird.” — J.W.
The Hard Quartet Cover Artwork:
The Hard Quartet Tracklist:
1. Chrome Mess
2. Earth Hater
3. Rio’s Song
4. Our Hometown Boy
5. Renegade
6. Heel Highway
7. Killed By Death
8. Hey
9. It Suits You
10. Six Deaf Rats
11. Action For Military Boys
12. Jacked Existence
13. North of the Border
14. Thug Dynasty
15. Gripping the Riptide
