A record of internal struggle, self-effacing humor and earworm melodies, Mal Blum’s new LP You Look a Lot Like Me is slated for release October 2nd via Don Giovanni Records.Produced by Screaming Females’ Marissa Paternoster and mixed by engineer and Swearin’ guitarist Kyle Gilbride the album moves from the more anti-folk vibe of past material, switching over to a solid-body guitar for the first time. Though lyrical narrative sits at the forefront of any Mal Blum record, this collaborative effort resulted in a stripped-down, punk-influenced, indie rock record. It’s a tighter, plugged-in, and less scrappy version of Mal’s signature sound, emphasized by big guitar hooks, crunchy distortion, and the vocal flare and lyrical ingenuity they have always showcased.

 

Album single “Better Go” addresses the universal yet extremely personal struggle with loneliness and issue avoidance set to hooky guitar licks and danceable percussion. Airy vocals and the ecstatic guitar driven growl of “Robert Frost” play touchingly against the emotive and fittingly poetic lyrics about depression, anxiety and fear of the unknown. A jolt of sarcasm is present in “Reality TV,” a relatable anthem about youthful realities and inclinations towards escapism.

 

The “Better Go” video premiered with Stereogum today.

 

2015 will see Mal Blum continuing to play locally and tour relentlessly. Having recently performed album track “Cool Party” on The Chris Gethard Show with Will Ferrell as a guest the same night, there’s no doubt that this year will bring some major changes. They will kick off a national tour October 5th at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. Be sure to catch them in a city near you soon!

 

Mal Blum National Tour Dates:

10/5: Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory *

10/9: Philadelphia, PA @ LAVA Space *

10/10: Cambridge, MA @ Lily Pad

10/12: Washington, DC @ Black Cat Backstage *

10/13: Pittsburgh, PA @ Roboto Project *

10/18: San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall #

10/20: Portland, OR @ Analog Theater (Upstairs) #

10/21: Seattle, WA @  The Vera Project #

10/23: Boise, ID @ The Watercooler #

10/24: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Loading Dock #

10/25: Denver, CO @ Moon Room #

10/27: Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room #

10/28: Minneapolis, MN @ The Nether Bar #

10/29: Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen #

10/30: Pontiac, MI @ The Pike Room at Crofoot #

10/31: Columbus, OH @ Double Happiness #

11/2: Toronto, ON @ The Drake Hotel #

11/3: Montreal, QC @ Bar La Ritz PDB #

11/5: Hamden, CT @ The Space #

11/6: Philadelphia, PA @ Voltage Lounge #

11/8: New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge #

11/9: Washington, DC @ Black Cat Backstage # 

11/10: Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 #

11/12: Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade - Purgatory # 

11/13: Jacksonville, FL @ Burro Bar #

11/14: Tampa, FL @ Epic Problem #

11/16: Houston, TX @ The Studio at Warehouse Live #

11/17: San Antonio, TX @ Korova Basement #

11/19: Lubbock, TX @ Jake’s Backroom #

11/21: Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge #

11/22: San Diego, CA @ The Casbah #

11/24: Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo #

* = Headlining

# = Direct support for Allison Weiss

 

Photo Credit: Emma Mead