Athens songwriter Drew Beskin made a name for himself fronting pop-centric groups the District Attorneys, Party Dolls, and PURSES. Over the past several years, however, his solo work has been taking center stage. His last full length, 2018’s Nostalgia Porn, was an easygoing affair, full of breezy hooks couched in highly nuanced songwriting. And judging by the punchy rhythms and soaring melodies that resonate throughout new single “Going Alright for You,” Beskin’s forthcoming LP will be another infectious listen.
Recorded over the course of two weeks at Chase Park Transductions and Gift Horse Studios, Problematic for the People mark’s Beskin’s third solo album. Featuring 11 tracks, the record was produced and engineered by Drew Vandenberg (Faye Webster, Deerhunter) and Matt Martin of Wanderwild. A collaborator by nature, Beskin reached out to his talent-heavy pool of friends to help him make the LP. In addition to his backing band of bassist Phillip Brantley (Terminally Phil, Palace Doctor, Modern Skirts) on bass, guitarist Josh Parsons (Cowboy Curtys), and drummer Jeremy Wheatley (Sailors & Ships, Crooked Fingers), Problematic for the People features a slew of guest appearances including Matt “Pistol” Stoessel (T Hardy Morris, Faye Webster), Jojo Glidewell (Modern Skirts, of Montreal) and Annie Leeth.
“I took a few years off releasing music to hone in on an album’s worth of songs that I could be proud of from top to bottom,” Beskin says. “The goal was to create something cinematic with a lot of melodies and lead parts. The result is my most collaborative and favorite album I’ve made to date and hope you get a chance to hear it.”
Asked to explain what sets the upcoming album apart from his part work, Beskin points to its strong sense of variety. The record was originally intended to be his parting shot as a solo artist, which gave him the inspiration to explore a wide range of musical styles. Although the notion of “retiring” was later abandoned, Beskin held tight to the spirit of innovation. While radiant pop-rock and subtle sophistication still define his work, Problematic for the People promises to be more lush and complex than anything he’s produced before.
Listen to “Going Alright for You” below.
Problematic for the People is out July 2 via super Canoe. You can check out the Brantley-created cover art and the album’s tracklist below.
Problematic for the People Tracklist
01. I’m Not Human
02. Genuine Article
03. Swimming in Bed
04. Going Alright For You
05. More Bad Days Than Good
06. Personal Shopper
07. Torn & Blue
08. Double Dipper
09. Cul-de-sac
10. The Cut of My Jib
11. Atlantic
More Info
Web: drewbeskin.com
Bandcamp: drewbeskin.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @DrewBeskin
Instagram: @DrewBeskin
SoundCloud: @drewbeskin
Twitter: @DrewBeskin