New Jersey rockers The Melancholy Kings present sophomore 'Her Favorite Disguise' album
FOR FANS OF: Teenage Fanclub, Guided By Voices, Husker Du / Bob Mould, The Replacements, Television, Wilco, The Anderson Council
INFLUENCED BY: XTC, Big Star, R.E.M., The Jam, The Knack, The Who, Badfinger, Dumptruck, The Rain Parade, Dinosaur Jr.
FOCUS TRACKS: Bitcoin Elegy, UV, Steady as She Goes, Victoria, Alex Bell, Astor Place, Kensington
FCC clean (no profanity), except 'Six Feet Down'
'Her Favorite Disguise' album https://melancholykings.bandcamp.com/album/her-favorite-disguise
Get the album https://tinyurl.com/HerFavoriteDisguise
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/5cnqoAUl9nxetXpA5A6UXJ
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-melancholy-kings/1467263440
'Victoria' video https://youtu.be/Rr4sN6R0yoE
Get the single https://tinyurl.com/VictoriaSingle
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/0N6jCbQ0WkbnYLg1Z2r525
'Bitcoin Elegy' video https://youtu.be/SEF7ErUTo74
Get the single https://tinyurl.com/BitcoinElegy
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/03A4DsnZ94E90z3xS8uCir
"The Melancholy Kings prove that they know exactly how you can mix pop smarts with indie cool and just enough rock energy to build the best of many worlds" ~ Big Takeover Magazine
"The Melancholy Kings channel the gritty, melancholic charm of ’90s college rock, staking their claim as the spiritual heirs to Paul Westerberg and Jeff Tweedy... jangles with the infectious insouciance of The Replacements while maintaining a sophisticated lyrical core" ~ The Spill Magazine
"Riffs rock, beats and basslines groove, dynamics ebb and flow, sweet harmonies drift through the air, and the result is a track that is infectious and insightful, power-pop-ish and poignant, melodic and muscular" ~ Dancing About Architecture
New Jersey rockers The Melancholy Kings present their sophomore album 'Her Favorite Disguise', the long-awaited follow up to their 2019 eponymous debut record - an unapologetic nod to the rough-hewn insouciance of '80s pre-grunge alt-rock.
Released via Magic Door Record Label, this album was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by renowned producer Ray Ketchem (Guided by Voices, Luna, Elk City, Gramercy Arms, Crash Harmony) at Magic Door Recording Studio in Montclair, NJ.
The core duo - singer/guitarist Mike Potenza (The Anderson Council, Crash Harmony, BARD, Gramercy Arms) and bassist Scott Selig (Ambulance, Uncle Moon, Deni Bonet Band, Super Tuesday) - met while enduring the desolate misery of corporate life in Midtown Manhattan. Unknown to each other, they were both active in the '90s-'00s NYC indie scene, playing in various "almost-famous" post-punk bands, touring and opening gigs for legendary artists. Escaping the rat race, they rededicated themselves to music, solidifying the band's lineup with drummer Paul Andrew (Fluffer, Phantom Tollbooth) and guitarist Peter Horvath (The Anderson Council).
The album also features contributions by several notable guests, including famed trumpeter Mac Gollehon (David Bowie, Al Jarreau, Duran Duran, Mick Jagger, Hall and Oates), cellist Carolyn Jeselsohn, vocalist Reneé LoBue of Elk City, accordionist Carl Riehl (Michelle Shocked, Uncle Moon), vocalist Olivia Selig, and Ray Ketchem (Elk City) on percussion.
After a pandemic-driven hiatus following their debut album, 'Her Favorite Disguise' once again taps into the vicissitudes of life in and among the shadows of Gotham. If you miss the days of Dinosaur Jr. on 120 Minutes and the Feelies on college radio, and if you dogmatically feel that R.E.M. was at their finest when you couldn’t make out the lyrics, The Melancholy Kings are here. “It’s alright; help has arrived.”
In the lead up to this album, the band shared 'Bitcoin Elegy', a song about the inevitable decline of meaningful personal relationships in the digital age, and the latest single 'Victoria', a jangly guitar rocker resurrected and revamped from the time when the members were busy wearing down the grooves of their REM, Miracle Legion and Replacements records.
'Her Favorite Disguise' both celebrates and cringes at the rich tapestry of life’s follies in the Big Apple and its homely step-sister across the Hudson. From 'Astor Place', which recounts the too-familiar tale of suburban exodus to the Jersey promised land, to the post-modern homage of 'UV' and the lonely tale in 'New Girl' of a man hopelessly in love with a film noir siren, there is so much here.
As of November 28, 'Her Favorite Disguise' is available digitally everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. On January 8th, the album will be released on limited edition 12" vinyl with the album release show also happening around that time.
CREDITS
Mike Potenza – lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, pedal steel, keyboards & percussion
Scott Selig – electric and upright bass, keyboards, guitar, backing vocals & percussion
Peter Horvath – lead vocals on 9, backing vocals, guitars & percussion
Paul Andrew – drums & percussion
Mac Gollehon – trumpet on 7 & 8
Carolyn Jeselsohn – cello on 3 & 8
Ray Ketchem – various percussion
Reneé LoBue – vocals on 5
Carl Riehl – accordion on 5 & 7
Olivia Selig – vocals on 2, 4, 5 & 8
All songs by Mike Potenza except, Track 2 by Mike Potenza & Peter Horvath;
Track 8 by Mike Potenza & Scott Selig; Track 9 by Robert Pollard
Published by Hamilton Publishing (BMI) © 2025 except:
2 by Hamilton Publishing (BMI) / Peter Horvath (BMI) © 2025
9 by Needmore Songs (ASCAP) © 2022
Produced by Ray Ketchem, Scott Selig & The Melancholy Kings
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording, Montclair, NJ
Additional recording at The Old Stone House, Maplewood, NJ
String arrangements on Tracks 3 & 8 by Scott Selig
© 2025 The Melancholy Kings
Released by Magic Door Record Label
Cover art by Reneé LoBue
Art & design by Ray Ketchem
Photo on LP sleeve by Sonya Selig
Videos filmed & edited by Scott Selig
Band photos by Carlo Cipriani
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
TRACK LIST
01. Six Feet Down (3:36)
02. Victoria (2:49)
03. New Girl ( 3:19)
04. Bitcoin Elegy (2:33)
05. Kensington (4:23)
06. Steady As She Goes (2:59)
07. Astor Place (3:54)
08. UV (4:31)
09. Alex Bell (5:00)
10. The Cold Side of the Pillow (0:27)
Keep up with The Melancholy Kings
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Keep up with Magic Door Record Label
Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Magic Door Studio
