New York City based singer-songwriter Jesse Malin has today issued a video for his current single, ‘Downliner (Afterglow Version)’. The song is available on the 20th Anniversary expanded edition of his debut album, ‘The Fine Art Of Self Destruction’, which includes a bonus disc of re-recordings and is released on 17th February to coincide with the start of a European tour (see full itinerary below) here in the UK.
Malin has also just announced five further UK shows in late May/early June:
30.05.23 BIRMINGHAM Hare & Hounds * tickets
31.05.23 HULL New Adelphi Club * tickets
01.06.23 OXTED Barn Theatre * tickets
02.06.23 CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach * tickets
03.06.23 EUSTON HALL Red Rooster Festival (Thetford, Norfolk) tickets
* with support from Bason
The new video was filmed on Jesse’s home turf by Dave Stekert. Of the song itself, Malin explains that “it was one of the first that I wrote for the original album and it kinda came out in one shot. I felt like I was going into something new after being in a loud band for so many years and it is about finding a way to stay afloat when you feel like you are drowning. The new version was spontaneous and fun to sing to, with basic piano chords and cool fake drums giving it a sparse and dark vibe. Somehow it gave it a new life, but still retained the sadness and maybe even the hope that the original offered me.”
Following his teenage years in the pioneering hardcore band Heart Attack and his 20s fronting the wild and beloved D Generation, Malin had taken a cue from his songwriting heroes and was ready for the opportunity to stand alone. His solo debut was recorded over six days in New York City, live and raw. “I was still learning how to sing and tell stories,” he recalls. “These songs were written in a little apartment downtown, without a record deal, a manager, or any expectation of anything coming of it – just a need to write them.”
As for its title, he adds that “it wasn’t named for drug or alcohol abuse, but more about personal wreckage when I looked back on my life, from my parents’ divorce to failed relationships, broken up bands, dropping out of school, crashing cars, breaking things. It was more of a spiritual journey in some sense. This record is definitely one of my favourites.”
To celebrate its 20th anniversary reissue, ‘The Fine Art Of Self Destruction’ has been reimagined and re-recorded with Malin’s longtime band, with all the songs made available across its 2xLP and digital formats. The bonus material was produced by Derek Cruz and engineered by Geoff Sanoff, who worked on Malin’s recent ‘Sunset Kids’ (2019) and ‘Sad And Beautiful World’ (2021) albums.
Four of the re-recorded songs are available as singles now:
BROOKLYN (WALT WHITMAN IN THE TRASH) video | digital services
XMAS, ETC video | digital services
RIDING ON THE SUBWAY ’22 digital services
DOWNLINER (AFTERGLOW VERSION) video | digital services
FULL TRACKLISTINGS
2xLP
A1 Queen of the Underworld
A2 TKO
A3 Downliner
A4 Wendy
A5 Brooklyn
B1 The Fine Art of Self Destruction
B2 Riding On The Subway
B3 High Lonesome
B4 Solitaire
B5 Almost Grown
B6 Xmas
C1 Brooklyn (Walt Whitman in the Trash)
C2 Downliner (Afterglow Version)
C3 Solitaire (Song for Kelly Keller)
C4 Almost Grown (Busker Version)
D1 Queen of the Underworld (Cantina Version)
D2 Cigarettes and Violets ’22
D3 High Lonesome (PBR Vacation)
D4 Xmas, etc.
digital
1 Queen of the Underworld
2 TKO
3 Wendy
4 Downliner
5 Brooklyn
6 The Fine Art of Self Destruction
7 Riding On The Subway
8 High Lonesome
9 Solitaire
10 Almost Grown
11 Xmas
12 Cigarettes and Violets
13 Brooklyn (Walt Whitman in the Trash)
14 Riding on the Subway ’22
15 Downliner (Afterglow Version)
16 High Lonesome (PBR Vacation)
17 Cigarettes and Violets ’22
18 Almost Grown (Busker Version)
19 Solitaire (Song for Kelly Keller)
20 Queen of the Underworld (Cantina Version)
21 Xmas, etc.
JESSE MALIN
EUROPEAN TOUR : FEBRUARY & MARCH 2023
15.02.23 GLASGOW Stereo tickets
16.02.23 MANCHESTER YES (The Pink Room) tickets
17.02.23 LONDON The Garage tickets
18.02.23 PARIS (FR) La Boule Noire tickets
19.02.23 UTRECHT (NL) dB’s tickets
22.02.22 SAVONA (IT) Raindogs House tickets
23.02.23 BERGAMO (IT) Druso tickets
24.02.23 RAVENNA (IT) Bronson tickets
25.02.23 MARENO DI PIAVE, TV (IT) Corner Live tickets
27.02.23 HAMBURG (DE) Nochtspeicher tickets
28.02.23 COPENHAGEN (DK) Hotel Cecil tickets
01.03.23 LUND (SE) Mejeriet tickets
02.03.23 STOCKHOLM (SE) Bar Brooklyn tickets
03.03.23 OSLO (NO) John Dee tickets
with support from Trapper Schoepp
