Brooklyn-based band Pretty Rude will release their highly anticipated debut album, Ripe, on May 16 via SideOneDummy Records. The record will be available digitally and as a limited-edition vinyl and can be pre-ordered now. Ripe was produced by the band and mixed by Jake Sinclair (Weezer’s White Album), with mastering by Zach Weeks at God City.
Formed in the early days of the pandemic, Pretty Rude began as an “online theoretical project,” as frontman James Palko describes it. With no plans beyond providing a creative outlet amid the end of his other musical ventures, Taking Meds and Perspective, a lovely hand to hold, Pretty Rude quickly evolved into a full-fledged band thanks to the spark of collaboration with bandmate Matt Cook.
Today, Pretty Rude is excited their new single “Things I Do,” accompanied by a band-made video. The track, which debuted at Paste Magazine, follows the album’s lead single, “Debbie & Lynn,” which was releasedlast month.
Pretty Rude’s James Palko on “Things I Do”:
“I was listening to a lot of One Way Ticket To Hell And Back by The Darkness, which I consider one of those perfect ‘form, tempo, arrangement—all in one bag’ songs. What stood out to me was the acoustic guitar underneath the second verse. I got so fixated on that sound that I set out to make ‘Things I Do’ capture that same energy. There’s also a strong Cars influence in the structure, but with an edge. The distorted guitars and solo were definitely inspired by Thin Lizzy’s ‘Jailbreak.’ The song draws from classic rock radio vibes, but it’s about keeping it fresh while honoring a familiar formula. It sat as an instrumental demo for a while until I took a 10-hour drive from Rochester, NY to Chicago. After a tour and a life-changing milestone—moving in with my girlfriend—I finally finished it. That moment felt grounding and perfect, and the lyrics came naturally. What’s better than a power-pop guitar-solo love song? Very few things, in my opinion.”
There’s much more to Ripe than meets the ear. Its eight tracks stretch over 37 minutes—just 19 seconds more, to be precise—and are packed with meaning, history, literary references, musical tributes, and a flair for the unconventional. The album balances reverence for both the past and present, and while its complex ideas could make it seem daunting, it’s far from pretentious. It’s music made freely, from the heart, by people who understand music’s power.
Ripe is an ambitious and smart record that reveals a chemistry between its members that’s rare for a new band. Pretty Rude was originally conceived as a diversion, a “theoretical project” after the end of Palko’s other bands. “A lot of the songs are about trying to figure out who I am after those projects ended.” It turns out, Palko wasn’t ready to be done with music. Writing alongside Cook reignited his passion, and the project soon grew into something more.
“Going into the studio to make the record felt like, ‘This is why I like doing this,’” Palko says. “To process the end of my bands, I dove into writing and demoing new songs, and it’s clear I wasn’t ready to hang it up.”
The result is Ripe, a record that is both intellectually and emotionally engaging, paying tribute to influences such as pop and pop-rock legends Randy Newman, The Beach Boys, and early Queen. It also channels the energy of bands like early, good Weezer and Joyce Manor, especially in tracks like “Call Me, Ishmael” and “Debbie & Lynn,” the latter being an upbeat anthem filled with sass and attitude. Though its joyful pop sensibilities shine through, Ripe also grapples with heavy themes, offering an emotional yet fun listening experience that reflects the chaotic world around it.
“I’ve always been invested in being a tracking engineer,” Palko says. “I enjoy problem-solving and seeing the puzzle come together, step by step. It’s a cool process to create the puzzle as you go.”
Humor is another essential element in the making of Ripe. “When I write, it feels like you should be working towards a punchline,” Palko explains. “It’s not about writing comedy songs, but I try to incorporate humor the way my favorite writers do, like Jarvis Cocker or Randy Newman.” The album is rich with literary references, from “Call Me, Ishmael” (a nod to Moby-Dick) to “Debbie & Lynn,” which draws inspiration from a Billy Collins poem, and “The Unconfidence Man,” a play on Melville’s The Confidence-Man. While the songs are layered with these references, they remain accessible and engaging.
“I’m notorious for not writing choruses,” Palko admits. “But for this record, we made sure every song had hooks. There was a lot of space to expand simple parts in a way that makes them feel more interesting than they already are.”
Ripe is, above all, an album full of surprises. Each listen reveals something new, whether in the lyrics or the music, like an old box that you’ve forgotten about, filled with forgotten pieces of your past. Dive in and discover what’s inside.
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