The New Professionals - Come Here Creature

​The New Professionals

Come Here Creature
self-released; 2024

 TOP ALBUM

​​​By ​Dino DiMuro

The New Professionals are an indie band from New York City with a classy name that belies their earthy, ragged rock sound. Band leaders Richard Evans (guitar/vocals) and Jerry Hart (guitar/vocals) met in college and quickly developed a musical partnership, jamming and writing songs together. After graduation the founders joined up with Isaac Pincus (drums), Oliver Divone (bass/synth) and a couple others to create The New Professionals, releasing a self-titled debut album in 2021. Thanks to our old pal Covid-19 there were some cast changes and downtime, but at last we have a follow-up titled Come Here Creature. 

“Suit and Tie” begins mysteriously with a muffled studio voice (“Okay, ready set…”) with quietly-picked electric guitars slowly filling the soundscape. With a quick pause, the band roars in at full volume. I was thrilled to hear that ragged double guitar-bass-drums sound with plaintive vocals that recall Sebadoh, one of my favorite bands. Right away the band does some interesting tricks with subtle tempo changes and interesting chord voicings. After just two minutes out of six, it already feels like there’s been enough content for three different songs. How they keep all these tempo changes straight, I have no idea!

“Chicago” is an even faster, tighter arrangement with one guitar handling the clusters of basic chords while the second adds grace notes that echo into the stratosphere. Isaac Pincus looks like a young lad in pictures but his rolling, tumbling kit work had my jaw scraping the floor. “Alimony” is an even harder rocker but the topic seems a strange one for college grads! I’m hearing a lot of lyrics where “money” is rhymed with “funny” like in Badfinger’s “Rock Of All Ages.” 

Interestingly the next track shares a song title with Badfinger. “Come and Get It” takes a moment to pull back the volume for a more muted but still heavy sound, where you can really bask in the different chord formations atop the very tight (and much clearer) rhythm section. You can even hear Divone on tambourine! On a chugging rock level, this is my favorite so far, and I’m still loving the Lou Barlow-style vocals.  “See No White” is a 7-minute track that continues the band’s interlocking guitar and tempo-shifting explorations. There’s moments here where the chord changes and raw energy reminded me of the Beatles on “The White Album.” Drummer Pincus again provides the glue and lots of flash. “Whining” features a gorgeous descending minor chord scheme that reminded me of Maria McKee’s solo work. The lead vocal does have a bit of a lost, “whining” quality while still moving along in perfect harmony with the backing; not exactly Eddie Vedder but with that level of commitment. There’s pathos in lines like “Maybe I’m ashamed that you were whining / I don’t know why you weren’t strong.” 

“Interlude” features baroque-style guitar patterns, soon joined by chiming harmonies. I sort of thought this would be a Bach-like interlude but after one minute the rock band sound fully returns. It’s a no-lyrics jangle-fest and I dig it, especially when the conclusion returns to the Bach-like arrangement and ghostly guitar harmonics. “Caught in a Pity” is another acoustic-based tune with Badfinger-Beatles charm. “Hang His Hat” concludes the album in similarly intimate style, though using jangly electric guitar. Evan’s vocals feel so confessional and naked that it’s like he’s sitting right across from you.

There’s 13 songs here in total but there’s never a drop in quality or energy. Definitely a keeper for me and a must-listen for you!

Tweet