“909” by Starflyer 59

Here’s the thing about Starflyer 59: No matter how much Jason Martin has evolved his band’s sound over the last 30(!) years, it’s always unmistakably Starflyer 59. Such reliability and consistency, mind you, is not a bad thing. It only makes sense, then, that Starflyer 59’s new single is a delightful throwback to some of Martin’s earliest recordings, like 1995’s Gold and 1997’s Americana.

The syrupy-thick distortion, the drop tuning, the fiery surf riffs… they’re all there on “909.” Meanwhile, Martin’s voice — which has deepened and roughened over the decades — waxes nostalgic as the man is wont to do, comparing his life today to his SoCal youth. And then there’s the song’s bridge, where the distortion falls aways for a few moments while those gorgeous surf riffs drift off into the stratosphere. It’s classic Starflyer 59, which is to say, as fresh and reliable as ever.

Lust for Gold will be released by Velvet Blue Music on August 16, 2024; preorder your copy today.