Brooklyn-based rock band Pretty Rude have shared their new single “Things I Do,” accompanied by a band-made video. The track comes off their highly anticipated debut album, Ripe, out May 16 via SideOneDummy Records. The record will be available digitally and as a limited-edition vinyl. 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.
“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.
