Been Stellar release their debut album via Dirty Hit, and it’s just screaming to be listened to!
Ok let me shout out some bands and you, (the reader) can tell me what they have in common: Talking heads, Television, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Strokes, Interpol. Anything yet? Ok… Vampire weekend, LCD sound System, The Velvet Underground , Fun Lovin Criminals . Ok That last one gave it away… NEW YORK CITY BABY!
And The Big Apple has spat out another seed for us to suck on and perhaps chip a tooth while we’re at it. BEEN STELLAR! Not to be mistaken for Ben Stiller, of which the band got their name.
Side note: did you know Ben Stiller was once in a band himself before the acting career took off ? True Story. And they were called Capital Punishment. Seriously though, check out the album Road Kill, released in 1982. Boy were those kids on drugs.
BEEN STELLER on the other hand are set to release their latest album (or “released” if you are reading this on Friday 20th 2024) titled Scream For New York, NY. And it has beautifully hit the mark when it comes to its predecessors on the list of NYC bands.
Post Punk, shoegaze-esque, painted on an indie rock canvas, soaked in beer.
You can almost taste it!
If Placebo and Fontaines DC had a child, well perhaps Been Stellar would be the fucked up child who goes on to gather up all the other weirdos, and I’d gladly join in.
This album enraptures oneself in the romance, caos and beauty of New York whilst hitting on notes matching the likes of Interpol with a sprinkling of Radiohead. Maybe more than a sprinkle, as I can hear Thom Yorkes voice at times and Philip Sellway snare slapping on tracks like All In One. As well as an album cover that matches the pallet and look of OK Computer, but maybe I’m just over thinking.
The sound is certainly their own. Spine tingling noisiness. This album is raw and live! Tracks like Start Again and Can’t Look Away scream at you through the speakers.
Been stellar are about to take their dreamy nostalgic live performance on tour once again, but this time they are the main characters in the story. Previously the band has supported the likes of Fontaines DC, Interpol and the 1975. You can catch them all across the UK, but most importantly in our very own WorkMan’s Club on November 30th and even better again in the legendary Roisin Dubh in Galway on the 1st of December.
Scream For New York, NY is 7/10 for me and my fingers are crossed for that press pass so I can snap these guys in Dublin.
Star Rating Below
Prior to the album release, Been Stellar shared a handful of standout singles from the album – the white-knuckled and cutting Sweet, the ferocious late-album highlight All In One, the masterful and dynamic Pumpkin and the head-turning lead single Passing Judgment.
Scream From New York, NY – track list
Start Again
Passing Judgement
Pumpkin
Scream From New York, NY
Sweet
Can’t Look Away
Simmer
Takedown
All In One
I Have The Answer
Purchase the album on vinyl, CD and cassette from Dirty Hit HERE
BEEN STELLAR UK & EU DATES
JULY
Fri 26 SHEFFIELD Tramlines Festival
Sat 27 OXFORD Truck Festival
Sun 28 SUFFOLK Latitude Festival
NOVEMBER
Sun 03 AMSTERDAM, NL Bitterzoet
Mon 04 COLOGNE, DE Blue Shell
Wed 06 BERLIN, DE Cassiopeia
Thu 07 HAMBURG, DE Molotow Sky Bar
Sat 09 WARSAW, PL Klub Hybrydy
Sun 10 PRAGUE, CZ Café V Lese
Mon 11 MUNICH, DE Orange House
Wed 13 MILAN, IT Bellezza
Thu 14 ZURICH, CH Exil
Sat 16 BRUSSELS, BE Witloof Bar
Sun 17 PARIS, FR Point Ephemere
Tue 19 BRISTOL Fleece
Thu 21 MANCHESTER Academy 3
Fri 22 GLASGOW King Tuts
Sun 24 NEWCASTLE Cluny
Mon 25 LEEDS Brudenell Social Club
Tue 26 NOTTINGHAM Bodega
Thu 28 LONDON Scala
Sat 30 DUBLIN Workman’s Club
DECEMBER
Sun 01 GALWAY Roisin Dubh
Mon 02 BELFAST Ulster Sports Club
Connect with Been Stellar: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Reviewer Carl Foran – @carlforanphotography