Lone Striker - Lone Striker (2025)

That Tom Brown fella sure knows how to keep things interesting, huh? Between Rural France and Teenage Tom Petties, he’s already got his hands full with two underground darlings. And now, here comes another project—Lone Striker—straight from his bedroom. They say that’s where the magic happens, though in Tom Brown’s case, I suspect it involves more cables and coffee than candles and cuddles.

But let’s stay on topic. Lone Striker is more than just another home-recorded project; it’s a major departure from Brown’s usual sound, even when several of the songs are easily reimagined as TTP songs. Brown spent five years shaping this record, driven by his love for warped Americana acts like Silver Jews and Sparklehorse. Not only did he take his time, but he also threw in all sorts of oddball instruments, loops, and samples, resulting in an album that’s both intimate and unpredictable.

Lone Striker is the kind of record that sneaks up on you, the perfect soundtrack for a productive workday or a long drive to nowhere in particular. It drifts in and out of focus, sometimes hazy and dreamlike, other times hitting with laser precision. The laid-back drum loops pulse like a heartbeat, guiding your breathing without you even noticing. And then there are the surprises—because this album is full of them.

The late-summer melancholy of Dunno will have your BBQ guests asking for the artist and song. Funny Way of Showing It sounds like a lost ’60s pop hit, stripped-down and lo-fi but irresistibly catchy. Cursed Like Roy cranks up the Phil Spector vibes, while Never Blown a Kiss starts so unexpectedly I had to check whether I was still listening to the same album. And that chorus hook? Absolutely massive.

As a fan of Rural France and Teenage Tom Petties, I figured I’d enjoy this. But even so, Lone Striker caught me off guard in the best way possible. Out now on Safe Suburban Home, Repeating Cloud, and Hidden Bay Records.