Dirt Buyer’s Joe Sutkowski has released the band’s sophomore album, Dirt Buyer II, which was recorded in February 2020. Dirt Buyer II marks a significant shift for the band as they now perform as a trio with Sutkowski on guitar and vocals. The other members, Tristan Allen and Mike Costa, are on bass and drums, respectively. Dirt Buyer II reflects the beauty and disaster around the band, tackling heavy themes of relationships and beliefs. Half of the album was recorded while the band was on tour with Surf Curse, accompanied by a search for inspiration to ground him.
During a session of Shoplifting held at a Rough Trade NYC store, Sutkowski shared the albums that inspired and shaped their sound. The first album he picked was Tim by The Replacements, a rock band that he admires for its masterful songwriting and beautiful melodies. Tapestry by Carole King is another essential to Sutkowski, who considers the songwriter one of the best of her time. Elliott Smith’s Either/Or, which Sutkowski likens to The Replacements’ Tim, is another favorite album. Sutkowski lauds Smith’s guitar-playing, the lyrics and melodies, and the overall sound of the album. Lastly, he chose The Head on the Door by The Cure, an album, he says, that everyone likes without much explanation. His last pick was Lana Del Rey’s Norman Fucking Rockwell, which he deemed his favorite album of 2019. Sutkowski praised the album not just for its beauty, but also for how it tackles significant themes.
Dirt Buyer II is Dirt Buyer’s first album on Bayonet and represents a deeper and heavier shift for the band. The recording reflects the themes of beauty and disaster around the band, which he tackled while touring with Surf Curse. Sutkowski’s search for inspiration became a major theme in its songwriting. Together with Allen and Costa, Sutkowski’s reflection on relationships and beliefs takes on another dimension in Dirt Buyer II
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