The New Amsterdams sound like the quiet moments that happen after the party ends. Built around the unmistakable, slightly nasal, and deeply earnest voice of Matt Pryor, the music trades the distorted guitars of his main band for the woody resonance of acoustic guitars, upright bass, and the occasional lonesome harmonica. It is music that feels lived-in, organic, and unpretentious, capturing a specific kind of suburban melancholy that is both specific to the American Midwest and universally relatable.
What makes them distinctive is how they bridged the gap between the second-wave emo scene and the burgeoning indie-folk movement of the early 2000s. While peers were turning up the volume, Pryor turned it down, focusing on the skeletal structure of a song. The addition of instruments like the accordion and banjo adds a layer of 'American folklore' that gives the music a timeless, rootsy quality without ever feeling like a gimmick or a costume.
Start with 'Never You Mind' to hear the project at its most intimate and sparse, or jump to 'At the Foot of My Rival' for a more realized, full-band sound that maintains the project's signature warmth. It is the perfect discography for anyone who grew up on pop-punk but now finds themselves more at home in a quiet coffee shop than a mosh pit.
The New Amsterdams is an American band featuring Matthew Pryor of The Get Up Kids. In a certain sense, they represented the acoustic counter-project to The Get up Kids. In contrast to The Get Up Kids, this project features acoustic guitars, the accordion, wind instruments, strings, and mature elements of American folklore. Among the members were also numerous musicians and contributors of The Get Up Kids and other friendly bands.
Cassette uses generative AI to enrich its catalog. How we use AI →