Rob Crow’s Gloomy Place You’re Doomed. Be Nice. Streaming at Stereogum

New Album Out March 4 On Temporary Residence

Tour Dates Announced 

photo credit: Bill Perrine

“Fans of Pinback won’t be disappointed, but newcomers will also find plenty to sink their teeth into here.” – Consequence Of Sound

“Striking a balance between Pinback‘s more straightforward material and Crow’s solo work, “Business Interruptus” signals the start of a new era, one that finds the ability to shine in spite of any perceived gloominess.” – The AV Club

“You’re Doomed, Be Nice’ is his best in years” – San Diego City Beat 

Stream: You’re Doomed. Be Nice via Stereogum

Watch: “Business Interruptus” video via The AV Club or YouTube

Rob Crow will release You’re Doomed. Be Nice. on March 4 via Temporary Residence Ltd. Stereogum is streaming the album in full ahead of Friday’s release date. Stereogum says, “You’re Doomed. Be Nice. features lots of intricately entwined guitar parts that stagger, stop, and go — the urgent delicacy of “Light On,” for instance. Though the guitars are heavy on melody, their rhythm is confrontationally juxtaposed with confessional lyrics that explore Crow’s frustrations and anxieties, such as “You don’t scare me, I was born scared” in the smartly titled “Quit Being Dicks.” Crow considered pulling back from music because of his unease with the toxicity of the industry, but coming out of this gloomy place, he has cultivated emotional, witty, new music in You’re Doomed. Be Nice. that encapsulates his struggles and faces them head on.”  Rob Crow’s Gloomy Place tour kicks of tonight in Phoenix at The Rebel Lounge. The upcoming tour will make stops in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and more. All upcoming shows are listed below. 

Earlier this month, Consequence of Sound premiered a stream of “Oh The Sadmakers” from You’re Doomed. Be Nice and and said, “His band, which features a former member of Heavy Vegetable and several of Crow’s other close friends, has helped him achieve a sound that’s more locked and loaded than anything he’s done in recent memory. Take new single “Oh, The Sadmakers”, for example. Despite the, um, gloomy name, there’s an undeniable sense of humor poking through the song’s infectious mixture of progressive rock and straightforward pop. Fans of Pinback won’t be disappointed, but newcomers will also find plenty to sink their teeth into here.”

Earlier this winter, The AV Club premiered the new video for “Business Interruptus” which is also available to share via YouTube. The AV Club said, “‘Business Interruptus,’ is deceptively bouncy given the project’s overwhelmingly dismal moniker. Striking a balance between Pinback‘s more straightforward material and Crow’s solo work, “Business Interruptus” signals the start of a new era, one that finds the ability to shine in spite of any perceived gloominess.” Earlier this winter, Pitchfork premiered a stream “Business Interruptus” from You’re Doomed. Be Nice. and the song is also available to share via SoundCloud.

You’re Doomed. Be Nice is available to pre-order on CD and vinyl in the Temporary Residence online store. You’re Doomed. Be Nice. is Rob Crow’s first album since his heavily-publicized withdrawal from music – specifically the toxic byproducts of the lifestyle of a touring professional musician attempting to survive in an industry of diminishing returns. Rather than perform, record, and mix every note himself – a trademark of his previous solo endeavors – Crow formed Gloomy Place, a band made up of close friends that includes another member of the beloved Heavy Vegetable.

Recorded and mixed by Ben Moore (Hot Snakes), You’re Doomed presents a fascinating dichotomy: dynamic, eclectic prog-pop backing alarmingly confessional, often acerbic lyrical themes. This juxtaposition makes for an album of confrontational yet accessible songs filled with wry wit and emotional depth.

Whereas Crow’s previous solo endeavors acted primarily as low-key stop-gaps between Pinback albums, the stakes are markedly higher here – and it shows in both the depth of songwriting and impressively labyrinthian performances. Gone are the 60-second blink-and-you-missed-them acoustic sketches that became a staple of Crow’s solo albums; You’re Doomed is filled with the kind of thoughtful attention to detail and craft that was a hallmark of Pinback’s legendary catalog.

You’re Doomed. Be Nice. is the diamond carved out of a particularly rough chunk of Rob Crow’s life – one that’s either the first gem of an inspired second act, or the culmination of an undeniably influential career. In either case, the quality of its cut will last a lifetime.

You’re Doomed. Be Nice. Track Listing

1. Oh, The Sadmakers
2. This Distance
3. Business Interruptus
4. Paper Doll Parts
5. Light On
6. Quit Being Dicks
7. No Shadow Left Behind
8. Rest Your Soul
9. Yie Ar
10. Autumnal Palette
11. Red: Alone
12. Unreliable Narrator
13. What We’ve Been Up To While You’ve Been Away

Rob Crow’s Gloomy Place Tour Dates 

02.29 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge
03.02 – Austin, TX @ The Sidewinder
03.03 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
03.04 – Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge
03.05 – St. Louis, MO @ Firebird
03.06 – Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar
03.08 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat Backstage
03.09 – Allston, MA @ Great Scott
03.10 – Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory
03.11 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Boot & Saddle
03.12 – Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery
03.13 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe
03.14 – Cincinnati, OH @ Urban Artifact
03.15 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Hi-Fi
03.16 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
03.17 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge
03.18 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
03.19 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
03.21 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
03.22 – Bellingham, WA @ The Wild Buffalo
03.23 – Barboza @ Seattle, WA
03.25 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill
03.26 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
03.27 – San Diego, CA @ Casba