The Hard Quartet

The brand-new indie band started up in 2023 and consists of genre heavyweights Stephen Malkmus, Matt Sweeney, Jim White, and Emmett Kelly, who boast quite an impressive résumé; Pavement, the Jicks, Silver Jews, Chavez, Superwolf, Dirty Three, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Ty Segall, Guided by Voices, and Cat Power – to name a few.

In October 2024, the band released their self-titled debut album on the prestigious Matador Records, a very welcome reminder that true, original indie rock is alive and well.

The Guardian gave the album four out of five stars and wrote in its review: ”…the guitar playing is wondrous and the tunes constantly delight and surprise. Rather than being a cosy back-slapping exercise, these veterans have brought the best out of each other.”

Pitchfork was also brimming with enthusiasm in its assessment of the album: ”…their gorgeous melodies feel like the natural output of four rock vets hanging out together in Malibu. Maybe, as Malkmus said, they really are just a band, man. The Hard Quartet lets us into their circle for just under an hour; it’s hard not to want to bask in its stoned brilliance even longer.”