Hello reader,
Welcome back. It’s time for another set of new releases this week. What’s been one of your favorite new albums this month? Of this year? Looking for more to add to your list, be sure to stick around and explore SWT. There are plenty of Singles Spotlights and reviews to visit.
Today, we’re going to delve into Devlin and The Harm. I’ve seen the name stylized with an & and with lowercase “and the”. And a heads up, you may see all three in content about the band online. Ultimately, we try our best to use the stylings the artists intend and prefer. This is a new project led by Devlin McCluskey, best known in the LA garage rock scene as a member of The Dead Ships, which dissolved in 2022. The project also includes Michael Nussbaum on drums and the fantastic producer Alex Newport (Death Cab for Cutie, Bloc Party, At the Drive-In, among many others).
According to the press release for their self-titled debut album, McCluskey sums up the album creation process accordingly: ‘We lived a lifetime making this record,’ says Devlin McCluskey. Spanning three difficult years, the album was shaped by personal upheaval, including drummer Michael Nussbaum’s near-fatal accident and the loss of McCluskey’s father.” And …the press release sets the stage even further, stating, “Their self-titled debut album blends raw rock energy with orchestral arrangements, drawing from 70s rock, soul, baroque pop, and dark Americana while exploring sobriety, love, grief, and the feeling of living through a fractured America.” Check out MAGNET Magazine’s excellent feature for more details on the hardships and more about one of the singles, “No Havana”.
And thus, Devlin and The Harm will be released on Friday, May 22nd, for your listening pleasure.
Let’s get right into it with some hype for your ears and eyes via the band’s YouTube channel:
Check out the animations within the video written, directed, and animated by Devlin McCluskey for the song, “Kingdom Comes”:
(All credits and rights to Devlin and The Harm)
Watch Devlin in a few precarious positions within the video for the song, “No Havana”:
(All credits and rights to Devlin and The Harm)
Another black and white video, this time we explore a dwelling in the video for the song, “Stress Dreams”:
(All credits and rights to Devlin and The Harm)
Overall, the self-titled album Devlin and The Harm offers listeners a lot to like. And that’s a big part of the reason I’m here doing a review for you on this release. There are earworm-worthy songs, especially from the singles, but also deeper within the album. The songs, lyrics, and multiple themes within greatly capture what the trio was going through at the time and state(s) of the nation during the recording and songcrafting process. I will not dwell on those, or that, as many of us can relate all too well. If you don’t understand yet, take a listen to the album in its entirety for yourself and come back. Kudos to Devlin and Alex Newport on capturing all of that on paper and pairing it with multiple melodies so well. And for using Devlin’s vocals in different deliveries as the lyrics needed. It worked. The songs themselves will play fantastically live, even better than they sound on the album. Some bands are just like that, and I think the band’s true energy is best witnessed in person, not in a studio. Albums are great for what they are, but experiencing live music is where the so called it is at. Always. The mastering, mixing, and production on this album are top-notch. Everyone did the best they could here. Kudos to Newport and Carl Saff on that.
Devlin and The Harm gets 4 out of 5 Scum Drops from me relative to all new album releases in 2026. It is a very good album overall and a good place to start for Devlin and the Harm. It lays a good foundation for what’s to come. I dig it. You will like it too. Listening won’t change your life by making you financially wealthier, regrow your hair or bring back something or someone from your past. But no music will do that for you. Add this self-titled album to your collection on the format of your choice. If you’re into limited-release vinyl and who isn’t here at SWT, pick that up here.
I’ll always advocate that you take the time to listen to every album in its entirety. The listening process with the Devlin and The Harm album will take just 40 minutes from start to finish, a solid hour and 20 minutes if you listen back-to-back. Along the way, you’ll discover your own favorite songs without the influence or bias of others. After several listens, I found the songs highlighted in green below to be my favorites on this album.
The tracklist for Devlin and The Harm (song length)
- Kingdom Comes (4:26)
- No Havana (3:42)
- Dirt Used To Be Gold (3:32)
- Heyday (3:17)
- Stress Dreams (3:29)
- Bad Actors (4:09)
- Fadeaway (3:26)
- Come On Through (3:42)
- Wish Away (3:05)
- Atascadero (5:03)
- Greenpoint Dropout (3:42)
Total runtime: 41:33
Like what you heard and want to hear more and/or purchase the vinyl? Check out their Bandcamp, or YouTube, stream the songs on Spotify, and follow the band’s socials via Instagram.
Thank you for reading and supporting good music.
Until next time,
Alex
Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site, scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions and SWT Interviews. And all of our socials.
Questions, feedback, or more? Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com
