To celebrate its 20th anniversary, ‘The Fine Art Of Self Destruction’ will be reissued on 17th February 2023 in expanded form with a bonus disc of the album reimagined and re-recorded with Malin’s longtime band.
The bonus material was produced by Derek Cruz and engineered by Geoff Sanoff, who worked on Jesse’s recent ‘Sunset Kids’ and ‘Sad And Beautiful World’ releases.
Released in 2003, ‘The Fine Art Of Self Destruction’ was the debut album by New York based singer-songwriter Jesse Malin. “It wasn’t named for drug or alcohol abuse,” explains Malin. “It was more about a personal wreckage when I looked back on my life, from my parents’ divorce to failed relationships, broken up bands, dropping out of school, crashing cars, breaking things. It was more of a spiritual journey in some sense. This record is definitely one of my favourites.”
The new recording of the album song ‘Downliner’ re-entitled ‘Downliner (Afterglow Version)’ is available as a single from today. Malin explains that “it was one of the first songs I wrote for the original album and it kinda came out in one shot. I felt like I was going into something new after being in a loud band years and it is about finding a way to stay afloat when you feel like you’re drowning. The new version was spontaneous and fun to sing to, with basic piano chords and cool fake drums giving it a sparse and dark vibe. It has given it new life, but still retained the sadness and maybe even the hope that the original offered me.”
Following his teenage years in the pioneering hardcore band Heart Attack and his 20s fronting the wild and beloved D Generation, Malin took a cue from his songwriting heroes and was ready for a chance to stand alone. His solo debut was recorded over six days in New York City, live and raw.
I was still learning how to sing and tell stories. These songs were written in a little apartment downtown, without a record deal, a manager, or any expectation of anything coming of it – just a need to write them.”
JESSE MALIN 2020 | photo by Vivian Wang
Malin arrives in the UK in mid-February for the start of a European tour to promote this reissue, before returning to New York to perform at Webster Hall, where his special guests will include Tommy Stinson (who also guests on the European dates), Lucinda Williams, Butch Walker, Cait O’Riordan (The Pogues), Catherine Popper, Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie), opener Fantastic Cat, with more surprises to be announced.
1 Queen of the Underworld 2 TKO 3 Wendy 4 Downliner 5 Brooklyn 6 The Fine Art of Self Destruction 7 Riding On The Subway 8 High Lonesome 9 Solitaire 10 Almost Grown 11 Xmas 12 Cigarettes and Violets 13 Brooklyn (Walt Whitman in the Trash) 14 Riding on the Subway ’22 15 Downliner (Afterglow Version) 16 High Lonesome (PBR Vacation) 17 Cigarettes and Violets ’22 18 Almost Grown (Busker Version) 19 Solitaire (Song for Kelly Keller) 20 Queen of the Underworld (Cantina Version) 21 Xmas, etc.
A1 Queen of the Underworld A2 TKO A3 Downliner A4 Wendy A5 Brooklyn B1 The Fine Art of Self Destruction B2 Riding On The Subway B3 High Lonesome B4 Solitaire B5 Almost Grown B6 Xmas C1 Brooklyn (Walt Whitman in the Trash) C2 Downliner (Afterglow Version) C3 Solitaire (Song for Kelly Keller) C4 Almost Grown (Busker Version) D1 Queen of the Underworld (Cantina Version) D2 Cigarettes and Violets ’22 D3 High Lonesome (PBR Vacation) D4 Xmas, etc.
JESSE MALIN UK / EUROPEAN TOUR 2023 15.02.23 GLASGOW Stereo tickets 16.02.23 MANCHESTER YES (The Pink Room) tickets 17.02.23 LONDON The Garage tickets 18.02.23 PARIS (FR) La Boule Noire tickets 19.02.23 UTRECHT (NL) dB’s tickets 23.02.23 BERGAMO (IT) Druso tickets 24.02.23 RAVENNA (IT) Bronson tickets 25.02.23 MARENO DI PIAVE, TV (IT) Corner Live tickets 27.02.23 HAMBURG (DE) Nochtspeicher tickets 28.02.23 COPENHAGEN (DK) Hotel Cecil tickets 01.03.23 LUND (SE) Mejeriet tickets 02.03.23 STOCKHOLM (SE) Bar Brooklyn tickets 03.03.23 OSLO (NO) John Dee tickets