Rose Main Reading Room, the fourth full-length album by Peel Dream Magazine, is an auditory delight best experienced through a pair of good headphones. This lush, inviting record is the perfect soundtrack for city bus rides and introspective, rainy-day journeys to unknown destinations. Named after the legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, Peel Dream Magazine has always embraced genre experimentation, from motorik krautrock to shoegaze and space-age pop. Their latest work, however, is their most accessible and catchy collection of songs to date, making it an excellent entry point for new listeners.
Set against the backdrop of New York City’s iconic landmarks, such as the American Museum of Natural History and Grand Central Station, songwriter Joseph Stevens intricately weaves personal narratives into the broader tapestry of the natural world. Themes of instinct, animality, and evolution are explored with depth and nuance. The album’s lead single, “Lie In The Gutter,” beautifully encapsulates the driving, rhythmic essence of the band’s earlier work, drawing favorable comparisons to Stereolab and Yo La Tengo while maintaining a unique identity.
Stevens explains the inspiration behind the single and its accompanying video:
“This video is cut from footage we filmed on a few different tours between the fall of 2023 and Spring of 2024, and I love it because it captures the amazing feeling and energy that those trips had. There are cameos from bands we were touring with, like Chastity Belt and Gift, and friends like Simi Sohota from Healing Potpourri. A lot of it was shot in the Pacific Northwest and features some hikes we got to take among the dense green forests up there. I wanted to capture that stuff because this theme of ‘the natural world’ has been jostling around my brain for a while and is a big part of the album. The song is meant to be a very simple statement about finding joy and wonder in life despite whatever may be on your mind. The phrase it’s taken from is the trite but sweet Oscar Wilde quote, ‘We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.'”
Rose Main Reading Room is a testament to Peel Dream Magazine’s ability to evoke a sense of place and emotion through sound. Stevens’ lyricism is both personal and universal, making the album resonate on multiple levels. The meticulous production and lush arrangements make this a record that not only invites repeated listens but almost demands them. It’s a journey through the mind and the natural world, filled with moments of introspection and revelation.
Don’t miss Peel Dream Magazine on their upcoming tour, where they will be sharing their new music live across North America. Here are the full list of dates:
Tour Dates:
- July 31 Wed Andy’s Bar – Denton, TX
- Aug 02 Fri Saturn – Birmingham, AL *
- Aug 03 Sat The Blue Room – Nashville, TN *
- Aug 05 Mon Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL *
- Aug 06 Tue Magic Stick – Detroit, MI *
- Aug 08 Thu Lee’s Palace – Toronto, ON *
- Aug 09 Fri Théâtre Fairmount – Montréal, QC *
- Aug 11 Sun The Sinclair – Cambridge, MA *
- Aug 12 Mon Elsewhere – Brooklyn, NY *
- Aug 13 Tue Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA *
- Aug 14 Wed Union Stage – Washington, DC *
- Aug 16 Fri Masquerade (Altar) – Atlanta, GA
- Aug 18 Sun Mohawk (inside) – Austin, TX
- Sep 07 Sat Zebulon – Los Angeles, CA # (Record Release Show)
- = with Wild Nothing
= with Goon