The Muster Point Project, or TMPP for those of us who like our rock talk fast and loud, is storming out of the gate with a new full-length beast, “Old is New”, and it’s about to remind everyone what happens when songwriting chops meet unapologetic sonic ambition. Thirteen tracks. Thirteen reasons to believe that guitar-driven, melody-soaked indie rock with guts is not just surviving, it’s thriving, and TMPP is the crew fanning the flames.
Trying to pigeonhole “Old is New” is a fool’s errand, and frankly, the band wouldn’t have it any other way. They veer into the dusty, open-highway vibes of Americana, tap their boots to some folk-rock sincerity, and yeah, they even kick up a little alt-country dirt.
The mastermind steering this ship, frontman Kevin Franco, has a mission, and it’s woven through every groove of this record. He’s talking about the complicated web of relationships—with others, and more importantly, with ourselves. This is music that stares you right in the eye while you’re driving down a dark highway, making sense of the chaos, and finding profundity in the little things. Hell, he even name-checks the grim reality of “streaming revenue” with a wry smirk, proving this is a band that’s in the trenches, keeping it real for every indie act out there.
Franco gives us a couple of key targets to aim our crosshairs at. There’s “Alone Again”, a track he describes as a song of betrayal. You can already feel the tension, the raw nerve this one’s gonna hit. Then there’s “I Can Only Cry”, which he calls a “brand new take on the typical country song.” You know what that means? They’re taking a trope, feeding it through a tube amp, and rebuilding it in their own image.
And for all you crate-diggers, vinyl junkies, and lovers of tangible art, TMPP is throwing you a massive bone. The vinyl edition comes with two bonus tracks that will NEVER see the light of day on streaming services. Let that sink in. In an age of digital omnipresence, they’re creating something exclusive, something sacred for the physical format. Now, a record this sonically diverse needs a killer production to tie it all together without sanding off the edges. Enter Darryl McFadyen. The man has worked with legends like Belle & Sebastian and Simple Minds, and his touch is all over this.
TMPP enlisted an absolute wrecking crew of studio musicians to bring this vision to life. Shout out to Marcelo Effori, Oleg Pisarenko, Per LÖFdahl, and Sterling Laws. These are the gunslingers who laid down the licks, the beats, and the textures that make this album breathe and snarl. And a tip of the hat to author Geoff Moore, whose contribution adds another layer of depth to this collab.
“Old is New” is a record that’s unafraid to be smart, unafraid to be catchy, and unafraid to get its hands dirty. The Muster Point Project is hitting its stride, loaded with an arsenal of anthems and ready to take no prisoners. Mark your calendar for November 1. Your speakers are begging for it.
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