Episode 231: Star 80

Episode 231 of Look At My Records! features an interview with Matt Allan of the Brooklyn-based band Star 80. We last chatted with Allen prior to the pandemic on the Look At My Records! radio program. Back then, he was releasing his first singles as Star 80, and in the intervening years, he’s accumulated a bevy of solid material. Much of it appears on his brand new, debut full-length, New View. The record is a cohesive, yet eclectic mix of stories and sonics, with Springsteen, British post-punk, and more playing an influential role. During the interview, Matt and Tom chatted at length about New View, including how Atlantic City inspired the second track on the album, “Atlantic City,” how a well-known Sopranos quote worked its way into the sixth track, “Autumnal Baby,” and much more. Plus, Matt picked some excellent records from Tom’s collection, including choice cuts from Tommy Keene, Purple Mountains, and Pulp. You can follow along with his selections via the official playlist for Episode 231. New View is available to purchase via Bandcamp. You can also stream it on Spotify.