Mal Blum, who I once called punk’s greatest hidden treasure, are back with their first new music in three years, since 2015’s You Look A Lot Like Me. Their new single, “Things Still Left To Say,” is Blum at their best: concise and hard-hitting, with a rousing chorus that talks about being alone but makes you feel like you’re along together. “There are things still left to say/ I’ve got phrases/ You’re afraid,” they sing in the chorus, learning how to be present when it seems like giving up would be easier.

Here’s what Blum has to say about the song and video:

Things Still Left To Say is a song about the desire and persistence to be heard, about times when we swallow or deflect vulnerable aspects of ourselves because we feel that there is no space for them. This song is about navigating that distance, the specific flavor of isolation (so awkward that it’s almost comical) that occurs when you feel unknown in front of those who think that they know you the best.

I like that the director (Kate Sweeney) took this concept and made it literal and fun, turning it into a video where mostly other people are singing the words. The people in the video (aside from me and the band) are all friends or fans who came to one of our New York shows and sang karaoke in a side room. I was running around at the show, so I didn’t see them shoot it at the time and it was really sweet to watch this and see what everyone did with it and brought to the song.

Watch and listen and check out their upcoming tour dates below.

TOUR DATES:
03/08 Knoxville, TN @ Barley’s Tap Room #
03/09 Nashville, TN @ Basement East #
03/11 Columbus, OH @ The Basement #
03/12 Buffalo, NY @ Ninth Ward #
03/14 Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt #
03/15 Woodstock, NY @ Colony #
03/16 Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street Club Room #
03/17 Portland, ME @ SPACE Gallery #
03/19 Providence, RI @ Columbus Theatre #
03/20 Jersey City, NJ @ White Eagle Hall #
03/21 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer #
03/22 Washington, DC @ Black Cat #
# w/ Lucy Dacus, Fenne Lily

“Things Still Left To Say” is out now via Don Giovanni Records.