We’ve been wondering what’s next for Portland, ME’s Golden Rules the Thumb since we last touched based with them in the wake of releasing their sophomore album After the Brass in 2020. The following year saw them drop their third full-length, Licorice, which continued to showcase the fruitful indie rock collaborations of members Tyler Jackson and Jonas Eule. 

This week, we’re thrilled to help Golden Rules the Thumb with the release of their latest single, the a/b one-two-punch of “Fisherman’s Ego” and “Oke of an Excellent Graine.” These standalones are a strong start to 2023 for Jackson and Eule. 

“Fisherman’s Ego” begins with a sprawling, atmospheric opening before the beat comes in to give direction and a laid-back groove to a track that evokes feelings of curiosity, discovery, and wonder. It’s the kind of track that you’d throw on to get into your “main character” energy. 

Following that comes “Oke of an Excellent Graine.” A little faster than its predecessor, this one is driven by an airy saxophone riff that soars above the wide landscape of the remaining ensemble. While the year is still quite young, these two tracks are early contenders for having some of the best production of the year. There’s quite a lot going on musically in each – many layers of instrumentation layered on top of each other to create a complex, unified sound – yet nothing feels overwrought and no sounds get lost in the fray. Each instrument, though working as part of a whole, comes through in its own distinct sonic space. They give off a vibe that they would be best heard outside, perhaps lying in a field staring at the sky. Given the current season in New England, that may have to be tabled for a bit, but staring out your window with a cup of tea should be a suitable stand-in for now.

The singles come out on Friday 1/20, but you can stream them on the Allston Pudding Soundcloud early.