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Modernism is the latest collection from North Carolina songwriter / vocalist / guitarist / producer Chris Stamey. Conceived as a companion piece to 2025’s lauded Anything Is Possible, the new album is a further “love letter” to the kaleidoscopic variety of music heard on AM and free-form FM radio in the 1960s and early 70s, and features many of his favorite songs from that era. The title is a wink and a nod to the fact that it was made primarily at Modern Recording (Chapel Hill, NC).

It features new versions of classic songs such as the Beatles’ “Hey Bulldog” (with Big Star’s Jody Stephens on drums), the Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset” (with the dB’s), and Sly and the Family Stone’s “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” (featuring the Uptown Horns, Brian Dennis [DAG], and Jon Wurster [Mountain Goats, Superchunk]). Deep cuts are also in evidence, including “Shadows Breaking Over My Head” by the Left Banke (with Brian Wilson Band alums Probyn Gregory and Nelson Bragg), “Hernando’s Hideaway” (from The Pajama Game, and a 1954 hit for Everly Bros. producer Archie Bleyer), “At Last” (by Harry Warren), as well as three new interpretations of his own earlier tunes. There’s also a closer of the Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday,” a version produced by Alex Chilton in 1977. The original mix is now lost, but a charming instrumental rough mix on an old reel-to-reel analog tape (Alex on drums and guitar) was recently discovered, and Chris and Pat Sansone (Wilco, Autumn Defense) were able to replace the missing vocals and (with Don Dixon’s bowed bass and Rachel Kiel’s alto recorder) bring the track to life.

“This record was a blast to make,” Chris reports. “Although a bevy of charismatic drummers appear here, including Jody Stephens, Jon Wurster, Mitch Easter, Alex Chilton, and Will Rigby, more than half of the tracks were cut with session ace Rob Ladd (Alanis Morrisette, the Connells) in the chair. I had come back from touring with renewed confidence in my own playing, and realized I’d been relying on some of my friends’ vast chops for so long in the studio that I’d forgotten how much fun it was to groove along on guitar and bass myself.

I’ve been the beneficiary of Rob’s drumming expertise during many live gigs over the last decade, so it was a bit of a busman’s holiday. We met up one October day to revisit some of these arrangements—in hopes of finding ‘a few’ to add to a deluxe version of ‘Waterloo Sunset’ that the dB’s had cut with me a while back. I also threw some surprises at him. (Of course there are so many great songs out there, on a different day, it might have been a totally different record.) I think we cut 12 tracks that day!, 7 of which appear here.”

Chris is an indie-rock icon with a long and illustrious history that’s encompassed co-founding seminal avant-pop band the dBs, playing with Alex Chilton in the 70s and more recently with Jody Stephens's Big Star Quintet and the all-star smart-pop outfit the Salt Collective. The new album features special guests such as Jody Stephens (Big Star), Pat Sansone (Wilco), long-time cohort Mitch Easter, Probyn Gregory and Nelson Bragg (formerly of the Brian Wilson band), The dB’s, NC legend Wes Lachot, and Emily Frantz (Watchhouse), among others. Modernism is being released on 12” LP vinyl, CD, digital download, and streaming platforms on May 1, preceded on April 18 by a 7” colored-vinyl 45 of “Waterloo Sunset,” with a nonalbum B Side of a song by Paul McCartney, “Goodbye,” first recorded by Mary Hopkin.

Power pop band The dB's. Known for his sophisticated melodies and rich harmonies, his work has been fundamental to the independent music scene since the 1970s. His music blends classic pop, alternative rock, and chamber arrangements, maintaining a deep connection to timeless pop sounds.