The Crooked Stuff are pleased to announce that two new singles from their upcoming LP Synthetic Signals album

SF Bay Area discopunk trio The Crooked Stuff are pleased to announce that two new singles from their upcoming LP Synthetic Signals album (The Unknown International 7/31/26) can now be heard everywhere. A heady blend of “discopunk and electrofunk” with roots in the DC hardcore scene (and the influence of ’80s new wave), the tracks deliver “bitter yet melodic vocal delivery atop danceable rhythms.” (ReGen)

“Shallow Shores” dives into the relentless reception of today's media pool and news ticker churn, while “Sci-Fi Radio” goes internal to find a honed state of creative energy to fuel the transmission of change. "Everyone's feeling and seeing this relentless feed of increasingly questionable world shit these days," says vocalist Tom Gorton. "The solutions are grounded at the human core but right now it's hard for anyone to even sit mentally still long enough to breathe."

Recorded in the band's SF Bay Area studio, both tracks arose from rapid riff sketches on their Moog Little Phatty, live drum captures and drum-machine builds, the vocal melodies and lyrics then flowed in over top through their blend of hi-fi and low-fi gear.

LISTEN TO “SHALLOW SHORES” AND “SCI-FI RADIO”

"Sounds like synthy Pere Ubu!" — Kelley Stoltz, KEXP (Vinelands)

ABOUT THE CROOKED STUFF:

The Crooked Stuff is Tom Gorton (vocals, DC hardcore roots), John Varn (keys/synths, toured with Neal Schon and Greg Rolie of Santana and Journey), and Nick DeRyss (drums, from Day Wave on Harvest-Capitol Records).

The band's September 2025 Darkphased EP which landed at #10 NACC Top Adds (19 adds), #4 NACC Electronic Most Added, #3 Sub-Modern Albums, and #159 NACC Top 200, with 1,800 Apple-tracked spins across 47 stations and 21 markets. Heavy rotation at WPRK Orlando (47 spins/week peak), specialty support from Live 105 (SF), KEXP (Seattle), and 91X (San Diego). The three tracks, Decimator, Black Holes, and Die This Way, will all appear on the upcoming Synthetic Signals album as well.

2026 live show highlights include three shows at Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Aaron Axelsen's Popscene Live 105 Soundcheck showcase in San Francisco, and a Live At Lagunitas summer season opening slot at the Lagunitas Brewery amphitheater. Upcoming dates include: Eureka Theater (Eureka, CA July 17), The Fern (Nevada City, CA July 18), Smiley's (Bolinas, CA September 5). More summer and fall dates to be announced.