Steve Conte enlists XTC's Andy Partridge for new album 'The Concrete Jangle'

Steve Conte, who has worked with the New York Dolls, Billy Squier, Peter Wolf, and Michael Monroe, has announced the worldwide release of his new album, 'The Concrete Jangle,' on vinyl. Previously only available on vinyl via Record Store Day, it is the follow up to 2021's 'Bronx Cheer.'

The artist says, "I'm super excited about my new album on Wicked Cool Records - and once again, I must crow about how psyched I am to have written 1/2 of it with one of my songwriting heroes - XTC's Andy Partridge! I pulled out all the stops to make this my most melodic, hard power-pop, Beatles-eque, rock 'n' soul album to date - with lyrical themes I haven't explored before!"

Conte adds, "I cannot stress how much Andy Partridge contributed to this record - it would not exist without him and his input. I’ve given him a co-production credit for helping with the arrangements of the demos, which were ultimately followed when making the final record. To my earlier point, it is the listeners who have have proven to me that I’ve become better on this record because they’ve thought that some of my lyric and melody lines were Andy’s - which is the highest compliment.

When tasked with which songs were going to exist on Side B, I knew they’d have to stand up next to the Partridge co-writes so I pulled out some the more psychedelic, adventurous soulful songs from the Beatles/XTC/Motown side of my musical brain. I think I picked the right ones because people have mentioned some of those songs as their favorites - and even Andy himself perked up when he heard “I’m Decomposing A Song For You”.

In keeping with the aesthetic of 60s-meets-80 power pop, the record had a limitation on what I could use. I played a multitude of guitars; both acoustic & electric, mandolin, Mellotron, strings, piano & organ (all sampled), tambourine & maracas. I had my other co-producer, Andrew Hollander play real piano & Mellotron while keyboard whiz Rob Schwimmer added an authentic 1960s Ondioline as well as Theremin & synthesizer sounds. Real trumpets by Chris Anderson, cello by Mark Stewart, bass by brother John Conte and drums by Prairie Prince (The Tubes, XTC, Todd Rundgren), Thommy Price (Joan Jett, Billy Idol, Mink DeVille) and Brian Delaney (New York Dolls). My sons Zia Conte & Baz Conte sang backing vocals.

Some of the lyrical themes on the record are truth vs. misinformation, entitlement, boredom, heartache, fidelity, addiction and loss - and of course, love and lust."

Steve Conte has announced an album release show at NYC's The Bowery Electric on June 5th. Tickets available HERE.

'The Concrete Jangle' Track Listing:

1. Fourth of July
2. Hey Hey Hey (Aren’t You The One?)
3. We Like It
4. Shoot Out The Stars
5. One Last Bell
6. Motor City Love Machine
7. All Tied Up
8. Decomposing A Song For You
9. Girl With No Name
10. I Dream Her

Tracks 1-5 (Side A on vinyl) written by Conte/Partridge
Tracks 6-10 (Side B on vinyl) written by Conte

Produced by Steve Conte

Additional Remote Production by Andrew Hollander & Andy Partridge

Stream/buy 'The Concrete Jangle' here: https://orcd.co/alltiedup

Available are:

A signed copy of The Concrete Jangle on orange vinyl in gatefold packaging with lyrics included.

A signed copy of The Concrete Jangle on CD. Includes pull-out poster & slightly different artwork from the vinyl.

Conte's connection with Wicked Cool founder Stevie Van Zandt dates back to 2004 when the Dolls performed at Van Zandt’s Underground Garage Festival. Conte reminisces, “But my connection with him goes back to Jersey. I grew up with his cousins in Matawan [near the Jersey shore], so I had been hearing about his legend for years.”