New Jersey rock ’n’ roll duo Tall Days have returned with Breakers, their first album of new material in seven years, bringing together garage rock, blues-driven riffs and the raw influence of the New York and New Jersey underground scenes.
Released on September 29, 2026, the album features Graham Hartke on vocals and guitar alongside drummer Joe DeAngelus. The Montclair-based pair recorded the project at their own Snack Factory studio, maintaining the stripped-back approach that has shaped their music while introducing a broader range of instrumentation.
Breakers Expands Tall Days’ Stripped-Down Rock Sound
Written and recorded between March 2024 and February 2026, Breakers was developed around a deliberately straightforward formula: loud guitars, forceful drums and prominent hooks.
The record draws on 1960s and 1970s British rock alongside garage, indie and blues rock influences. While Tall Days remain fundamentally a two-piece, the new material incorporates alto and tenor saxophone, Hammond organ, recorder and additional percussion.
That expanded instrumentation adds texture without removing the rough-edged production at the centre of the duo’s sound.
The album also reflects the musical connection between northern New Jersey and New York City, with Tall Days moving between their Montclair base and venues across the Hudson River. Brooklyn venue Our Wicked Lady is among the locations connected to the development of the record.
Songs Explore Anger, Optimism and Family
Hartke has described Breakers as an album built around duality, reflecting contrasting feelings of frustration and optimism during turbulent circumstances.
Tracks including “Destroy,” “Gaslight Bomb,” “Breakers,” “Night,” “Less Fortunate” and “On Edge” focus on confrontation, frustration and resistance. Other songs, including “She Is My Girl,” “Humanity,” “Cover Song” and “NYC Rock ’N’ Roll,” take a more optimistic approach, exploring family, happiness and faith in people.
“Gaslight Bomb” channels its subject through distorted garage-rock production and low-wattage guitar amplifiers driven hard. “Destroy” originated shortly before a Tall Days performance at Our Wicked Lady and explores the aftermath of a difficult relationship and the prospect of starting again.
“She Is My Girl” offers one of the album’s clearest changes in tone. Written by Hartke for his young daughter, the track adds congas, bongos, claves, guiro, vibra-slap, cabasa and maracas to the band’s core guitar-and-drums setup.
The family connection extends into the recording itself. Hartke’s daughter Hannah, his sister Rebecca and his singer-songwriter brother Matt Hartke contribute background vocals to the album.
Experienced Production Team Joins Homemade Recording Project
Although much of Breakers was created independently at the Snack Factory studio, Tall Days brought in several established engineers to complete the record.
Mixing duties were shared among Brent Kolatado, Matt Maroulakos and Rubin Nizri, alongside Hartke. Their previous credits span artists including Lenny Kravitz, Nine Inch Nails, Beastie Boys, Best Coast, The Linda Lindas, Lady Gaga, Sheryl Crow and Steven Van Zandt.
Bill Skibbe mastered the album at Third Man Mastering. Skibbe has previously worked with acts including The Black Keys, The Raconteurs and The Kills.
The combination allowed Tall Days to retain the homemade character of the sessions while bringing outside experience to the final production process.
Tall Days Build on New Jersey and New York Underground Roots
Breakers marks the duo’s first new music in seven years, although Tall Days have maintained longstanding connections to the New Jersey and New York rock scenes.
Previous releases have received airplay from WFMU, SiriusXM and New York radio station Q104.3. Their music has also appeared on television, with “All in My Way” featured in Netflix’s Lucifer and “Crosstown” used in Hulu’s Difficult People.
With Breakers, Tall Days retain the minimal foundation that has defined the group while widening their sonic range. The result is an album that moves between frustration and optimism, combining distorted guitars and heavy drums with additional instrumentation and contributions from family members.
Seven years after their previous release, the duo’s return reinforces their commitment to an intentionally rough-edged form of rock ’n’ roll rooted in the interconnected New Jersey and New York music scenes.
George Orwell is a writer and contributor covering politics, society, culture, and current affairs. His work focuses on providing clear analysis and thoughtful commentary on the issues shaping modern Britain and the wider world, helping readers better understand complex topics.
