Bad Astronaut returns with Untethered, a stripped-down collection of reimagined songs that bring raw simplicity to the forefront. Released on all digital platforms today, Untethered showcases the haunting beauty of vocals, cello, and piano. Flood Magazine is celebrating the release by premiering the album and featuring an exclusive Q&A with vocalist Joey Cape, where he reflects on how this project evolved from a casual concept with Angus Cooke and Todd Capps into a deeply personal endeavor.
Bad Astronaut’s new album, Untethered, is out today offering a fresh perspective on the band’s classics. These reworked versions strip the songs down to their core, relying only on cello, piano, and vocals to highlight the raw emotion and songwriting behind each track. The band aims to showcase the essence of the music by removing most of the original instrumentation, allowing fans to connect with the heart of each song in a more intimate setting. The first single, “Grey Suits,” is now streaming on all digital platforms.
Formed out of deep friendships, Bad Astronaut has always had an air of mystery. Created by Joey Cape (Lagwagon), Marko DeSantis (Sugarcult), and the late Derrick Plourde, the band carved a unique space outside of their main musical endeavors. Their music, characterized by more experimental sounds and intricate production, stood in contrast to the punk backgrounds they came from. In addition to Untethered, the band released a limited-edition box set, fulfilling a long-held desire for the band and their fans. The set includes 2002’s Houston: We Have A Drinking Problem, 2006’s Twelve Small Steps, One Giant Disappointment, and 2001’s Acrophobe—all remastered for vinyl. Also included is Inner-Space, a 7-inch featuring a never-before-heard alternate version of “Violet” and “Wide Awake,” the band’s first new material in 15 years.
For Cape, this release is both nostalgic and cathartic. “It’s a missing link in my life,” Cape says. “When I have that box set in my vinyl collection, I’ll feel like, ‘Okay, I can finally move on.'” The band’s surviving members, including DeSantis, reflect on the bittersweet nature of revisiting the past, especially given the loss of Plourde in 2005. “It’s lovely to hear how Derrick would finish my musical sentences,” Cape notes, highlighting the enduring bond the band shares through their music.
Bad Astronaut has always been more than a side project—it’s a reflection of Cape, DeSantis, Capps, Flowers, and Cooke’s collective musical vision, free from the constraints of their primary bands. “We were always talking about indie music or rediscovering classic music,” DeSantis recalls, citing influences like Built To Spill, Radiohead, and Elliott Smith, whose “Needle In The Hay” the band covered on their debut album, Acrophobe.
While the box set and Untethered feel like natural conclusions to Bad Astronaut’s story, there’s always the possibility of more music. “I’ve got many hard drives that say ‘BAD ASTRONAUT’ on them,” Cape teases. Whether or not those recordings see the light of day, the band remains a testament to enduring friendship, creative freedom, and a love for music that defies genres.
Track Listing:
1. Greg’s Estate
2. Anecdote
3. Grey Suits
4. Deformed
5. These Days
6. Logan’s Run
7. Go Humans
8. San Francisco Serenade
9. The “F” Word