Keep for Cheap Drops Sophomore Album, 'Big Grass'

Minneapolis, MN (August 29, 2024) - Step into Keep for Cheap’s cinematic universe with Big Grass – the Midwest band’s highly anticipated sophomore album, released today. The jumping nine-track "prairie-rock" record is a beautiful gift born from the band's newfound independence, taking the reins of their craft to completely own this sonic space.

As the third and final single off Big Grass, "Life Is Like This" strolls along at a steady pace, flashing vignettes of life as someone who's passed early youth but not yet entered late adulthood. The song eventually reaches the destination of a fervent and cyclical chorus that cries the question, “Are we doing our best at reaching to one another?” "Life Is Like This" is the final track from the record, serving as the big release, ending in heartthrobs and a yearning for deep connection.

Feeling lost in the commotion

Oh, when you finally feel things changing

Crawl out of the hole that you’ve aged in

Everything is new 

The band's ‘new’ sound is born from its commitment to building its world over the past 5+ years. ‘Big Grass’ is all the more sensitive, apparent, and jagged. Keep for Cheap has arrived home to its classic prairie rock taste – indie rock with country licks and heartfelt melodies teasing evolving youth, queer love and wanting more for humanity. 

1. FedEx

2. Yours/Mine

3. Lakehouse

4. Dark

5. Cyberspace

6. Talking Mushrooms

7. Ski-Doo

8. Begging

9. Life Is Like This

Exploring the complex journey of self-discovery and acceptance through its diverse tracks, the album begins with a yearning for a brighter future with "FedEx," and the struggle to balance sharing oneself with others while maintaining individuality on "Yours/Mine."

Continuing, it delves into the challenges of personal growth with "Lakehouse," the dread of an uncertain future in "Dark," and existential questioning in "Cyberspace." The narrative gradually shifts towards embracing the unknown, finding meaning together, and ultimately, accepting life's complexities and releasing the burden of past pain with "Talking Mushrooms," "Ski-Doo" and "Begging." Each track adds a new layer to this emotional journey, blending high-energy moments with introspective ones to reach the culminating track, "Life Is Like This."

Produced by Abe Anderson, ‘Big Grass’ can be described as a fusion of Wednesday's dark, atmospheric vibe with Sheryl Crow's energetic and soulful edge, blended into a sound that features soaring indie rock infused with an alternative twang. This combination is complemented by powerful harmonies that create a rich, dynamic musical experience.

Many of the themes of the final song are echoed throughout the rest of the record. Written during Keep for Cheap's quarter-life crisis, like a view-master, the album flashes images of childhood passing you by, youthful love and happiness, fleeting nostalgia and feeling stuck in the current.

Keep for Cheap’s special blend of indie, country, rock, and pop has a little something for everyone. Playing what they call “prairie rock,” the Minnesota five-piece’s playful sound will make you feel like a kid, then break your heart with its next turn of phrase. The band strives to make music that moves, with driving instrumentals and poignant lyrics. Drawing at times from their own love story, fronting members Kate Malanaphy and Autumn Vagle write music to make you pine over queer love and passing youth, seek inspiration in the natural world and connection wherever it can be made. 

The emotion in their music mainly reflects the lives of songwriters and fronting members of the band, Autumn and Kate who formed a musical connection when they met in the alto section of college choir in 2017. They soon started “KfC”, became best friends and are now nearly five years in love, writing alternative country songs reflecting on their lives in Minnesota and the world as they see it. Their special connection brings a vivacious perspective to their music.