Last we heard from The Nude Party, the twangy garage-rockers were showing us around their favorite spots in NYC and the rural Upstate region they call home following the release of their 2023 LP Rides On. After a slew of recent singles, the band has announced their return in February 2026 with the aptly titled Look Who’s Back LP, led by the lead single and title track leaning into their country-rock comfort zone. Nearly a year after that early preview dropped, we’re getting another taste of the record today that instead focuses on the band’s penchant for spinning a good yarn, as well as their glammier bubblegum-pop influences.
Regarding the former element of “Carolyn,” band leader Patton Magee elaborates that the titular figure is the object of unrequited desire for the oblivious narrator. “The narrator thinks Carolyn is refusing his love because of bad experiences she had with other guys, and he wants her to come around to trying with him,” he explains. “She really doesn’t see the point and would rather have fun than be stuck under anyone’s thumb.”
As for the latter element, which really takes off in its final two minutes as wild guitar solos dominate the remainder of the track, Magee adds: “This song took a number of different shapes through the years with different lyrics and rhythms before finally coming out now as ‘Carolyn.’ It was actually the last track to make it to the album session, and almost wasn’t on the album at all. But in the studio we hit a late night vibe tracking it that really got everyone excited. I especially remember playing the dissonant guitar outro around 3 a.m. with [producer] Michael Rault shirtless yelling out on-demand riff commands from the control room while watching the Edmonton Oilers fight through the playoffs. It was all very wacky.”
Check out the wacky energy below, and pre-save Look Who’s Back ahead of the album’s February 13 release here. The band will also be hitting the road shortly after in support of the release—find their US tour dates spanning March and April beneath the video.
