***Kelley Stoltz is an American songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and DIY innovator whose career stretches back to the late 1990s, when he began self-recording lush, psych‑tinged pop and garage rock in his San Francisco home studio. Born in New York City in 1971, and raised in Michigan, Stoltz has released a remarkable catalog of albums on labels including Sub Pop, Third Man, and Castle Face Records often playing all of the instruments himself and drawing comparisons to the melodic craftsmanship of the major 60’s pop auteurs and the quirkiness of lesser known 80’s power-pop & new wave.
After issuing his 18th album, La Fleur in 2024 to critical notice, he returns in 2026 with his 19th full‑length release, If You Don’t Know Me, Buy Now, a collection that continues his long exploration of hook‑laden psych‑pop, introspective lyrics, and richly textured arrangements that both honor his influences and push his sound forward, reinforcing his status as one of the most prolific and singular voices in underground rock.
Often compared to everyone from Alex Chilton to Brian Wilson, Nick Lowe to Martin Newell- Stoltz is a pop chameleon. His constant reshuffling of the deck finds him in a constant flux of creativity. If You Don’t Know Me… weaves through his brand of sardonic and playful humor and vulnerable, introspective late night musings. The lead off track and first single from the album, "Competitive Bastard” is a groovy reflection of a musician throwing his hands up at the music industry and the notion of working for exposure and opting instead to make records for his own entertainment. Effortlessly cool and completely self aware, Stoltz has settled into his era of zen-pop eccentricity.
Guests Brigid Dawson of the Osees, Karina Denike of Dance Hall Crashers, Pete Straus of the Dwarves and Allyson Baker of Dirty Ghosts and others provide backing vocals on several tracks.
Long a favorite of MOJO, Brooklyn Vegan, and John Dwyer… Stoltz is also a onetime Echo & the Bunnymen rhythm guitarist and currently Robyn Hitchcock’s West Coast drummer. Stoltz is also now the host of legendary radio station KEXPs weekly Bay Area Music spotlight show, “Vinelands”.
Tracklist
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#6 The Daughters of the Golden West
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#12 The Aches & Pains of Middle Age
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