Formed in 2001 as a noisy and chaotic punk/lo-fi band, Chromatics went through multiple lineup changes before landing on their current crew. In 2007, they began releasing music on producer and band member, Johnny Jewel’s label, Italians Do It Better. That year they released their 3rd album, Night Drive, which was the beginning of their foray into their more well-known electronic sound. These changes propelled Chromatics to the love and adoration of their almost cult-like following.

Their 4th album, 2012’s Kill for Love, was my introduction to Chromatics and their synth-pop ways. Ruth Radelet’s haunting vocals immediately drew me in, but the beautiful chaos of the music kept my intrigue. Kill for Love landed at #6 on my top 50 albums of 2012, and seeing their live performance at 2013’s Fun Fun Fun Fest solidified them as a band on the rise for me.

Unfortunately, Chromatics fell off my radar until late 2014 when a slew of singles hit the blogosphere and their 5th album, Dear Tommy, was announced. These new songs featured a deeper dive into the Italo-disco-influenced Johnny Jewel staple, and my interest was piqued.

In May 2017, as the first episode of Twin Peaks: The Return was coming to a close, Chromatics took the Roadhouse (The Bang Bang Bar) stage and played “Shadow.” It was a perfect, shocking, and pleasant surprise. That same month, their former manager shared that Johnny Jewel had a near-death experience in late 2015 and destroyed ALL copies of Dear Tommy, physical AND digital. It was however noted he re-recorded the full album, so there was still hope….

Johnny Jewel was a key collaborator for the show’s original soundtrack. The influence from this project has been prevalent in subsequent releases with these ethereal and mysterious elements interwoven into their music. If you’ve never seen the show and that doesn’t make sense, what better time to find a new band AND binge a TV show than now?

Quick, but important, sidebar - Johnny Jewel founded Italians Do It Better in 2006 as a vehicle for his numerous projects. Not only is Jewel a key member of Chromatics, but also Glass Candy, Desire, Symmetry, and Mirage. He defined his motivation in an interview with Noisey, saying “I started Italians Do It Better because I didn’t want someone telling me when a record was due, or when something needed to be written or recorded. Or when I needed to go on tour. I believe in doing things when it’s ready.“

So, it’s 2020 and Dear Tommy has not seen the light of day despite the band, Johnny Jewel, and the label continuing to say it is coming.

Italians Do It Better teased a new Chromatics album in October, 2019, and a day later we were given the surprise Closer to Grey. This stellar addition to their catalog may get lost in the shadows of time, but it should not be overlooked. A deluxe edition was released in January 2020 with a staggering 47 tracks! Many were alternate versions, but it did include some new tracks. Three months later, Faded Now was released, and featured these new tracks.

Things took an interesting turn the evening of April 16th, 2020. At 11pm CST, Chromatics released the single “Teacher.“ While they are known to randomly drop songs from time to time, this was extra special. “Teacher“ was a never-released title from the original Dear Tommy track list, and it was promoted with the album’s original cover art.

The breadcrumbs don’t stop there as a new track list was also released for Dear Tommy. With continued social media teases, it seems we might finally get the long-awaited album. Seemingly, only Johnny Jewel has the answer. So, until then, we wait…

-Josh

“Teacher“

“Time Rider“

”Shadow” performance from Twin Peaks: The Return

Bonus shoutout for Italians Do It Better - Johnny Jewel has a type/style, and his releases are consistently top notch. The artwork and merch are just as stellar too! Speaking of which, you’ll notice a topical sweatshirt and t-shirt in the “New Arrivals“ section. They even put digital copies of albums on the site for $1!

Each time I’ve ordered from the site, I received bonus goodies at no additional charge. Last time, 3 CDs and some art prints were included with some vinyl I ordered, and I’ve seen where some lucky fans received signed albums! Since Jewel is involved in many of the projects on IDIB, it makes sense to share other acts he thinks we might like. After all, he is doing all of this for his love of music.