Baggage

The world may be sleeping on Baggage, but if their debut album Life In Misophonia is any indicator, they won’t be for long. The Flint, MI band, fronted by former Swellers drummer Jonathan Diener, releases their first full-length, documenting a saga of sleepless nights, broken-down vehicles, poorly-attended shows, missed opportunities and faltering optimism. It’s essentially Diener’s life story, following a near-decade’s long search for a formal diagnosis of misophonia, a rare disorder that turns mundane auditory experiences into weaponized, intense anxiety, discomfort, or anger. It is a very disorienting and frustrating experience––especially if you make sounds for a living.


Produced by long-time collaborator Marc Jacob Hudson (Taking Back Sunday, Laura Jane Grace) in a Flint suburb, Life In Misophonia expertly expresses the frustration, disappointment, and defeat that come with being both a musician under capitalism as well as a person at war with their own senses.

Luckily, Life In Misophonia ends on a more positive note than it starts, with lessons learned and a “to be continued” sign looming large. Sonically, it cycles between jubilant, driving Jeff Rosenstock-ish punk rock, Nada Surf’s throbbing outcast anthems, and the introverted affect of midwest emo bands like Braid.

It’s no surprise that Baggage frontperson Jonathan Diener reps his city. After spending nearly two decades volunteering in Flint, Michigan’s independent music scene and the dissolution of his beloved pop-punk band The Swellers, Diener turned to his community, putting together a compilation called Not Safe To Drink featuring songs from over 80 bands like Propagandhi and Taking Back Sunday. The proceeds from the comp—around $10,000—went to the Flint Child Health and Development Fund. (Full bio included in DL folder)

RIYL: The Swellers, Nada Surf, The Gaslight Anthem, The Hotelier, John Van Deusen, Pedro The Lion
TRY: #3, 5, 1, 7
DIRTY: #2, 4, 8

Download full album here:
https://www.piratepirate.com/downloads/

More Info Here:
http://baggagehq.com/
https://twitter.com/baggageHQ
https://www.instagram.com/baggageband/
https://www.facebook.com/baggageHQ
http://www.smartpunk.com/smartpunk-records/baggage/
https://baggageband.bandcamp.com/