Grateful for the Listen: AAA Backstage Reviews Simple Thing by New Thieves

We’re grateful to John Zebra at AAA Backstage for such a considered and generous review of Simple Thing. His words reflected the heart, history, and intent behind this record in a way we deeply appreciate.

Putting this album out in the world has been quite the journey for us. The album concludes a 2 part homage to the lyrics and songwriting craft of our mate Steve Hirst, who sadly left the building back in the 1990s. Making music is the highest form of friendship (to old musos at least!). It’s a weird thing, when all the work is done and the album is released into the wild, it takes on its own life, finds its own fans. We’re both immensely proud of this record, so the first review from AAA Backstage means quite a lot to us. John Zebra listened and got it. Here’s a few quotes from the review:

NEW THIEVES HONOUR THE PAST WITH TIMELESS SOPHISTICATION ON NEW ALBUM ‘SIMPLE THING’

“…The record marks an evolution for the duo — Geoff Hughes and Graeme Riddell — expanding on the guitar-driven energy of their 2024 debut with a richer, more textured sound. Across its nine tracks, ‘Simple Thing’ blends classic 80s pop-rock influences with modern production, recalling the melodic sophistication of Tears for Fears, while introducing new sonic layers through live drums, keyboards, and saxophone. It’s a nostalgic yet forward-thinking collection that rewards a full listen from start to finish — a subtle protest against today’s short-form, TikTok-driven music culture…”

“..At the heart of ‘Simple Thing’ lies a deep sense of tribute. The album concludes the band’s two-album homage to their late friend and collaborator Steve Hirst, whose lyrical fingerprints run throughout. As the band explains, these songs were “demoed years ago but never released,” and revisiting them was a way to honour Hirst’s “unique lyricism” with fresh ears and modern production…”

“..‘Simple Thing’ is a heartfelt and meticulously crafted album that bridges decades of experience, friendship, and artistry — proof that timeless songwriting never loses its edge.”

If you’d like to read the entire review, check it out over at AAA Backstage.

Support Indie Artists. Buy Physical Media

Now, the album is available for streaming on Apple Music, YouTube Music and Tidal, but the truth is streaming pays a pittance to independent recording artists. This is a topic for a whole other blog post. We’ve made the album available (through our Bandcamp Page) in digital download, CD or LP. If you’d like to buy a physical copy to own, please check out our Bandcamp page for details.

If you’re into Vinyl , the LP looks absolutely stunning. Jill Talbots art just pops out. We’ve also remastered the album for vinyl and it sounds incredible. Here’s a peek.

Support independent music directly. Buy a digital download or go physical with a CD or LP. Each purchase helps us make more music. You can check out all purchase options on our Bandcamp page.