The Sleeveens Carry the Torch

A new 7-inch from The Sleeveens just dropped courtesy of Goner Records, and it’s the perfect antidote for anyone reeling from a soul-sucking workweek.

The A-side features a cut-and-run punk ripper titled “Downtown.” Throughout the track, Stefan Murphy’s disillusioned lyrics are punctuated with furious guitars and seismic drumming from Ryan Sweeney. You’ll likely hear touches of Reigning Sound and Compulsive Gamblers on the tune, which sets the stage for a familiar B-side.

“Downtown” is backed with a dialed-in cover of Reigning Sound’s excellent “Drowning,” and, within seconds, it’s clear that Murphy is perfectly-suited to honor the inimitable Greg Cartwright. He captures the spirit of Cartwright’s delivery and lyrics, while also applying his distinct style — exactly what you want from an ambitious cover. 

The Sleeveens performing at Goner Fest (photo by Mari Tamura)

We invited Murphy to share a little about the release and Cartwright’s influence. Check out his thoughts below:

“We recorded these songs in Nashville in late 2024 during a short U.S. tour run. Having grown up in Dublin, Ireland, and starting trying to write songs in the early 2000’s, my only real connection to Tennessee was my love of The Compulsive Gamblers and the songs of Greg Cartwright. ‘Downtown’ was one of the first songs I ever tried to write. I released a very different version of it on a record in the late 2000’s. Little did I know back then that someday I’d live in the U.S. and form a band with three punks from Nashville and give this song (as well as a few others) a new life. It’s a real thrill to have it put out on Goner with a cover version of one of Greg’s songs as the B-side.”

The Sleeveens are currently on tour in Ireland with The Lemonheads, and you can catch them at Goner Fest next month. Grab the singe here and enjoy!