The Great American Novel is a concept album about how Black genius, specifically my own, goes ignored, is relentlessly contested, or just gets completely snuffed out before it can flourish," says vocalist Erik Garlington (he/him). "This record is a concept album that's meant to read like a book; every song is a chapter following the protagonist through their 20s. Imagine a queer, Black Holden Caufield-type coming up in the 2010s."The result is an album that is both lyrically and musically heavy, the former something fans have come to expect from Garlington's unflinchingly honest lyrical content, but the latter something that's refreshingly new. Channeling the heavier music he listened to during his adolescence-from post-hardcore outfit At the Drive-In to progressive metal band System of a Down-Garlington and the rest of Proper.-bassist Natasha Johnson (she/her) and drummer Elijah Watson (he/they)-push themselves in ways they haven't before, culminating in an ambitious project that showcases the new sonic territory the band is heading in.Produced and recorded by Bartees Strange and mixed and mastered by Brian DiMeglio, The Great American Novel clocks in at fifteen tracks including "Huerta," which explores Garlington's Mexican heritage, and "Red, White and Blue," a commentary on the imbalance between the United States' everyday citizens and elite class. The songs reflect the overall tone of The Great American Novel: abrasive, powerful, and beautifully poignant."At the end of the day, what I wanted to do with this record is take Proper. In a direction that would surprise people on first listen, but end up making complete sense on the second or third listen. I think a lot of bands tend to go more pop but I wanted to make something both challenging and undeniably catchy," Garlington said. "It all goes back to Black genius and how it's ingested by the predominantly cishet, white male crowd. If they're going to be a voyeur to the Black experience, I wanted to strip away all the cheeky song titles, lyrical inside jokes, and optimistic singalongs. I want them to hear this record and learn about our identity crises, our aimlessness, how many friends and family we know that are dead or in jail by 25. How, at eight we were told we were gifted but by 11 we were told we're dangerous.
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Nagaoka MP-110H Cartridge
Features a high-quality elliptical stylus that provides excellent tracking and minimizes distortion, delivering a detailed sound reproduction with an output voltage of 5.0 mV
-
Edifier R1280DB Powered Speakers
Combining classic design with modern Bluetooth connectivity, built-in amplification and versatile inputs, these speakers deliver rich, balanced sound.
-
Vevor Ultrasonic Cleaner
Thoroughly clean and restore your vinyl records, removing dust, dirt, and grime from every groove without damaging the surface
-
Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
Features an elliptical stylus that accurately tracks the grooves of vinyl records, delivering a rich, detailed sound with an output voltage of 5.5 mV
-
HumminGuru: Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner
Advanced ultrasonic technology with customizable cleaning cycles and a large tank capacity to thoroughly remove dust, dirt, and contaminants
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Xmal Deutschland Gift The 4AD Years (Deluxe Edition, Clear Red) [3xLP]
4Ad
May 9, 2025 -
MDC The Last War
Cleopatra Records
May 16, 2025 -
L.A Guns Leopard Skin
Cleopatra Records
April 4, 2025 -
Buddy Guy This Is Buddy Guy! Bluesville Acoustic Sound Series
Craft Recordings
May 16, 2025 -
Yamamoto Tsuyoshi Trio Requests: Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio Live Vol.2
Somethin'Cool
May 23, 2025 -
Brown Horse All The Right Weaknesses
Loose Music
April 11, 2025 -
Jessie Wagner War Within
Wicked Cool Records
April 25, 2025 -
CDSM Convertible Hearse
Productions Mothland Inc.
May 23, 2025 -
Larry Peace-Love Yes Everyone On This Planet Is Family
Nadine Records
May 23, 2025 -
McKinley Dixon Magic, Alive! (Neon Orange)
City Slang
June 6, 2025 -
Julien Baker & TORRES Send A Prayer My Way
Matador
April 18, 2025 -
Death Rattle The Moral Chokehold
M-Theory Audio
May 30, 2025 -
Garbage Let All That We Imagine Be The Light (Orange)
Bmg
May 30, 2025 -
AVRALIZE Freaks (Marbled Violet, White)
Arising Empire (Edel)
May 9, 2025