Kevin Bronson on November 1st, 2023

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Michael Fiore fronted lovable local miscreants Criminal Hygiene for almost a decade, channeling the likes of the Replacements, Pavement and Guided by Voices on releases that included an album and EP for Dangerbird Records. The New Jersey native has also released an album and EP by his lo-fi side project, Maltman Fair.

Now Fiore is back at full roar with the solo project Staircase Wit.

Last month brought the arrival of the first single from Staircase Wit’s self-titled debut album (release date TBA). “Albatross,” produced by Danny Nogueiras (No Win) and featuring Erik Jimenez (Together Pangea) on drums, delivers a blast of battle-scarred optimism, or at least hope, with the punch of ’90s alternative music. File alongside Buffalo Tom, the Replacements and Superchunk and call us in the morning. Or when the next single comes out.

||| Stream: “Albatross”