LISTEN: Forg’s “Dark Out” Is Refreshing Indie Rock With Palpable Longing

On April 17th, New York’s Frog will release their eighth studio album, Frog for Sale. A continuation of the series that began with 2025’s 1000 Variations on the Same Song (Stereogum’s Album of the Week) and was followed six months later by The Count (which found fans in Wednesday, Friendship, Dry Cleaning, and MJ Lenderman). These twelve songs draw inspiration from songwriters like Paul McCartney and Buddy Holly.

Since Daniel Bateman returned from a four-year Frog absence (with the addition of his younger brother Steve on drums) to release the highly acclaimed Grog, the band has been incredibly prolific. Frog for Sale is their third album in just 14 months, while the band has been on the road for multiple North American tours, with numerous sell-out shows, in addition to sessions for KEXP, WFMU, and WFUV.

“Dark Out,” the second single from the band’s anticipated new LP, is a bouncy, jovial look at Frog’s individuality. Despite the cloak of quirkiness, emphasized by the infectious piano waltz and the soaring falsettos, “Dark Out” is a poetically palpable performance that explores the many shades of heartbreaking sadness and the emotions that linger long after. Throughout the moving performance, the listener is immersed in this sonic juxtaposition between the songwriting and musical terrain, allowing every nuanced corner of this single to hit the soul directly. The wistful vocals dance around your head as they deliver the love-stricken yet lonely lyrics, which find our main character torn between these strong feelings of attraction and the sense that they seem one-sided. There is an innocence to “Dark Out” that softens the blow of the harsh reality depicted in its songwriting, a stunning testament to Frog’s creative prowess. This band’s prolific nature in no way impedes their artistic evolution, and with a new LP right around the corner, this band looks to take another daring leap into a world they can call their own.