Tim Kasher’s Home Phone Announces Fresh Album Sponges Of Experience & Shares New Songs

A Weekend Challenge Yields a New Chapter for Tim Kasher

Omaha indie rock mainstay Tim Kasher, known for his work with Cursive and The Excellent Life, is adding another project to his already prolific output. Under the moniker Tim Kasher’s home phone, he’s set to release a new album, Sponges Of Experience, on May 22nd via Born Losers. The album, a fascinating experiment in songwriting, was composed over a single Memorial Day weekend in 2025, a challenge Kasher took on after remembering a casual remark made by Elvis Costello decades prior about writing an album in just two days. Two tracks, “The Dying Animal” and “The Collapse,” are available now, offering a glimpse into the album’s introspective and occasionally dissonant sound.

The genesis of Sponges Of Experience is rooted in a personal challenge. Kasher, now 50, recalled hearing Costello mention the possibility of writing an entire album over a weekend and, driven by curiosity, decided to test the limits of his own songwriting process. He shared the challenge with his Patreon community, “Tim Kasher’s home phone,” providing a live, unfolding account of the creative process. He ultimately allotted himself four days – Friday through Monday – with a goal of completing at least eight songs.

From Slowdown Virginia to Solo Work: A Career Retrospective

Kasher’s musical journey began in the early 1990s with the formation of Slowdown Virginia in Omaha, Nebraska. That band, alongside contemporaries like The Faint and Bright Eyes, helped lay the groundwork for the vibrant indie music scene that would come to define the city. As noted in a Wikipedia entry, Slowdown Virginia’s brief but influential run also contributed to the founding of Saddle Creek Records, the label that would become home to Cursive and The Good Life. Learn more about Kasher’s early career on Wikipedia.

Cursive, formed in 1995, quickly became a cornerstone of the emo and post-hardcore landscape, known for its emotionally raw lyrics and dynamic instrumentation. The Good Life, another long-running project, allowed Kasher to explore a more folk-influenced sound. Alongside these band commitments, Kasher has consistently released solo albums, each offering a unique perspective on his songwriting. His willingness to experiment and embrace different creative avenues is a defining characteristic of his career.

The Album’s Creation: A Community-Driven Process

What sets Sponges Of Experience apart isn’t just the compressed timeframe of its creation, but also the level of engagement with his Patreon community. Kasher livestreamed performances of each song as it was completed, effectively sharing the process in real-time. This “receipts” approach, as he termed it, fostered a sense of collaboration and accountability. He initially aimed for a minimum of eight songs but ultimately wrote twelve, wanting to have options for editing. The arrangements and additional instrumentation were added more leisurely over the following year.

In a detailed explanation shared alongside the album announcement, Kasher described the challenges of the third day, admitting to hitting a wall and needing to step away from the project. However, he persevered, completing two of his favorite tracks, “The Collapse” and “Don’t Hang Up,” on the final day. He ultimately decided to release all twelve songs, viewing the album as a complete artifact of that intense weekend.

Why This Matters: A Reflection on Songwriting and Process

Kasher’s project isn’t simply about releasing a new album; it’s a meta-commentary on the act of songwriting itself. He frames the album as a “trifle,” but imbues it with a genuine affection for the creative process. The challenge, inspired by Costello’s offhand remark, became a way to reconnect with the joy of writing and to push his own boundaries. SPIN Magazine’s 2022 interview with Kasher highlights his ongoing exploration of different musical styles and his commitment to artistic experimentation.

The decision to release Sponges Of Experience exclusively on physical media (vinyl) through Born Losers is also noteworthy. In an era dominated by streaming, this choice underscores the album’s status as a deliberate artistic statement, a tangible object representing a specific moment in time. While the album won’t be available on streaming platforms, the two preview tracks offer a taste of what’s to come.

Listening to the First Impressions

“The Dying Animal” is an upbeat track that immediately grabs the listener’s attention, while “The Collapse” offers a more melancholic and introspective mood. Both songs showcase Kasher’s signature lyrical style – honest, vulnerable and often laced with a dark humor. The arrangements are relatively stripped-down, allowing the songwriting to take center stage. You can listen to “The Dying Animal” here and “The Collapse” here on YouTube.

Sponges Of Experience is available for pre-order now on Born Losers Records. Pre-order the album here.

What’s next? The album is scheduled for release on May 22nd, coinciding with Memorial Day weekend – a fitting tribute to the holiday that inspired its creation. Kasher has not yet announced any tour dates in support of the album, but given his consistent touring history with Cursive and The Good Life, it’s likely that live performances will follow.