Since meeting on Myspace as pre-teens in 2007, McNamara and Handy have wholeheartedly embraced a DIY ethos: no pretension, no gimmicks, and nothing to prove to anyone but themselves. Taxidermists operate as a band by striking a balance between virtuosic, passionate creative output and, in their own words, “just being able to shoot the shit and hang out.” This is the charm and appeal of 20247: it exudes love and warm familiarity, a clear product of two best friends working as a team to create something special. “We haven’t made a record like this in 12 years and we’ve learned so much since then,” they say. “We may not put out a ton of music, but we care about the music we make.”

During a Massachusetts winter in 2024, Handy and McNamara bought a small space heater and created the entirety of 20247 in McNamara’s garage studio while braving an average temperature of 39° F. Many of the songs were written and recorded in a single night, and the longest one clocks in at a mere 2:50. Recording everything to tape, they maintained their commitment to off-the-cuff analog output; 20247 feels rough around the edges and unmistakably human. Fractured, dynamic bursts of commotion collide with moments of measured restraint. The lyrics collage together uninhibited sketches that recollect a time, place, or feeling with abstract charm. The duo’s easy chemistry and free-spirited tendencies are a kismet combination, and 20247 sees this camaraderie reach new peaks.