The New Amsterdams was the acoustic-driven side project of Matthew Pryor, frontman of The Get Up Kids. Formed in 2000, the band initially served as an outlet for Pryor’s stripped-down songwriting, evolving from a solo endeavor into a full-band project. Their debut, Never You Mind, featured sparse instrumentation, contrasting with The Get Up Kids' energetic emo sound. Para Toda Vida (2002) was even more intimate, before Worse for the Wear (2003) introduced a full-band dynamic.

After The Get Up Kids disbanded in 2005, Killed or Cured was recorded but delayed due to label concerns. The band shifted direction, releasing Story Like a Scar (2006) and At the Foot of My Rival (2007), expanding their folk-leaning indie rock style. In 2013, Pryor released Outroduction, a collection of B-sides and unreleased material, effectively closing the chapter on The New Amsterdams. Their catalog, blending folk, indie rock, and singer-songwriter sensibilities, remains a testament to Pryor’s introspective lyricism and evolving musicality.