The Armoires/Ray Crank
Snake Island Thirteen/Don’t Kill The World I’m Living In
Big Stir Records
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s Ray Crank and The Armoires have teamed up for this split single with proceeds benefiting United Help Ukraine for Ukrainian Independence Day.
The Armoires sound like The Jefferson Airplane on their song. Ray's is very Yes/ELPlike. Both songs are great and well worth the name your own donation price by download. It's an essential cause, so go get it!
Andrea Weiss
I first became aware of Blake Jones with The Homebound Tapes, a pandemic era EP about just that, including the memorable, and very funny song “Three Jerks In A Jeep,” a slam at anti-maskers and anti-vaxers. His new album and still... is just as good and funny.
Blake was kind enough to answer a few questions for me.
Andrea Weiss: For those who don’t know you, could you give a brief history of your music career?
Blake Jones: I’ve spent a lifetime working in the indie/D.I.Y. world of music, self-releasing, first cassettes, then CDs and LPs, selling these at gigs and local stores. Grew up in the Fresno area, moved with our band down to Los Angeles for a few years, and am now headquartered back here in California’s Central Valley. In recent years, we have teamed up with other bands like ourselves and dove into the world of Big Stir Records courtesy of Rex Broome and Christina Bulbenko who have furthered our reach by a tremendous amount.
AW: Who are your music influences?
BJ: I had older siblings, and our house was full of the sounds of the Beatles, The Who, and Led Zeppelin. Later I really dug deep into the Kinks and Brian Wilson, but I’m always searching out new things to enjoy
AW: Do you have any favorite comedians?
BJ: For me, comedy means Monty Python and the Marx Brothers. Outrageous. Surreal. Surprising. I like those qualities in Music as well.
AW:Your humor is whimsical, which I like. Is that your view of the world?
BJ: We once had a rabbit named Whimsy… This is a tough question. I see what you mean. Our music is not always about being tough and badass like some rock is. Again, the surreal, the surprising. I like Talking Heads. I like Jonathan Richman. I like Dr. Seuss. I like the San Francisco poet Laurence Ferlinghetti. It’s not that these people don’t touch upon serious issues, but there is a touch of humor, of ridiculousness, and even the warmth of love. After I said all that, I think people might expect wayyyy too much from their Blake Jones & the Trike Shop experience! Haha
AW: It’s also gentle and kind, not biting, which is great. Is that also part of your worldview?
BJ: Well, I hope so. We all could use a bit more of that.
AW: On “Fascist Bumblebee Winter Formal” your humor seems to be political. Or is it something else?
BJ: We all struggle these days with the political atmosphere. I was part of a demonstration to try and save a lynchpin building in Fresno’s Tower District (our local artsy neighborhood with the theaters, the bohemians, the music venues). It was a weekly gathering in the center of the neighborhood. The Proud Boys (far-right ‘tough guys’) showed up as a counter-demonstration. They were not nice folks. They often dress in their colors: black and yellow. I looked up the street, and it looked like some colorful costume party. So how do your write about that without saying: “You are dumb. I’m not dumb. No no you are the dumb ones.”--haha. That’s lame. So you try and get a little deeper . People like to feel special, to be part of a group, they like to feel strong, to feel they have an *in* to the correct information. They can often be led by a powerful paternal figure who’s not always so wonderful a person. Well, that’s where this song is from. Maybe here’s an example of my humor being a little biting (occasionally a group needs a little bite! Haha)--but I think it’s set off by the ever-changing, crazed music.
AW: Do you plan to tour outside of California?
BJ: We have taken the band to Europe five times over the last 15 years. We’ve played in cities from Glasgow to Hamburg. Our last trip was last summer, when we played in Canterbury, London, and Liverpool. We also played in Chicago this past spring. I am hoping we have the opportunity to take the music to more and more places. It’s a blast.
Blake Jones & The Trike Shop
and still…
Big Stir Records
The newest album from Blake is a wonderful, whimsical trip that's psychedelic, but also like The Flaming Lips if they were a little more prog.
The whimsey here is meant to be more playful than odd, like “Used Record Stores” and “Mock Stoner Voices.” But the more serious side of it is “Fascist Bumblebee Winter Formal,” about an encounter with The Proud Boys, who aren’t the greatest people.
The other political song on here,“Shake Your Dress,” is about a woman spreading peace and love, set to good, rocking guitar pop/rock. It's not as laid back as it is a mellow, but informative good time. The guitars say just as much as the lyrics do.
It’s a welcome good time, as the politics on here are also hopeful, and hope is in short supply right now. Let’s hope Harris wins in November. Until then, have a good time with this album. It will make you think, smile, and rock out.
Andrea Weiss
Mark Bacino’s new album Top of the World is compact and powerful, a fun, flowing good time that never flags. I enjoy it very much, and feel sure you will too.
Mark was kind enough to answer a few questions for me.
Andrea Weiss: For those who don’t know you, could you give a short history of your music career?
Mark Bacino: Sure. I’ve been playing music since my early teens. Played in bands in high school and college and began writing songs and recording a bit around that time as well. After college I struck out as a solo artist and recorded a few self-released EPs that led to my landing a deal with an independent record label. In 1998 my debut album Pop Job was released and I’ve been writing, recording and performing ever since, with four long players to my credit including my latest, Top of the World.
AW: Who are your influences?
MB: That’s a tough question to answer as I’ve been influenced by so many great artists across many different musical genres. To keep it simple, I suppose the obvious influences would be The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Harry Nilsson. The not so obvious would be acts like The Police, The Cars, Crowded House, and Hall & Oates. I was a teenager in the 80s so a lot of pop bands from that era had a huge impact on me. Although in listening to my work now, you’d never know that. Same could be said for jazz; I’m a big fan and listener of the genre.
AW: Your music is very 60s-like. Do you like that decade the most? If not, what is your favorite decade for music?
MB: I think you’re right, my music definitely draws from and has its fair share of retro 60s-70s vibes. I certainly love the music of that time. and I don’t think I’m alone when I say I feel some of the best music that’s ever been made has come to us as a result of those two decades. I also think the 80s were an interesting and fun time for pop music as well.
AW: I like how the album is short, but complete. Was a 23 minute album what you had in mind?
MB: I can’t honestly say I’ve ever put too much thought into the total length of the records I create. I suppose I make short albums because I tend to favor tight, succinct song structures in my writing. Consciously aiming to cut the fat in the construction of the tunes. This practice, more often than not, leads to the rendering of compositions more concise in nature. Short songs, thus short albums.
AW: “I Like Wearing Clothes” is fun and the novelty value is good. Was the inspiration for the song self-explanatory?
MB: Pretty much. For whatever reason, I’ve never been much of a shorts or shirtless kind of guy. Perhaps a manifestation of some larger, deep-seated insecurity. That said, I don’t think I’m alone in this particular brand of hang-up. I believe a lot of folks also feel this way. So, ultimately, I hope the song - while strongly tongue in cheek - is relatable.
AW: I like your song titles. Was it always your aim to be clever with them?
MB: I don’t think it’s been a conscious aim, per se. I do, however, find humor, more and more, a valuable asset in my songwriter’s toolkit. Especially useful when broaching darker or heavier subject matter. I think humor takes the edge off these topics a bit. Makes them a little more palatable. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down and all that.
AW: Do you plan to tour?
MB: Unfortunately, I don’t think a full-blown tour is in the cards for this album release. Given my current family and work obligations the road is not a sustainable option at the moment. Touring is also expensive, and something independent artists or artists on smaller labels, such as myself, find harder and harder to do these days. However, I do think my band and I will, most likely, do some shows in our local New York City area to celebrate Top of the World.
Mark Bacino
Top of the World
Parasol Records
At 23 minutes, it’s short, but totally complete and very good adult rock/power pop, fun. It's smoothly played and sung, but that doesn’t mean slick, just mature, as are the relationship songs, like “Kaylee Hughes” or “Why Does This Woman Love Me?” The titles are cool too, like “Flop Of The World,” “He Never Saw It Coming (Accidental Death Of A Clown,” and the title song, which is an instrumental.
There is an awful lot happening in a short time, and not a wasted note or word. It's tight, concise, meaningful, I like the horns, and it's just a good ride all the way through. May every album this short be like this, pretty much perfect.
Andrea Weiss
The Suncharms
Things Lost
Sunday Records
Delightful modern shoegaze that washes over you, like all good shoegaze does, with lyrics that that might be depressing, and then again might not be. The singing is murmured, but that’s also good shoegaze.
And what are these songs about beyond maybe or maybe not depressing? The titles say it all: “Red Wine Kisses,” “Daylight is Here,” “Satanic Rites,” “Demonic Eyes.” If you find these titles interesting, then you’ll probably want to pick this up.
This Sheffield, England band has been active since 1991. Is this album is a good intro to the genre? Yes. While some shoegaze, like Lush, was more pop, if you like Jesus and Mary Chain, early Blur, Ride, and Charlatans UK, you'll like Suncharms too.
Andrea Weiss