Author: Aiden James
Live Photos: Aiden James
Alien Book Club’s new EP “And I’m Not Even Having Fun Anymore” is a soundtrack to your next month that you will have no idea that you needed. When I say soundtrack I truly mean that this EP deserves to be written into a movie at some point in time. The word that comes to my mind when I listen to this EP is “animation.” Not in an animated cartoon way but in a way that everything about this EP flows together so perfectly that it’s seemingly otherworldly. Every member of this band is a puzzle piece that fits together so insanely well that it feels as though they are creating their own genre that we had no idea we needed all along.
ABC: "The writing process for this ep was a bit sporadic. Some of the riffs and melodies go back to 2014 while other parts of it were written as we recorded it. The ep is really just us finishing some songs I wrote forever ago." Alien Book Club told Mainstream Magazine. "Like jimmy butler. He hasn't played for the t wolves or the Sixers in years but that song goes back to when he did."
Pathetic
In a 6 person band it can be easy to lose members in a song but “Pathetic” does not struggle with that in any way shape or form. The crisp saxophone solo is soothing yet jazzy. The 80s style keyboard smackin’ is perfect in every way. The vocal harmonies are blended together like a smooth strawberry banana smoothie. The pieces of this song are unexpected and abstract but my brain was able to instantly put the puzzle pieces together. The song “Pathetic” is a true roadmap in perfecting the art of abstract pacing and song writing.
ABC: "[And I’m Not Even Having Fun Anymore] was different from the last two eps mostly in the recording process. Both of those were recorded in a studio while this one was recorded at our house making it a bit more similar to the first abc ep. Although this time we sent it off to someone else (Abe Anderson) to be mixed. Also with no intention to play these songs live anytime soon we decided to make the tracks impossible to play in a live setting. This resulted in more layers, different instrumentation and silly little things we couldn't replicate live.", ABC commented.
John Carpenter’s Escape From New York
The track “John Carpenter’s Escape From New York” is truly an Alien Book Club sequel to their track “John Carpenter’s The Thing” off their self titled EP. It is very evident that Alien Book Club is inspired by the soundtracking from John Carpenter (if you don’t believe me then listen to this song and then immediately listen to the soundtrack for “Escape From New York” it will blow your mind). If this song was replaced in my DVD of this movie I would not bat an eye. Alien Book Club’s dedication to their style and genre genuinely shines through on this track. When the world turns back on if we can get John Carpenter to an Alien Book Club show there’s no doubt that he would be impressed, intrigued and inspired to write another movie with Alien Book Club as the head of music directing.
ABC: "since starting abc my main musical influence has been Frank Zappa. His music influences me directly in composition, the first riff in pathetic is a variation on Downtown Talent Scout and the chord shapes in escape from ny are stolen from zoot allures. Also in conceptual approach, genre bending, sudden changes, odd times, humor in the lyrics. Stuff like that." ABC commented. "The other major influence we had in this ep was local music. The twin cities has an amazing scene and there was a conscious effort to try and take inspiration from these bands. Some examples would be the outro of escape from New York, we really wanted to get a heavy shoegaze sound that was inspired by marmalade. Pathetic has a chromatic descending riff that is very DIY by vial. And the solo of the song was kinda based on a lapdogs riff."
ABC, on favorite John Carpenter movie: "the thing is probably still my favorite. Buttttttt
-A tier
The thing
They live
Big trouble in little China
-B tier
Escape from New york
In the mouth of madness
Body bags
-C tier
Halloween
Prince of darkness
Dark star
-D tier
The fog
-F tier
Ghosts of mars"
Jimmy Butler
Another prime example of ABC’s true dedication to their style. This song is a summary of the talent and dedication swimming amongst this group. There are subtle hints to this talent woven throughout this song. The keyboardist blew me away yet again with the ability to create sounds I haven’t heard in a song in ages. The harmonies of the saxophones at the end of the song are MESMERIZING.
ABC: "When we first started we were just a three piece, so I guess the most obvious change since we started is the sounds we have at our disposal. The music has also gotten more and more complex with, (hopefully) not losing its catchiness."
ABC on musical advice: "The best piece of musical advice I ever got came from a video of kamasi Washington talking about the best musical advice he got. I can't remember what his answer was but during the video he gets sidetracked and starts talking about how the quality of what you do and what you create can't be judged in the moment. If you are writing a song and you think it sounds like garbage just work through it because chances are in a couple weeks or months or even years when you come back it you are probably going to think it sounds great. It's usually not a problem with your work just your perception and attitude. I try to remember this advice everyday. I'm a pretty negative person and if I let that voice win even just a little I accomplish nothing."
ABC on the EP, challenges and favorite part of recording: "our favorite part of the ep was hearing the final mix. Abe did such a good job. It was such a nice reward for the work we did tracking and overdubbing it."
Sit down and really enjoy this EP. Listen to it a few times back to back and allow yourself to find a new puzzle piece with every listen. This EP is meant to be devoured whole. Devour it.
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Follow Alien Book Club:
Bandcamp: https://alienbookclub.bandcamp.com/