Hey, did you remember to set your clocks forward by one hour last night / this morning for Daylight Saving Time? If not, do that right after you watch this week’s video clip, Jeff Whalen’s “Alien Lanes,” which is all kinds of awesome. To get as obscure-yet-specific as possible, “Alien Lanes” reminds me sonically of the ultra-sublime, bubblegum power pop by one of those late ‘60s/ early ‘70s Saturday Morning Kids’ Show bands, such as The Banana Splits or The Bugaloos. If you know what I’m talking about, great. If you don’t, it doesn’t matter. Everybody knows that I only write this column for myself! If I had to reference a real band that existed outside of TV, perhaps the Bay City Rollers, The Records, Jellyfish, or even the music made by Jeff Whalen’s former band, Tsar, can serve as an appropriate comparison. My point is that it sounds like nothing else you’re hearing right now, and that can only be good thing. As an aside, I was a big fan of Tsar back in the day, and here is a photo of me at a Banksy exhibit wearing one of their T-shirts.
Visually, “Alien Lanes” is, in fact, a Saturday Morning Kids’ Show co-starring an Army Guy who does a mean David Byrne impression (watch for it), a Sexy Witch, and Dracula, all having a fun, otherworldly adventure with Jeff, who I am now in love with. “Alien Lanes” can be found on Jeff’s just-released, very-first-ever solo album, 10 More Rock Super Hits. Enjoy!
I Love Him.