The Playing Favorites

I Remember When I Was Pretty

[3.5/5]

Originating as a barstool chat between Joey Cape (Lagwagon, Bad Astronaut) and Luke Tierney (the Penfifteen Club), the debut from the Playing Favorites at first seems like it should have a splintered personality. Also including Marko DeSantis (Sugarcult, the Ataris), Mick Flowers (the Rentals, Popsicko) and Tim Cullen (Summercamp, Popsicko), TPF have four singing songwriters, each of their own distinction, living in three different cities. Yet I Remember When I Was Pretty is surprisingly cohesive, perhaps due partially to the band’s members all being life-long pals.

In what is mostly a guitar-driven pop record, TPF offer a crazy mixed-up cocktail of catchy vocals, evocative arrangements and memorable hooks; it leaves I Remember wholly accessible and mostly solid. Despite the range of sounds (arguably a mash-up of the members’ respective bands), a particular warmth links its 14 songs. Though there are clear differences among the musicians, I Remember fits the pieces together in a way that not only works, but actually reveals interesting stylistic links between its makers’ respective catalogs. Fans of the immediately relevant bands will not be disappointed-though for harsher critics, pop gems like “Leavingtown” and “Indigenous” may cast long shadows on the one or two tracks that aren’t as immediately rad. Still, this is one catchy record. (SUBURBAN HOME) Ronen Kauffman

ROCKS LIKE:

Tim Cullen’s Fun Razor

Sugarcult’s Palm Trees And Power Lines

Bad Astronaut’s Houston: We Have A Drinking Problem

IN-STORE SESSION
With JOEY CAPE and MARKO DeSANTIS

The Playing Favorites have a collective resume spanning about 350 bands. What makes this experience different from others the members can claim?

JOEY CAPE: There was little or no consequence in making this record. We just made a record together for fun; [it was] totally self-indulgent. Since people on the record brought individual songs to the table, there are a lot of different sounds. It’s cool for me-I would never play the kind of music that Luke [Tierney] plays because I’m not capable of that stuff. But playing with him is fun; it’s totally outside the box for me. Also, all the people I play in bands with are family and friends at the same time, but not the way this band is. I literally grew up with these guys and have been friends with them for most of my life.
MARKO DeSANTIS: With the Playing Favorites, we all have or have had “serious” bands that experienced one degree of success or another; “making it big” is not on our minds. There are no expectations other than to have fun and make music with a group of close friends. Also, we all sing and write songs, so it’s different from the traditional model where there is one central frontman.

With members in Los Angeles, Austin, Texas, and San Francisco, how important was technology in producing the record?

CAPE: I’m always working closely with technology, trying to stay on the cutting edge of the digital thing. But this was the first record that I did where most of the work was done by sending files over the internet. The songs were divided in hard drives by the songwriters. We would just call each other and say, “Hey, can you do this?” It’s kind of amazing to be on the phone with somebody and say, “I have this idea, can you do this harmony for me?” and the response is “Yeah, I’ll have it to you in 20 minutes.”

What excites you most about this new record?

CAPE: Just having an excuse to spend some time with those guys and doing this thing that we all love, but together.
DeSANTIS: I can’t believe it’s made the trip from a drunken conversation in some bar in Japan to a solid 14-song record! I’m so excited to be playing alongside guys that are not only some of my best friends, but also some of my favorite musicians; I listen to Tim Cullen’s record all the time; I own every Lagwagon record; I go see the Penfifteen Club every chance I get; and Mick Flowers is a legend where we come from! –Ronen Kauffman