The Exbats - My Dinner With Crumar

If you put on the new Exbats album without any advance knowledge of what the band had been cooking up the last couple years, you were probably shocked out of your shoes. The Exbats falling in love with synthesizers and drum machines is something literally no one could have seen coming. But of course this bold departure is an unequivocal success. It's the freaking Exbats! Anything they touch turns to gold!

So here's the story behind My Dinner With Crumar. The Exbats became massively inspired by Sweeping Promises a few years back, and a close friendship between the bands was formed. The Exbats were intrigued by the idea of recording in Sweeping Promises' house studio, and Caufield Schnug kindly agreed to record them. So the band trekked from Bisbee, Arizona to Lawrence, Kansas four different times between the summer of 2024 and the spring of this year and made a record. I love the idea of bands inspiring and pushing each other to grow and evolve. The Exbats would not have been able to make this exact record in any other studio. The band discovered the Crumar Orchestrator (an Italian string synth from the '70s) in the studio and realized it perfectly fit the mood they were going for. And hence we have the name of the album. Yes, it's really, really different. But it's also really, really great. The McLains took a really huge swing with this album, and they knocked it out of the park. 

What I love about My Dinner With Crumar is that all those electronic instruments (there are also a Moog Grandmother, Oberheim DMX, and Pulsar 23 in the mix) aren't just there for show. They serve a purpose and fit a more modern, atmospheric wall of sound. The programming here is beautiful and very intentional. You can still hear the band's love for '60s pop and girl groups coming through, but on this record, the McLains advance their time machine into the heyday of new wave and synth-pop. A five minute, 31-second slow-burning epic is an interesting choice for a lead track, but "Will You See Me in the Morning" really is the perfect table-setter for this album. It's a bold, emphatic statement. If "I Only See You When I'm Dancing" sounds like classic Exbats turned electronic dance band, I suppose that's exactly what it is! "Back Where You Belong" is picture-perfect new wave pop. "Come and Get Me" is funky, punky disco-pop and a certified earworm. "Call Me An Idiot One More Time" ought to be a smash hit on every continent. Songs like "Falling Into Something" and "Nobody Told Me I Was Dead" aren't that far off from The Exbats of old, yet they sound perfectly in place on this record. "Hide My Baby," which Franksteins together The Shangri-Las and Velvet Underground, will be the track of choice for those who always like a punkier Exbats. And how about a synth-pop reprise of the band's old favorite "Hercules" to remind us that what's old can always be new?  

I will admit that I was a little dubious when I started listening to My Dinner With Crumar. I'd been waiting a long time for the band to release music, and I wasn't sure I was ready for a synth-pop Exbats. But my skepticism was very short-lived since the songs are just so undeniable. Given that this band had been so long known for a traditional guitar-based rock style, it was a gutsy move to embrace synthetic sounds. But whatever instincts were guiding Inez, Kenny, and friends as they conceived, wrote, and recorded this album must have been deemed by the music gods. They knew what kind of album they wanted to make. And with a lot of help from their friends, they made it. This record turned out to be everything I was hoping for and then some. 

I don't think there's anything better for a band than catching that jolt of inspiration and finding yourself super-excited about a new direction. The first rule of making music is that you have to love what you're doing. Whether or not anyone else loves what you're doing is largely out of your hands, but I don't think My Dinner With Crumar will have many people hopping off the Exbats train. If anything, more people will be jumping on. Any time I talk about the best bands out there right now, The Exbats are always in the conversation. They are a reminder that new, exciting music is still out there if you care to look for it. That remains truer than ever. As this band, now 16 years into its story, enters its self-described "middle period," I can't help but be pumped about what's still to come.

-L.R.

https://theexbats.bandcamp.com/album/my-dinner-with-crumar
https://open.spotify.com/album/3MOu8peIXDCz0oyWZYHz1A
https://www.facebook.com/TheExbats/
https://www.instagram.com/theexbats/

The Exbats - Song Machine

It's official: The Exbats are the best band in the world. Two years on from their wonderful pandemic-inspired release Now Where Were We, daughter/dad duo Inez and Kenny McLain (joined by Bobby Carlson and Matt Rendon) have topped themselves once again. Out on Goner Records, new album Song Machine finds the McLains steering their musical time machine into the early 1970s. Palpable on this release is their affection for that often-overlooked post-'60s, pre-punk era of popular music. Yet their style remains more timeless than retro — truly a sound for all ages. The album's title suggests a goldmine of hit singles, and that's exactly what it delivers. Inspired by the walls of 45s that adorned record stores in Kenny McLain's youth, Song Machine finds The Exbats writing new pop anthems for the 21st century. 

While Song Machine continues The Exbats' progression towards more sophisticated songwriting and production, it retains the charm, energy, and sense of fun that made the band such a breath of fresh air in the late 2010s garage punk scene. With their exquisite harmonies and easygoing, hummable melodies, tracks like "Riding With Paul," "Singalong Tonight," "What a Song Can Do," and "The Happy Castaway" hearken back to the glory days of AM radio pop. When it comes to pure pop songs, nobody does it better than The Exbats. But while The Exbats have expanded from their punk rock roots, they certainly haven't abandoned them. "To All The Mothers That I'd Like To Forgive" is a searing rocket of punky '60s girl group goodness. "Food Fight" brings to mind early-period Ramones — hardly a surprise considering the two bands' shared musical DNA. The moment I heard "Like It Like I Do," I jotted the words "vintage Exbats" in my notes. In my daydreams, I envision "Cry About Me" topping the charts as stadiums full of humans joyfully scream the words "I'm overdue to fuck off outta here!" Elsewhere, the band flirts with styles as varied as orchestral pop, country rock, garage rock, and doo wop. Song Machine manages to be all over the place stylistically yet sound definitively like The Exbats. And that's a beautiful thing. 

The genius of The Exbats is that they create music that's steeped in reverence for the past yet find a way to make it new. From the songs to the production to the packaging of the record, Song Machine has the appeal of an artifact from an era that seemingly no longer exists — a reminder of how great music "used to be." In truth, though, this album announces how great music can still be and actually is. While so many of The Exbats' influences are obvious, they don't merely rehash them. They write remarkable songs about life and love in the modern world — many of which could very well influence future generations of rock 'n' roll. If you're a parent, you'd want to inspire your kid to be the next Inez McLain. If you're a kid, you'd want to inspire your parent to be the next Kenny McLain. It's never too late or too early in life to pick up a guitar or pair of drumsticks and find your passion. As Song Machine's extraordinary middle cuts "Singalong Tonight" and "What a Song Can Do" make clear, The Exbats are music lovers above all else. Song Machine, which ought to open older fans' minds to newer bands and lead younger fans to seek out some of the inspirations behind these song, spreads that love in a massive way. 

-L.R.

https://theexbats.bandcamp.com/album/song-machine
https://www.facebook.com/TheExbats
https://www.instagram.com/theexbats
https://goner-records.com/products/exbats-song-machine-lp-goner
https://www.youtube.com/@theexbats5477

The Exbats - Now Where Were We

The Exbats have turned out a classic '60s pop album that somehow manages to sound completely current in 2021. Given that Inez McClain and her dad Kenny have been making music together for over a decade, it wouldn't be quite right to say that Now Where Were We finds The Exbats "coming into their own". But the album does complete the band's transition to a pure pop sound. On this release, the McClains and bandmate Bobby Carlson dig deep into their love for mid-'60s American pop music. When I saw that The Mamas & the Papas and Sonny & Cher were primary reference points for Now Where Were We, I figured this album would be up my alley. I was not wrong! 

Recording with Matt Rendon at his Midtown Island Studios, The Exbats certainly had the perfect engineer to help them realize the sound they aspired to. Now Where Were We is classic not just in style but also in recording approach. There's no high-tech trickery going on here -- just a real band playing and singing music straight to analog tape. The result is an album that sounds like it could have been made in 1966, but with lyrics and a perspective that are fully contemporary. In terms of musical influences, the album touches on so much of what made the '60s remarkable: psychedelic and baroque pop, girl groups, bubblegum, R & B, and even country music. The album's 12 tracks are loaded with instantly memorable choruses, majestic harmonies, and lyrics which skillfully imbue dark subject matter with hope and humor. Written last year over a nine-month period, Now Where Were We is The Exbats' pandemic record. It's full of songs that acknowledge a bleak time but also find cause for optimism. How can you not love a pandemic record that opens with a song about Scooby-Doo? And while this album has its weighty moments (the spectacular "Hey New Zealand" is a haunting ode to climate change), it's all in all a feelgood pop record. In particular, songs like "Best Most Least Worst", the Shangri-Las inspired "I Don't Wanna Feel Dead", and the beautiful "One Foot in the Light" throw lifelines to anyone overcome by the despair of 2020-21. It's probably cheesy to proclaim that this album will make people feel less alone in tough times, but I can't think of a better way to say it. 

Now Where Were We tackles the complexity of the COVID experience with the most fundamental musical approach. As a songwriting team, Inez and Kenny McClain excel at crafting timeless pop songs that are catchy and melodious and impossible to resist. If you experience the "Where have I heard this melody before?" sensation, that's half the fun! Now Where Were We is that rare pandemic record that's actually enjoyable to listen to and that rare old school pop record that appeals to every conceivable generation. Get it now from Goner Records!

-L.R.

https://theexbats.bandcamp.com/album/now-where-were-we
https://www.facebook.com/TheExbats
https://goner-records.com/
https://www.facebook.com/gonerrecords

The Exbats - Kicks, Hits, and Fits

I have had the pleasure of acquainting myself with the full Exbats catalog over the past several months, and I must conclude that the Arizona trio is one of our greatest present-day rock and roll bands. I bet my mate Mick Fletcher would concur! Featuring the father/daughter duo of guitarist Kenny McLain and drummer/vocalist Inez McLain, along with Bobby Carlson on bass, The Exbats pull off the nearly impossible task of drawing faithfully from the beloved rock and roll of the 1960s yet creating something that sounds genuinely fresh and current in 2020. Some of that is owed to the band's commitment to writing the sort of timeless pop songs that hardly anyone bothers to write anymore. A larger part of it is that Inez McLain is a real deal rock star with a voice and charisma that you just don't come across every day. Kicks, Hits, and Fits is The Exbats' third album and best one to date. Imagine your parents' (or even grandparents') record collection shaken up with the vigor of youth and the attitude of punk rock. That is essentially The Exbats. If you can listen to the final verse of "I Got the Hots for Charlie Watts" and still doubt that there's a bright future for rock and roll, then clearly you've given up.

The McLains write songs very much in the style of their musical heroes. You never have to wait long for a hook, and songs rarely go too far past three minutes. You can hear the love for The British Invasion, '60s girl groups, and of course The Monkees. But that affection for the sounds of yesteryear is reflected through the lens of present-day realities. Inez sings of love and life in the modern world. She's fierce, outspoken, and unwilling to take any shit from anyone. This can apply to jerky exes who won't take a hint (the brilliant opening track "You Don't Get It [You Don't Got It]"), club doormen who hassle her at her own shows, or the patriarchy at large ("Try Burning This One"). Elsewhere "Wet Cheeks" offers some gentle encouragement to people who need to do their part to lift themselves out of despair. "Put Down Your Fights", while inspired by very specific experiences in Kenny's life, conveys a broader, hopeful message about moving on from toxic personal conflicts.

There have been particular songs on past releases ("Hercules", "2027", "I'm A Witch") that made it clear that The Exbats had something special cooking. But Kicks, Hits, and Fits takes all of that to another level. It's hard to identify a standout track because literally every song sounds like a hit. This is an album for all ages and tastes. If you grew up on '60s rock and roll, you'll love it. If you grew up on modern-day garage and punk, you'll love it. The songs are catchy and fun to sing along with, but they have meaningful things to say about the world we live in (check out "Hey Hey Hey" for some brilliant social commentary served up with a spoonful of sugar). This album has it all: upbeat pop songs, feisty punk tunes, heartfelt ballads, and straight-up rockers. I love how "I Got the Hot for Charlie Watts" begins as a tribute to the most dapper man in rock but ends up as a love letter to rock and roll itself. It's a wonderful reaffirmation that this music we love is going stronger than ever. And while sometimes the whole "rock and roll will never die" shtick comes off as corny cliche, that all goes away once you hear music this joyful, wonderful, and full of life. This is what Don McLean was talking about when he asked, "Can music save your mortal soul?". It's some kind of happy accident that Kicks, Hits, and Fits arrives exactly at a moment when our world needs to be uplifted. If you're looking for something to give you a reason to smile and dance merrily around the house, this album ought to do the trick. I hope for a day when The Exbats are the biggest band on the planet!



 -L.R.

https://theexbats.bandcamp.com/album/kicks-hits-and-fits 
https://www.facebook.com/TheExbats 

The Exbats - "I'm A Witch"

For the past four years, Madrid's Jarama 45RPM Recs. has made a name for itself as one of the most dependable labels on the planet. Bernardo only releases 7" records, and he sure knows how to pick the hits! His latest release features Arizona trio The Exbats, who have been standouts on the Burger Records roster since 2016. If you live outside the U.S.A., Exbats releases might be hard to come by. That changes with the arrival of "I'm A Witch" - the band's first European release. For this project, Jarama 45RPM selected a couple of essential tracks from The Exbats' 2018 cassette I Got The Hots For Charlie Watts along with a brand new song called "Doorman". If you're already a fan, "Doorman" alone makes this a worthy purchase. If this is your first exposure to The Exbats, these songs will have you wanting to hear everything the band has ever released! This is a band that perfectly fits the general vibe of Jarama 45RPM - playing fun three-chord punk rock inspired by the songwriting structures of '60s pop and bubblegum. Drummer/vocalist Inez McLain has the attitude, charisma, and genuine personality that puts her in the top class of punk singers. She's been honing The Exbats sound for several years with her dad, guitarist Ken McLain. A-side cut "I'm A Witch" leans to the jangling and (appropriately) spooky side of '60s garage rock, with bad-ass lyrics about hexing some dude who surely deserved it. "2027" is both a righteous party punk anthem and an insightful political statement. "Doorman" is one minute and twelve seconds of pissed-off punk goodness: an exuberant sing-along that surely gets a rousing response at live shows (although maybe not from the doorman!). This release is limited to 300 copies from Jarama 45RPM, and it's available from the label's Bandcamp. Look for a new Exbats album next year!



-L.R.

https://jarama45rpmrecs.bandcamp.com/album/im-a-witch 
https://theexbats.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/TheExbats 
https://www.facebook.com/jarama45rpmrecs/