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Bad Penny

by Spectrals

supported by
Jeff Shute
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Curt Schommer
Curt Schommer thumbnail
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JOHN GRADY
JOHN GRADY thumbnail
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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Your choice of black or red vinyl. Comes with poster while supplies last.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Bad Penny via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of Bad Penny via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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      $6 USD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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1.
Get A Grip 02:53
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2.
Lockjaw 02:00
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3.
You Don't Have To Tell Me 03:03
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4.
Big Baby 02:21
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5.
Many Happy Returns 03:26
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6.
You Can't Live On Love Alone 02:11
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7.
Doing Time 03:07
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8.
Confetti 02:14
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9.
Luck Is There To Be Pushed 03:34
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10.
Brain Freeze 02:28
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11.
If I Think About The Magic Will It Go Away? 01:39
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about

Bad Penny is the debut album from Spectrals aka 21 year old Louis Jones. Mixing ingredients of pop, soul, doo wop, and a garage rock ballad, it sounds vintage but current, while the Yorkshire lilt in his voice (a result of his hometown, Heckmondwike) places him firmly in the UK, rather than Detroit. 

Inspired by the music he grew up listening to as a child, from the Rolling Stones (the only CD's his mum ever has in her car) to The Style Council, Elvis Costello and The Ronettes (artists he regularly shares on mix tapes) it's all "just about love really."

In eleven original songs, not heard on any of Spectrals previous tapes, singles or EPs, he documents his relationship with his girlfriend, who he has known since school, from the great to the not-so-good. "Love songs are the kind of songs I like" says the guy who once turned Beyonce's "Single Ladies" upside down ('Peppermint') "'not all of them are nice, but they're all feelings I've had". As if he wasn't attached to these songs enough,  Louis recorded nearly all of the instruments on Bad Penny, with his brother, Will Jones, the only other musician on the album, on drums. 

Of course, Spectrals has always been a small operation. Now in its third year of existence, Louis started by recording in a friend's knocked-together studio when he became bored with the bands he spent time with him in his teens. "Playing in bands with mates was a laugh but I always fancied doing things myself and doing the music I really liked" he says "Most of the bands we did were Hardcore, not pop."

Despite originally only being for his closest friends, his Myspace soon attracted the attention of discerning labels all over the world: from Brooklyn label Captured Tracks (Dum Dum Girls, Wild Nothing) to Brighton's Sex Is Disgusting (Mazes, Human Hair) to Underground Peoples, where he eventually released last year's Extended Play. In Wichita and Slumberland he's found another two labels that share his love for classic pop that's in touch with its weird side. 

Recorded with Richard Formby (producer on Wild Beasts' 'Smother') in early 2011, on Bad Penny, Spectrals' knack for writing a great tune is more obvious than ever. "I just love these songs" he says "all I'd hope is for people to come away saying, 'they were 11 ace songs' or if there's a a guy or girl getting messed about, that it makes sense to them. I'm not wanting make out I'm a genius, I hate it when groups do that. People don't like being talked down to, y'know? This is just songs". - Sian Rowe, 2011

credits

released October 25, 2011

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Slumberland Records Oakland, California

Pop label with a stubborn streak, since 1989.

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