Mrs. Magician - Spiritual Hangover LP - Black Vinyl (/250)

 
Swami (2026)

I have been talking about Mrs. Magician since the moment I acquired some of their early 7"s.  I really dug those singles, but I was not prepared for their debut full length in 2012, Strange Heaven.  It instantly became an all timer for me and I often mention it as my favorite record of the last however many years (though at this point, that however is getting to be a pretty big number).  Their 2016 follow up Bermuda was also my album of that year.  But then we didn't hear a whole lot from Mrs. Magician.  For about a decade.

Spiritual Hangover is the 2026 return of Mrs. Magician, though this time Jacob Turnbloom is collaborating with a new crew that make up the band.  I would be lying if I said this didn't give me pause when I first heard that.  The main reason being that during Mrs. Magician downtimes there were some very good Jacob Turnbloom solo records, but they were different from Mrs. Magician.  I wanted this record to feel like the others.  Luckily, any worries I had evaporated almost immediately as Spiritual Hangover is exactly what I need from a Mrs. Magician record.

If you like Mrs. Magician already, you go in with a certain set of expectations.  You want the reverb tinged, surf hooks.  You want interesting chord progressions that break down into side quests, but come right back where they're supposed to be.  And then you expect to be popped in the jaw with a picture perfect hook.  All the while, you've got lyrics that demand repeated listens to try to catch every one of the nuggets that are thrown out there.  I've always sort have found the lyrics to be humorously depressing or having a feeling of resigned optimism.  There's crappy stuff out there and a Mrs. Magician record will point those things out, but in a way that makes you begrudging laugh and realize you've got to keep pushing through even if some things seem kind of hopeless.

Every time I've listened to this record I just dig it more and more. To the point where I think it's even better than Bermuda.  I love the scrappy production that while still sounding clean and warm, manages to have those fuzzy elements that keeps it feeling real and not over produced.  This is a band with a near flawless catalog and I am so happy whenever I get to hear something new.  I just wish these records would come out more often. Ten years is way too long to wait!

(PS - I am pretty sure the black vinyl was limited to 250 copies, but I can't find where I thought I read that.  I'll update that info if it's wrong.)

Mrs. Magician - Spiritual Hangover:

https://mrsmagician.bandcamp.com/album/spiritual-hangover

Mrs. Magician - High Resolution 7"

 
Swami (2026)

It seems both inconceivable and ridiculous that it's been ten years since the last Mrs. Magician record came out.  This is a band responsible for two incredible albums, the first of which is easily in my top 10 records that have come out in the 2000s (probably top five, honestly - but I don't have time to check and do the math right now).  This two song 7" marks their return in 2026, leading up to a new album next month.  Which coincidently includes both of the songs on this 7".

Now, I must remind people that I have an aversion to listening to songs from un upcoming album outside of the context of the full album.  I find that it makes me hear those songs differently than the rest.  In the past I have overplayed advance singles and I've learned that it does the album no favors, so I avoid that now.  I bring this up because I'm writing about this 7" only having listened to it once, with no plans to listen again until I can hear these songs with the rest of the full record.

I did write down some notes while I listened, knowing that I wouldn't be back for a little bit.  A side "High Resolution" is a driving pop song with a big guitar riff doing the heavy lifting in the verse.  There's some nice surfy secondary guitar sprinkled in and a great hook for the chorus.  The song is very good and as I listened to it I was getting pretty excited to hear the new album when suddenly at about the minute forty-five mark or so, the song veers into an incredibly catchy bridge or breakdown or whatever you want to call it.  It's just bonkers and makes the song even better than I already thought it was.  What a ride.

On the B side, "Dead Alive" starts off with that scrappy, early, reverb heavy Mrs. Magician sound before cleaning itself up when the main thrust of the song kicks in. I hope we get a little more of that fuzzy aesthetic on the rest of the record as I really dig that.  But again, this is another cracking good song with crunchy guitars and some really nice vocal interplay between Jacob and Tiffany Turnbloom where there's a back and forth before coming together into a harmony.  

Like I said, I only listened to this once, but I definitely liked what I heard.  What it really does (and I do believe this is the point of singles, I'm sure it's in a book somewhere) is make me excited to finally hear the full length.  I am counting down the days and doing finger exercises to ensure I can preorder the vinyl as quickly as possible once it shows up in the Swami shop.

Mrs. Magician - "High Resolution":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C55h4t9BF-I

Mrs. Magician - "Dead Alive":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPapZ7Y4laU

Jacob Turnbloom - Cemetery Luau LP - Pink Vinyl (/100)

Cheddar Goblin (2019)

Jacob Turnbloom is the main singer in one of my favorite bands, Mrs. Magician.  He's started up a record label called Cheddar Goblin and his first release is a solo record of his own.  It's going to be hard to not compare them to prior work done with Mrs. Magician, but if you are a Mrs. Magician fan, I cannot fathom you also not digging Cemetery Luau.

More than anything, these songs remind me of early Mrs. Magician.  The types of songs they were releasing on their 7"s prior to Strange Heaven or some of the tracks compiled onto their B Sides compilation.  You aren't going to get the sheen of Bermuda, but you also aren't going to get the lo fi hiss of the Jacob Turnbloom Death Tape.  Cemetery Luau is kind of that perfect middle ground, and that really lets the songs shine through.  Even though this is a solo album, it's not one of those sparse 'dude with a guitar' records.  Jacob handles the bass and drum duties as well resulting in a full band sound.

While there are minor surfy elements in Jacob's guitar playing, to me I find the songs on this album to have more of a Bakesale era Lou Barlow in Sebedoh type of lived in quality to them.  Low key for the most part and mostly concerned with telling the story of the song.  And the songs tell great stories.  Jacob Turnbloom is one of my favorite current lyricists as he always manages to cast a wry eye at the world and at relationships, but never comes across as bitter or hopeless.  I really love this record.  It's one of the best in a year crowded with some pretty incredible records.

Jacob Turnbloom - "Ride The Past Waves Of The Future"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjBA0qxxcg8

Jacvob Turnbloom - "Suncoast Digest":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqmqrPrJJv4

Mrs. Magician - You'll Fall In Love 7" - 3 Versions

Thrill Me (2016)

It's taken me way longer to review this 7" than it probably should have.  Let's get the pressing information out of the way first.  It's a pressing of 500 overall.  200 are on Black vinyl, 200 are on Coke Bottle Clear vinyl and 100 are on Doublemint vinyl.  The Doublemint in particular is pretty sharp looking.  It's an awesome color choice.

It's no secret that Mrs. Magician are just about my favorite current band.  There is very little they can do wrong in my book and this 7" is a perfect example of all of the things they do right.  The A side "You'll Fall In Love" is an upbeat and catchy entry into the Mrs. Magician catalog.  The guitars are clean and jangly and I absolutely love the way the chorus closes out the song with the overlapping vocals. 

On the B side we have "Spiritual Awakening."  This one is soaked in reverb and slow surf melodies.  I am, of course, partial to a faster pace, but when Mrs. Magician slows things down they have a real knack for keeping things interesting.  They have a way of layering melodies and tones that keep me enthralled.  At this point I'm all in on Mrs. Magician.  There's very little that they do that I don't love.  This 7" is no exception.  Two more fantastic songs to add to their already impressive resume.

Mrs. Magician - You'll Fall In Love 7":

https://mrsmagician.bandcamp.com/album/youll-fall-in-love

Mrs. Magician - Bermuda LP - Green Vinyl

Swami (2016)

I have been waiting for this record for a very, very long time.  My expectations were set so unrealistically high, it would not have been difficult for Mrs. Magician to let me down with Bermuda.  Despite the fact that they were trying to follow up my favorite record of the past ten years, Mrs. Magician still knocked it out of the park and delivered an instant classic of a second album.

Sure, if pressed I'll say that I don't like this album as much as I like their prior, Strange Heaven.  But I also don't like Scream Dracula Scream as much as I like Circa: Now.  That doesn't mean Scream isn't a ridiculously amazing record, it just means Circa is one of those transcendent classics.  I feel similarly with the two Mrs. Magician albums.  I can't fathom a time in the future where I won't think Strange Heaven is one of the best album's I have ever heard in my entire life, but Bermuda is so, so great in its own right.

The album starts out with the blazing surfed up lead guitar of "Phantoms."  It immediately draws you in and gets you ready for the ride ahead.  After that it's just hit after hit of dark pop perfection.  One of the things I love about Mrs. Magician is how incredible the lyrics are and their ability to paint a picture in my head.  This ability is on display again on Bermuda.  Just fire up my favorite song on the album, "Tear Drops."  "Life sucks/Tough shit/You wanna get real/get used to it/whoa-whoa-oh-oh."  And then that sets the stage for the biggest hook on the album and maybe one of the most powerful choruses in the band's entire catalog.

To list off all of the great songs on this album you would essentially just have to reprint the tracklist.  I will give special mention to the closing three songs on the album as they are so unbelievably good it just makes me angry the album is over.  Let's also point out another batch of killer lyrics on "No More Tears."  "Gonna set my, my alarm clock/just to tell my boss to fuck off." Goddamn that's great stuff and Bermuda is just packed to the gills with genius like this.

Hands down, far and away, this is the best record I have heard so far in 2016.  I cannot possibly recommend it highly enough.  While I absolutely think Bermuda was worth the four year wait since Strange Heaven, these guys better not take that long again for album number three.  Also, don't break up again.  I'll freak out.  Lastly, I just saw Mrs. Magician this past weekend when they came through town.  They were beyond description and you are a fool if you don't see them if they play by you.  Go buy this record now.

Mrs. Magician - Bermuda:

https://mrsmagician.bandcamp.com/album/bermuda

Mrs. Magician - Eyes All Over Town 7" (Import) - Yellow Vinyl & Black Vinyl

La Castanya (2016)

I reviewed the US version of this 7" on Swami a few days ago, but there is another version of this single release by La Castanya in Spain.  In addition to a different color scheme for the artwork and the fact that it's available on yellow vinyl, this 7" is sporting a completely different B side than the American version.

That B side what I'll focus on for the purpose of this review.  "Do You Wanna Walk Around In The Dark" has a slightly odd 80's sound to it.  It's the sort of song you could probably imagine in the context of a John Hughes movie when the main characters are having a heart to heart moment and are realizing they've been right for each other all along.  Despite my general dislike of most 80's music, Do You Wanna Walk Around In The Dark" doesn't bug me as much as I would think it could if you were just telling me about it.

Luckily, Mrs. Magician picked one of the only decent 80's vibes to be influenced by as the "Don't Fear The Reaper" guitar tone keeps the song rooted and prevents it from drifting into cheesy novelty territory.  I certainly prefer when Mrs. Magician is blasting out louder, fuzzier surf tinged pop songs, but "Do You Wanna Walk Around In The Dark" is a fun little B side.  If Mrs. Magician made a whole record like this, I'm not sure I'd be on board, but it's totally fine as a one off.

Mrs. Magician - Do You Wanna Walk Around In The Dark":

https://lacastanya.bandcamp.com/album/eyes-all-over-town-b-w-do-you-wanna-walk-around-in-the-dark

Record Store Day Haul #5: V/A - Hardcore Matinee - Clear Vinyl

Swami (2016)

By now you're probably noticing a trend here, but I'll continue it again in case you haven't read any of the prior write ups I've done on my Record Store Day hauls.  My local store didn't carry the Hardcore Matinee compilation, so once again I was forced to look elsewhere and like with the other Swami RSD releases, I was able to nab this from Interpunk.  So, thanks for that Interpunk, you came through big time this year.

Hardcore Matinee is a throwback to the days of compilation albums that cram tons of bands and variety into a blender and serve it up to you, the listener.  Being of the appropriate age myself, I can't even tell you how many compilations I bought back in the 90s.  It was essentially one of the main ways I discovered new bands.  You find a comp that has a band or two on it you already like, and then you go through the rest looking for new sounds.  It's actually how I discovered Rocket From The Crypt oddly enough.  Swami John Reis has compiled a bunch of bands from his hometown of San Diego, CA and the results are pretty striking.

It starts off with a one-two punch of The Schizophonics and Octagrape, both are bands that I was familiar with, but hadn't really heard all that much by.  While neither song ends up being a true highlight on this stacked compilation, they are both good enough to warrant looking into both bands a little more closely in the future.  

There's some bands already familiar to me who expectedly knock it out of the park.  Pinback, The Heartaches and Mrs. Magician are all at the very top of the best songs on this record and by listening to each it is clear that they were not turning in leftovers for this compilation.  Every one of those songs could have easily ended up on an album or 7".

Of newer bands (or at least newer to me bands), Teenage Burritos and The Soaks really stand out.  In particular, The Soaks stake a real claim at possibly having the best song on the entire compilation.  I already have a demo tape by these guys, but I really hope to hear more from them very soon.  

Next we'll talk about the two John Reis bands on this record.  Chronologically, the first one is the first new Hot Snakes song since they started playing together again.  It's as fantastic as you would hope and instantly makes it obvious this is a band that has lost none of their fire over the years.  If anything it's interesting how much it seems to call on Rick's time with Obits.  Closing out the album is The Sultans.  Despite having been out of action for so long, they are the band battling with The Soaks for my favorite song on the record.  Their inclusion "Hardcore Matinee" is something of a theme song for the entire record.  It showcases all of the incredible chord changes, warm, jangly guitar and catchiness that The Sultans displayed on their last album.  I want new records by all of John's band, but part of me would like to hear some more from The Sultans the most.

There are a few bands that don't get to me quite as much.  The Gary Wilson song strikes me as being a little goofy and I'll never be into the kind of noisy hollering that bands like Death Eyes, Ghetto Blaster and WHA bring to the table.  But as a whole this is an incredibly enjoyable compilation packed with old favorites and new hit songs.  It brings me right back to the 90s, digging through compilation albums, looking for gold.

Octagrape - Rabalais:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAD9pP_QEPI

The Soaks - "Boyfriend":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFUzXxQWls8

The Sultans - "Hardcore Matinee":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hQzbGTGAqE

Record Store Day Haul #2: Mrs. Magician - Eyes All Over Town 7"

Swami (2016)

When this Mrs. Magician 7" was announced for Record Store Day, it instantly became the record I was most concerned about tracking down.  If you've been reading this website for any length of time, you're probably aware that Mrs. Magician put out just about my favorite record of the last ten years with Strange Heaven.  I couldn't even possibly count the number of times I've listened to that.  The fact that they are finally following it up with a new full length in a few weeks is such great news.  I preordered that one a while ago and now I'm just waiting.

In the mean time, Mrs' Magician released this 7" for Record Store Day.  This was another record that my local stores just weren't carrying for whatever reason.  Luckily, the website Interpunk was selling it online and had advertised it as a preorder a few weeks earlier.  I wasn't positive it would actually show up, but I decided to take a chance anyway and order this along with the other Swami Record Store Day items.  When I finally got that shipping notification I was very relieved that I wouldn't have to go crazy trying to track this thing down.

The A side "Eyes All Over Town" will be on the next full length.  I'm purposefully trying to avoid listening to any of the preview songs of the record until I can just sit down and listen to the whole thing.  I'll write this song up when I review the full length, though I've put a link to the song below if you want to check it out.  The B side "I'm Glad You're Dead" is exclusive to this 7".  It's another hit for Mrs. Magician.  The production of the guitars is slightly cleaner than on past releases, but it only heightens the greatness of their start stop riffs and breezy surf tinged rhythms.  The vocals have a nice little layer of fuzz on them and the band has not lost any of their dark wit and humor.

It's been way too long since the last Mrs. Magician album.  If this 7" is anything to go by, I'm probably going to be pretty happy with the next album.  It's only two weeks away.  I hope it goes quick.

Mrs. Magician - "Eyes All Over Town":

https://mrsmagician.bandcamp.com/track/eyes-all-over-town-2

The Grave Walks - She's A Suicide 7" (White Vinyl (/150) & Green Vinyl (/150)

Windian (2014)

Talk about a supergroup.  The Grave Walks is Jacob Turnbloom from Mrs. Magician and Dan Sartain. You'd be harder pressed to find 2 people who have been making better records as of late.  Dan has been a perennial favorite of mine for years and Mrs. Magician released my favorite record of probably the last decade.  Teaming them together is probably going to lead to some magic.

If you thought that, you'd be right.  The A-side "She's A Suicide" steers closer to the Mrs. Magician side of the spectrum.  Dan take vocals over a lightly distorted, surf-y guitar riff.  The tempo is probably a little bit slower than most Mrs. Magician songs, but the song has a haunting melody that is just fantastic.  Dan Sartain's vocals truly elevate this song.

B-side "Teresa, I Love You" could be categorized as being similar in style to previous Dan Sartain songs.  Particularly I'm reminded of "Marfa Lights" off his last album Dudesblood.  It's a slow somber song with Dan crooning over acoustic guitar and very light percussion accompaniment. Very few people can pull off this style of music better than Dan Sartain and again, it's his vocals that make this song something special.

The odds of me not liking a project put together by two of my very favorite musicians were slim to begin with.  The Grave Walks is every bit as good as you'd want it to be.  I just hope this isn't a one off; I wand to hear more from these guys in the future.

The Grave Walks - "She's A Suicide":

https://soundcloud.com/windian-records/the-grave-walks-shes-a-suicide

Mrs. Magician - Friday Night 7"

Windian (2014)

Number two in the Windian Singles Series is from one of my current favorite bands in the world, Mrs. Magician.  I will admit, one of the reasons why it's taken me so long to get around to writing about this box set is because I didn't want to listen to this Mrs. Magician 7" after the band had announced they were splitting up.  Their last full length, Strange Heaven, was just so perfect and my feeble brain couldn't cope with the fact that a band would walk away after releasing something that good.  Luckily, they changed their mind, got back together and are about to disappear into the ether to record their new album.

This allows me to listen to their Windian 7" with joy and anticipation rather than treating it like a funeral.  It's a relief too, because these 2 songs are incredible.  If they were the last 2 Mrs. Magician songs ever released, it would have been a shame.  But they're not so I can rejoice in the Beach Boys gone bad harmonies of "Friday Night."  With very light organ searing through the background, this song picks up right where Strange Heaven left off.  Everything peaks with a soaring, clap your hands along chorus, but then just to keep things interesting the band cuts everything to half time (I don't know if that is a completely technically accurate term, but they make the song slower) and ride out to the conclusion repeating "She was speaking in tongues, just like an angel."

The B-side, "Crosses," takes things into a slightly different direction.  The tone is more reminiscent of "Don't Flatter Yourself," where the band manages to take a reasonably slow song, but turns the dark factor way up.  Yet somehow, they manage to sneak in a ton of hooks and a chorus that rings out "I'm alright, I'm all ri-yi-yi-yi-yi-yi-yight."  It's just such great stuff.  I am counting down the days until I can hear more new music from Mrs. Magician.  They are pretty much the best band playing music right now and I just hope they can manage to stay together for many, many years to come.

Mrs. Magician - Friday Night:

https://soundcloud.com/windian-records/mrs-magician-friday-night

Mrs Magician - B Sides LP - Murky Clear Vinyl

Mrs Magician - B Sides LP - Murky Clear Vinyl, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Thrill Me (2013)

I''ve made it no secret that Strange Heaven by Mrs. Magician was my absolute favorite record of last year and I've gone so far as to say it's probably the best record I've heard in the past 5 years or so. I have played it so many times, and each time, I love it just a bit more. While the band is working on their new full length, they decided to clear house of some old tunes and put out this B Sides LP.

The name is a bit misleading, I think, but not in a bad way. There's really only 2 songs on this record that were ever released before. "Fool's Paradise" from a picture disc 7" and "Dispicable Things" from their tour split with The Night Marchers. Everything else on this record is previously unreleased (well, I suppose some may be on compilations that I don't have or know about).

From what I gather several songs from here were songs that were originally intended for Mrs. Magician's debut full length Pity Party Animal. That record was eventually scrapped and Strange Heaven came out in its place, but the songs on B Sides show a glimpse of what may have been.

In general, the songs on this LP are not quite as polished as what's on Strange Heaven; you can tell the Swami sheen isn't as bright and noticeable. But this band writes some simply amazing songs. "Tabloids" is a mid paced ode to a falling socialite. "Get Bent" ups the speed and has one of the band's trademark bouncy choruses and "I Hate Tour" spins the tale of a bummer of a trip to El Paso. You are not going to find better lyrics than you will on a Mrs. Magician record. It's just that perfect balance of self deprecating wit and wisdom.

Once again, Mrs. Magician have put out an essential album. It's not as quite good as Strange Heaven, so few things out there could be, but it's a fantastic record in its own right and absolutely one worth grabbing.

Mrs Magician - B Sides LP:
mrsmagician.bandcamp.com/album/b-sides

Record Store Day Haul #13 - Night Marchers / Mrs. Magician - Split 7" -White Vinyl

Record Store Day Haul #13 - Night Marchers / Mrs. Magician - Split 7" - White Vinyl, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Swami (2013)

Closing up my run of records bought on Record Store Day 2013 is lucky number 13; the Night Marchers / Mrs. Magician split 7". This record is in a bit of a grey area as far as whether I should count it as a Record Store Day release. It was sent out to stores for April 20th. It wasn't listed on the Official Record Store Day list. Plus when the 2 bands went on tour a few months ago, they sold 300 copies of the split. Sadly they sold out at the show I went to, so I had to rely on the kindness of #TeamSwami to help grab me a copy (My local record stores didn't stock any copies for RSD either). So I'm going to include it in the wrap up, otherwise feel free to view this write as a transition back to non-RSD records for tomorrow.

These guys are 2 of my current favorite bands in the world. The Speedo led Night Marchers have years of goodwill stored up with me and they do not disappoint with their ripper from this 7" "La Gloria." A hook laden rocker that builds and changes in ways that only Night Marchers seem to be able to pull off. Another stellar effort.

Mrs. Magician, on the flip side, is responsible for putting out what is probably my favorite record of the past 5 years or so; Strange Heaven. Their effort, "Despicable Things," once again reaffirms my belief that they are the best thing going in rock and roll right now. Packed full of harmonies, yet slightly darker than the bulk of the songs on their LP, "Despicable Things" is just flat out great. I can't wait to hear more Mrs. Magician. They have a 7" planned on Windian later in the year , but I want more. I know there's more leftovers from their unreleased album Pity Party Animal. "Get Bent" and "Tabloids" have to come out on vinyl. Did I mention that I want more?

Mrs. Magician - Despicable Things:
soundcloud.com/mrs-magician/despicable-things

(Couldn't find the NM track streaming anywhere)

Mrs. Magician - Fools Paradise 7" - Picture Disc

Mrs. Magician - Fools Paradise 7" - Picture Disc, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Enjoyment Records (2012)

This 7" is a companion piece to the phenomenal Strange Heaven LP and features 2 non-album tracks on a wacky picture disc. I think the picture disc is supposed to fit in the sleeve giving the zombie looking guy on the cover 2 different mouths. The images don't really match up too well, but who cares as these 2 Mrs. Magician songs are every bit as amazing as everything on their album.

On a side note, this picture and the last couple I've posted on the website haven't looked so great, I'm having some issues with the sun and reflections. I didn't have time this morning to retake the picture, but I'm going to try to get better quality shots going forward,

Mrs. Magician - Fools Paradise:
soundcloud.com/mrs-magician/fools-paradise

Mrs. Magician - Strange Heaven LP

Mrs. Magician - Strange Heaven LP, a photo by Tim PopKid on Flickr.

Swami (2012)

It's so exciting to see the Swami logo on the back of a record again. This is a label that has been away for far too long and hopefully it's a sign that there's a new Night Marchers record right around the corner. But to the matter at hand, this Mrs. Magician record is outstanding. Somehow these fellows managed to take the harmonies and surfy good vibes of the Beach Boys and drag them through some scratchy punk rock.

Just about every song on here is a hit. Yes, there are some that were previously released on 7"s that the band recorded, but they are right at home in the flow of this record. Without question, one of the best albums of the year so far and is the very definition of a summer record. If you're headed to the beach, bring your turntable this year.

Mrs. Magician - Strange Heaven:
mrsmagician1.bandcamp.com/album/strange-heaven