Weekly Release Spotlight: No Bunny
Posted on 2/02/2009
Nobunny
Love Visions
[1-2-3-4 Go! Records]
Have you ever heard that joke about the drunk guy dressed up like a rabbit? You know, he's pretty hammered and then he takes his pants off and starts singing into a carrot? Did I say joke? I meant concept for a band.
Combining booze and bunnies is never recommended, but the elusive Nobunny does it better than anyone in recent memory. Little is known about the man behind the mask (supposedly Justin Champlin of Okmoniks and Sneaky Pinks fame) other than he's from Tucson and he played his first show the day Joey Ramone died, but perhaps that only adds to the fun. With a sound rooted in the Ramones, the Troggs and the Stooges, Nobunny's modern day poppy, punky lo-fi masterpieces transcend the "idiot in a bunny mask" feeling that many get when they first lay eyes on the recently re-released "Love Visions" cover. At the core it's simply a guy who loves to rock, singing well-crafted, silly pop songs.
Originally a limited edition vinyl release with handmade covers, inserts and artwork, the album was re-released on 1-2-3-4 Go Records. Embracing the lo-fi, recorded in a bedroom mentality, Nobunny lets the songs and the attitude shine without all those fancy production techniques. "Chuck Berry Holiday" starts out with a 50's rock inspired riff that could have been written by the song's namesake. A similar riff starts out "Tina Goes to Work" before turning into song based around an awesome piano melody, like it could almost have been played in an old-timey saloon circa 1890. "In an hour or so, I'm gonna be at yo door. So put some pants and shoes on, cause baby we're about to ride." Such heart-warming words begin the aptly-titled "Boneyard," and they only hint at the genius that's present if you can listen long enough to decipher the distorted, borderline unintelligible lyrics.
Whether you're in it for the rock or for the bunnies, Nobunny is the special kind of novelty record that gets under your skin even though you don't want it there. C'mon! It's a grown man in a mask. But you have to listen, despite the offensive sounds and non-sensical lyrics, because these grungy wonders are actually great pop songs and are perhaps even greater because a lunatic is singing them.
Stream: Nobunny - Chuck Berry Holiday
Written by Andrew Zoellner, Radio K volunteer.