BOX OF 7"s: Episode 2

THE BOBBYTEENS - "I Wanna Go Home" b/w "Pay the Price"
Outer Universe Recs, 1998 (and it's on pink marble!)

Born from the genius of Darin Raffaelli, the Phil Spector of 90s garage rock, the Bobbyteens' sloppy bubblegum earnestness is hard to resist. They've also got pedigree. Russell Quan was in the Mummies! Two of the girls were Trashwomen!
I must admit that this is my thing. This type of bubblegum garage here. Catchy, instantly hummable, snotty. I really like both the tunes on this one. "I Wanna Go Home" is definitely my jam when I'm ready to get back to Texas. I must have worn down a needle playing this one over and over when I first got it. You know, I think the Bobbyteens only played here once. We saw them in Vegas in 2000 and I have a picture of Russell Quan taking a picture of me in an elevator while I'm taking his picture!


THE BOBBYTEENS - "Treat Me Right" b/w "Girl Downtown"
Screaming Apple Recs., 1999

With another Raffaelli assist, another sweet wad of bubblegum is borne from the Bobbyteens. There's a little picture of him rockin' out on the back of the sleeve. He plays guitar on all these singles. Did he write the songs? I think he did.
I can really relate to the "Girl Downtown" song. It's about being a kid and seeing someone who looks really cool to you and you can't wait to get older and emulate them or try to, anyway. Like the first time you saw a punk or a rockabilly dude or a b-girl at the mall, and they were real. "Wow", you'd think. "There's a real punk rocker. His buttflap is as gnarly as the ones in The Decline of Western Civilization 3. He's cool."


THE BOBBYTEENS - "Rock n' Roll Show" b/w "Backseat Lover"
Estrus Recs., 1999

Not my favorite, but it's OK. "Backseat Lover" really provides the meat on this, but when I listen to it I can't help but think of Russell and Tina from the band getting it on in the back of the van. I wonder if they follwed the popular "no body fluids in the van" rule that I've noticed most bands favor. I think it's to prevent the van from stinking of sex!