The Scallions

Mike and Shawn Franklin, the avant-garde power-pop duo, The Scallions, are back with a follow up to their 2006 Slam Jamz release, Agony Through Ceremony. For this (presently vinyl and download only) release, entitled Sounds of Vinyl and the Past (on the Mind’s Ear label), the band has combined new material with a number of tracks from their archives.



The Scallions have been together for nearly 20 years and therefore have a wealth of unreleased material to choose from. The older tracks were remixed, reshaped, overdubbed and interspersed throughout the album. Sounds of Vinyl and the Past is an instrumental LP; a musical format reflected in the majority of their early work. And they’re not just jumping on the trendy vinyl bandwagon either. This record has been in production for some time. It showcases more of the band’s avant-garde/experimental side. But fans of Agony Through Ceremony do not despair - The Scallions have not abandoned their power-pop roots. Their future release, Kaleidoscope - currently in the works, will see the band returning to a more avant-garde power-pop sound. In the meantime, the band hopes that you enjoy these movie soundtrack-like soundscapes.



Sounds of Vinyl and the Past features guest appearances by Brian Jackson of Gil Scott-Heron fame, underground favorites Brian Poole of Renaldo and the Loaf and Nolan Cook from The Resident’s touring band. This was such a thrill for The Scallions as they are big fans of and heavily influenced by The Residents and Renaldo and the Loaf. It has been mentioned in the past, but The Resident’s Commercial Album is what initiated the start of The Scallions. Those influences can be heard on this record. It also features their father, Mike Franklin, Sr., contributing a track (Fusion) and playing along with the band. He got them started in music and heavily influenced their early listening habits. The band says that they enjoyed this experience, look forward to doing it again and are eternally grateful to the man that started it all for them.



This album also offers what is sorely missing from today’s CDs and downloads - deluxe, full size packaging! The album, a very retro looking transparent green vinyl, comes in a beautiful gatefold sleeve. And to marry old media with the new, it also comes with a coupon to get a free digital download of the LP. A limited number of early shipments will include a copy of the Agony Through Ceremony CD.