By Keith Walsh
As the frontman of Media Jeweler, Sam Farzin celebrates the absurdity of post-modern existence in positive ways. The band’s new album, “The Sublime Sculpture Of Being Alive” presents a philosophically informed worldview in a mix of punk, psychedelia and art rock with almost too many precursors to list.
There’s the eclectic drum work of Bryson Mounts, whose energetic, sometimes eccentric beats keep the music moving. There’s guitarist Jac Aranda, whose motifs range from polyrhythmic arrays to brash chords. Bassist Thom Lucero lays foundational support, while covering a lot of melodic territory. Vocalist/guitarist Sam Farzin is a wizard on his instrument (a G&L Fullerton) while his charismatic vocals and unusual chord voicings and metaphorical lyrics carry echoes of the heroes that inform the music, melodically, tonally, and thematically.
At the record release party at Permanent Records Roadhouse in Los Angeles on August 20, the band’s newest member, Graham Ulicny doubled on Korg Minilogue and Gibson SG. A sixth player, Patrick Shiroishi, contributed saxophone on a couple of live tracks, as he does on “The Sublime Sculpture Of Being Alive.”
I mentioned the heroes that inform Media Jeweler. There are traces of Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa, Talking Heads, Sonic Youth – but Media Jeweler have a sound all their own. In the spirit of punk the music is a vehicle for social criticism, in a way that’s humorous and sly. Farzin is freed up by the art rock context to chant abstract lyrics with only occasional hints of emotional detachment and a good amount of introspection. It’s clear that the textual observations of Media Jeweler are felt with passion, despite their intellectual weight.
With their first release “$99 R/T Hawaii” in 2015, Media Jeweler set themselves apart with expertly played art rock, mostly instrumental. The performances are crazily amazing, with prog and math rock features. “The Sublime Sculpture Of Being Alive,” recorded in Omaha, Nebraska builds on these stylings while adding lyrics to most of the songs, only making the sound more attractive. With Farzin’s voice out front, I find the band that much more accessible, though they’re already stellar as an instrumental band.
Check out Media Jeweler on Fire Talk Records, on Bandcamp and at MediaJeweler.com .
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