Barnes. And Barnes. They're a comedy-new-wave-experimental-synthpop-whatever band born in the Los Angeles suburbs, starring childhood buddies Art Barnes (Bill Mumy) and Artie Barnes (Robert Haimer). I've thought about them daily since October, 2023 when my friend Jailpup got me into them
There's also LORE! The Barnes boys are from a place in a diffrent dimension called ''Lumania'' and broadcast their songs through music rays(?). A lot of their album names are Lumanian words, like "Voobaha" = hello, and "Spazchow" = guys who suffer for art and women. Lumania's government is run by Newts... like those wet lizards. They also like cheese... beer... fish....heads...... Hey, I'm working from breadcrumbs. They need to publish a guidebook to Lumanian culture so I can write an accurate comic about them.
gifs taken from videomessiah on tumblr
FAVORITE ALBUMS
I like their work from the 80s the most, but they still wrote some absolute bangers in the 2000s and 2010s. So uh. Keep that in mind
| Amazing Adult Fantasy | ||
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(Subjectively) THE BEST BARNES & BARNES ALBUM!I have this one on vinyl but I'm mildly upset that some of my favorite songs aren't on there. But they're on spotify so it's alright. This album... really didn't sell well in its time which is a damn shame because it had some genuinely great songs on it. There is a strong use of the moog synthesizer and drum machine, giving it a 1980s charm. | FAV SONGS:
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| Kodovoner | ||
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Their secret album... recorded in the 80s but not released until 2005. Uses the same synths and stuff as Amazing Adult Fantasy, but was apparently inspired Brian Wilson's SMiLE album, and that fact does come through at some points of the album (like the harmonies in ''Succeed''). Art said in a Facebook video that this album was too preachy... But as a George Harrison fan I really don't care. | FAV SONGS:
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| Spazchow | ||
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A classic... (I ALSO have this on vinyl) This was the 2nd B&B album ever, after their first hit album ''Voobaha''. They ...upgraded... from their novelty jingles and made some more interesting songs. I love their 1970s era moogs. | FAV SONGS:
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PS: love their cover ''What's New Pussycat'' (One of the first B&B songs I fell in love with, in part because of this behind-the-scenes video on youtube)
PPS: Do you want to have your heart melted into a syrupy goo? Listen to Artie's solo work. I even compiled a playlist of my favorite songs of his
Rye visiting the official Barnes and Barnes website circa 2023
