There's something in the water in the Bay Area, clearly. Between a slew of bands on Dandy Boy Records, and a bunch more on Slumberland, Oakland is well represented. How about nearby San Francisco? Well, here in 2025 it seems like The Telephone Numbers are going to answer that challenge. With members of The Umbrellas, Chime School, Tony Molina, and Aislers Set contributing, there's a lot of great jangle-pop on this new SLR release, Scarecrow II, from The Telephone Numbers.
While Scarecrow II opens with the very Let's Active-y "Goodbye to Rock-n-Roll, "Be Right Down" takes things to a place that's very similar to that mapped out by label-mates Chime School (Andy Pastalaniec of that band is on this track and a few others here). The tune is very big, but it's got all the trappings of indie. Oh, and it's catchy as hell. All that conspires to make this so perfect. And while "Ebb Tide" offers up a refrain of "The world is chaos right above me...", the song is still just pure goodness. Think early Wire Train for a handy point of comparison. And maybe reach for a Velvet Crush reference or two for "This Job is Killing Me", another highlight here.
While so much of what's good about the Bay Area is from American bands drawing inspiration from old British ones, The Telephone Numbers do seem to be more firmly in thrall to the kind of stuff that briefly flourished here on these shores in the Eighties. Shades of Paisley Underground acts pop up on Scarecrow II, as do flashes of early R.E.M., and, as I said, bits that owe a debt to early Wire Train. There's a plaintiveness here that is very winning, such that the down-tempo numbers are just as affecting as the jangle-filled ones. As it is, this is another record from this imprint which charms enormously. Highly, highly recommended.
Scarecrow II by The Telephone Numbers is out this week via Slumberland Records. Details below.
[Photo: Slumberland Records]