California Heart is the second full-length and sixth release from San Francisco’s Great Apes. The record, akin to much of the band’s earlier material, is thematic. With California Heart, the concept is a fictional one, revolving around an alienated adolescent in Fresno, CA. Each song is written in first person and tackles a myriad of subjects including mental illness, suburban doldrums, creativity, nature as a sanctuary, social isolation, perceptions of adulthood, cliques, bullying, drugs, suicide, and an ever-crystallizing and often cynical view of the world.
In its entirety, the record is intended to be a portrait of coming of age as an outcast in a stagnant and less-than-nurturing environment. Although the writing is founded in fiction, it’s undoubtedly inspired by the band’s personal experiences, and anyone who grew up feeling weird, anxious, down, and/or angst-ridden in a place they wanted out of will have no problem relating.
Here’s the D.I.Y. video premiere of “Brown Dots,” a song that delves into the mistake of opting to take to acid at school.
Musically, the record finds Great Apes settling into a stylized middle ground between 2013’s Thread and 2014’s Playland at the Beach. Both the heavier inclinations and pop sensibility have been condensed and compressed, resulting in a fluid punk record that goes beyond the genre’s ironic confines without seeming forced or overly eclectic. Sure, there’s influences to be sighted, but the band’s sound is rife with conviction and uniquely their own. You’re welcome to pin it down however you see fit.
The record was recorded over four days this past spring by Jack Shirley at The Atomic Garden. Asian Man Records is releasing the material on 12″ LP and in digital format in October.
Upcoming Shows:
September 3 – Awesome Fest 10 – San Diego, CA Tickets
September 17 – This Is My Fest 3 – Oakland, CA at Oakland Metro House Tickets
