THE ARMOIRES: Octoberland

The Armoires' new album Octoberland is finally out, and it's stunning. Seems like now is good time to collect what I've already written about Octoberland, beginning with this blurb I provided at the band's request:

Pop music as manifesto. The Armoires' Octoberland is nothing short of breathtaking, a firm planting of feet and raising of banner on behalf of values and virtues that are even larger than the music itself. The album opens with "We Absolutely Mean It," closes with "Music & Animals," and threads the sentiments together with nine more tracks of resolute sincerity, empathy, and accomplishment. It is a whole-album experience, as all of the superb advance singles somehow sound even better in context. The influences, whether deliberate or God-given, unite pop, rock, folk, Americana, Europa, Broadway (no, really!), rural soul, California sun, and--to quote an older Armoires song title--Appalachukrania, blended to form a unique and sublime tapestry. The production just sounds amazing, so inviting and warm, enhancing hooks and melodies unwilling to shy away from deeper meaning, hummable tunes unafraid to embrace their own essential kickass identity. The Armoires absolutely mean it. 

I'm convinced.

The Armoires are Christina Bulbenko (keyboards), Rex Broome (guitar), Larysa Bulbenko (viola), John Borack (drums), and Clifford Ulrich (bass), working on Octoberland with producer Michael Simmons. Here's a chronological recap excerpting some of what I've previously posted in my 10 Songs feature about a few of the tracks on Octoberland, as played on This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana and Carl.

MUSIC & ANIMALS

The Armoires' new single "Music & Animals" provides a lovely tease of their forthcoming new album, a record this little mutant radio show is very eager to hear (and play). For the moment, though, "Music & Animals" is part of a sublime new compilation album called Embers Of Aloha: A Maui Wildfire Benefit Project. The damage the wildfires inflicted upon Maui and its people is heartbreaking, and we urge you to buy the benefit album (an act of giving that gives back), and/or to consider a direct donation via Operation USA (or whatever charitable infrastructure you favor).  

Buying this album is a gift that gives back, and we recommend you take full advantage of that opportunity. Help others while helping yourself to some great music? Even saints need tunes to accompany their saintly deeds, man.

I'm tempted to note a weird dichotomy here: As I write this post, recalling the hardships of our brothers and sisters in Maui, today is also the day I recorded my parts for our next show, The 25th Annual THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO Christmas Show, which airs on Christmas Eve. But the temptation disappears as I appreciate the symmetry of events, the common ground that outflanks and outranks difference. A holiday, no matter how festive, often contains a sense of loss, a pang, an ache that reminds us of parts of our lives that have gone missing. A tragedy like the Maui wildfires demands that we figure out a way to hope, a way to help, a way to somehow restore dreams and make them real. Visions of sugarplums. Shelter from harm. 

A light to shine the way.

WE ABSOLUTELY MEAN IT

Sincerity has great intrinsic value. Its value is embodied in the work of the Armoires.

That's not just true of the band's music. It's a defining quality of Armoires mainstays Rex Broome and Christina Bulbenko, who are also the proprietors, CEOs, primary enforcers, benevolent despots, intimidating muscle, and photogenic poster kids for the mighty Big Stir Records label. Other than the annual edition of Dana's Funky Soul Pit and the occasional special program, a TIRnRR playlist without at least one Big Stir track is rarer'n rare. We like Big Stir. We like Rex and Christina. And, obviously, we like the Armoires. 

And also obviously: We absolutely mean it. 

We mean it times two. The luxury of an indie radio show is that we play what we want to play, without any other concerns. Maybe that's cool? Ah, maybe it's just stubborn. But our statement of intent mirrors the Armoires: We absolutely mean it. Such a sincerely cool track.

HERE COMES THE SONG

Dana and I usually set the programming for each week's playlist on Tuesday evenings, and then I record my bits on Wednesdays. Recording four days before the Sunday night broadcasts means that we often wind up having to postpone late-arriving new releases to a subsequent show. It's a necessary trade-off: If we want the show to air in its appointed time slot, we have to have its blueprint and working components completed about a half a week prior to radio night.

But! Each week's next-to-last set is a designated bonus set, as Dana gives me a list of four tracks he's chosen and I throw in whatever seems to fit alongside. The bonus set isn't finalized until I record on Wednesday, so that leaves a bit of elbow room if something new and irresistible crosses the threshold and demands playlist accommodation.

So here come the Armoires! I received the group's latest single "Here Comes The Song" just in time to squeeze into the bonus set, and actually kicking off three-in-a-row by Big Stir recording artists (Armoires, Sorrows, and sparkle*jets u.k.). See? The process WORKS!

SNAKE ISLAND THIRTEEN

As the rockin' pop world waits with giddy anticipation for the imminent release of the Armoires' splendid new album Octoberland, we have one more advance single from that mighty, mighty record. The digital single was released on August 24--Ukrainian Independence Day--and it pairs the Octoberland track "Snake Island Thirteen" with "Don't Kill That World I'm Living In," the latter by Ukrainian performer Roy Crank. Sales of the split single Songs For Ukrainian Independence Day benefit humanitarian aid through United Help Ukraine. YOU should purchase it immediately, and you can do so right here. You can also donate directly to United Help Ukraine here.

(I have heard Octoberland, and it's one of the best albums of 2024. We'll be talking more about Octoberland very soon.)

RIDLEY & ME AFTER THE APOCALYPSE

We've been hammerin' all available podiums on behalf of Octoberland, the forthcoming new album from SoCal/Appalachukrainia's phenomenal pop combo the Armoires. As we near its imminent release in...um, October, we have this opportunity to play one final teaser single. "Ridley & Me After The Apocalypse" demonstrates a sun still shining brightly after presumed Armageddon, and it adds to the mountain of evidence showing us that Octoberland is one of the very best albums of 2024. We'll hear yet another fab cut from Octoberland on our next show.

GREEN HELLFIRE AT THE 7-11

Great. Now I want a Slurpee. A GREEN HELLFIRE Slurpee! They're surprisingly refreshing. The Armoires' imminent new album Octoberland is even more refreshing, and clearly one of this year's best. Thank heaven for "Green Hellfire At The 7-11." Sluuuurp!

Chief Executive Armoires Rex Broome and Christina Bulbenko were guests on this week's two-part episode of the Only Three Lads podcast with Brett Vargo and Uncle Gregg (you can hear Part 1 here, and Part 2 here), and they mentioned the urgent political motivation at the heart of their current single "Green Hellfire At The 7-11." October surprise? November blue wave. And like Rex and Christina: I'm with her. We're not going back. I'll meet you for Slurpees after we vote.

Yes indeed: VOTE! This glass ceiling won't shatter itself. For a soundtrack to accompany our efforts, we humbly suggest Octoberland by the Armoires. 

Oh, and here's Rex and Christina on this week's episode of The Spoon, as Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do) says goodnight.

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My new book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) is now available, and you can order an autographed copy here. You can still get my previous book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones from publisher Rare Bird Books, OR an autographed copy here. If you like the books, please consider leaving a rating and/or review at the usual online resources.

This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming at SPARK stream and on the Radio Garden app as WESTCOTT RADIO. Recent shows are archived at Westcott Radio. You can read about our history here.