by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Jacob Turnbloom has been making sunny sounding music with none sunny themes for nearly two decades, most notably as the guitarist/vocalist for the great Mrs. Magician, a garage surf band that paired together bright harmonies, jangly guitars, and lo-fi punk. He’s released his share of solo music as well, from hard to find tapes to 2019’s Cemetary Luau, his first “official” solo album, a blend of crooning post-punk darkness and weary guitar fuzz. Tired of making sad songs for sad people, Turnbloom’s latest single, “Balboa Park,” released via Dangerbird’s Microdose series, is his first attempt at happy pop for everyone (sad people welcome).
“Balboa Park” is a song about San Diego itself, a love letter to musician’s home and the character of the city that makes it unique. Over fuzzy guitars and upbeat drums, recorded at home during pandemic related isolation, Turnbloom brings us into the sunshine, with smiles from ear to ear as he sings about the San Diego zoo, amusement parks, and spending the day out in the sun. The song has a Jesus and Mary Chain feel to it times, but you know… genuinely happy. The video, filmed by Turnbloom, Tiffany Lizardi, Joel Matis, and Chris Vega, gives us a tour around the sites of sunny San Diego, as Turnbloom does his best Waldo impression, aside from the fact he’s never in any crowds. It makes it easy, easy like the listening itself. San Diego looks beautiful and everything about this production just feels good.
Speaking about the song, Turnbloom shared, “I’ve written four albums worth of depressing, cynical, self deprecating, introspective crap. I wanna write songs about falling in love and eating ice cream. This one’s about food and zoo animals.”