The Great Pretenders is the new album from Mini Mansions, the first release on T Bone Burnett’s new label Electromagnectic Recordings. Hailing from California, Mini Mansions’ musical venture was born organically, fated from a shared love of punk rock and melody. While each member made his own way individually, Mini Mansions formed as jam sessions turned into recordings - Michael Shuman is the current bassist in Queens of the Stone Age, Zach Dawes has served as a studio hired gun and has worked with Brian Wilson, Kimbra, and longtime mentor T Bone Burnett, Tyler Parkford releases music under his solo moniker Mister Goodnite.
The Great Pretenders ambitiously reflects the depth, variety, and musical/compositional interplay between these three distinct individuals. It’s also probably the only record you’ll hear this year that features both Brian Wilson (on Any Emotions) and Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner (on Vertigo) as guests – indeed, its entire song cycle teems with that kind of surprising discovery, while embracing dreamy psychedelic pop and 80’s new wave.
“When we first got together, we agreed on things like late Beatles, Elliott Smith, early Big Star, and Electric Light Orchestra,” they say. They also share a clear affinity for The Zombies, Gorillaz, and Devo. The Great Pretenders follows its self-titled debut (on Josh Homme’s Rekords Rekords). Immediately, Mini Mansions starting playing shows with the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Them Crooked Vultures, The Kills, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and Haim. Alex Turner recently joined Mini Mansions on stage in Phoenix to perform Vertigo.
