Album Notes

Known for his work with California rockers Jackpot, dubbed by The New York Times as “one of California’s greatest unknown bands”, as well as punk-gospel band Santa Cruz Gospel Choir, Sacramento, CA native Lee Bob Watson has been a powerful force in music for 10 years. For Aficionado, Watson enlisted former Cake drummer Todd Roper, current Cake bassist Gabe Nelson and Jackpot singer and guitarist Rusty Miller, along with esteemed producer Dana Gumbiner and a handful of Northern California’s finest talent, the crew recorded the album in just 10 days, relying mostly on live-takes and minimal overdubs.


The songs on Aficionado grapple with the quest for authenticity in a culture that is based on recycled themes and sounds. “So much of our generation spends a lot of time rehashing the glory days of pop culture” Watson comments, “you’ve got to take your influences and let them breathe in the room.” The result is a captivating album that serves as a playground for decades of sounds to intermingle. Opener “Landfill” sends a strong statement about the land on which the American Dream was built with a twangy-rock swagger and perfectly placed steel guitar. “Living in the Past” brings electronic-disco funk to life with a back-beat that would make Bill Withers proud. Beach Boys-inspired harmonies burst alongside Watson’s velvety croon on “Highway 1 Sunset” and gentle lullaby “Rosalita’s Arms” brings the album to a sweet finish with saintly soprano choruses and dainty piano tingles.