Album Notes

Rick Bain is back! After a critically acclaimed debut album Crooked Autumn Sun (released in 2000), a sold out nationwide tour with the Dandy Warhols, and several jaunts with the Brian Jonestown Massacre, Portland, OR's Rick Bain took time to refocus (both his music and personal life) and ended up with a masterpiece of an album titled Virtual Heavy Pet. Still rooted in the classics like the Beach Boys, The Beatles, and Pink Floyd, this new album is more upbeat, as opposed to the slower psychedelic pop of his previous work. Virtual Heavy Pet starts off with the rockin' "Welcome to My Daydream", a fitting introduction to the CD with Rick's signature swirling organs, catchy guitar riffs, and even a recorder solo thrown in for good measure. It ends strong with one of the album's best songs, "Unchained Anti-Melody". In between these gems is a sonic ride in the rock 'n roll tradition you'd swear was written decades ago.

For a brief background, Rick Bain's notoriety began back in '97 when he took on the difficult task of reproducing the Beach Boys classic Pet Sounds album. Rick chose to record it on his 4-track, in his apartment, without bouncing tracks, and most importantly for the simple pleasure of doing it. Just basic drums, guitar, vocals; all played by himself. This tape got circulated around Portland for some time amongst the music scene, garnering an impressive following of fans. The esteemed recording magazine Tape Op, printed that "Janet Weiss (Quasi/Sleater-Kinney) admitted that Rick's version of "Sloop John B" actually made her like the song. Now that's cool. Take note!"

After playing in the indie pop band Spin Jupiter Spin with Brent DeBoer (current Dandy Warhols drummer) and future wife Amy Jane, Rick formed a new project called Rick Bain and the Genius Position. Their buzz quickly caught fire and after signing to a new label, they released Crooked Autumn Sun. The album lived up to every bit of the hype and the press took notice. The Village Voice said Rick Bain "..chooses substance over style. Great songs, great hooks." The L.A. Weekly said "It's as if he's skimmed the cream of the entire 70's rock era (slightly skewed toward the British point of view), analyzed and eliminated its weaknesses, and just plain improved on the whole thing." And Seattle's fine (but now defunct) The Rocket, called Rick Bain "Portland's six-string messiah". It doesn't get much better or truer than that.

Fast forward to now. Rick Bain is all the more wiser these days as he further develops his signature sound. It's no wonder he continues to get accolades from his peers. Anton Newcombe, leader of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, was recently asked in a Magnet magazine interview that of all the albums recorded in history, what one album does he wish he would have written? You guessed it- Rick Bain's Crooked Autumn Sun. Place your bets now that the new album, Virtual Heavy Pet, will be applauded as well.