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Tender Loving Empire Records

Benzene

by French Cassettes

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  • Benzene LP
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    12" cloudy clear transparent vinyl in a gatefold jacket and printed inner sleeve

    Includes unlimited streaming of Benzene via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Download available in 24-bit/48kHz.

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1.
Song title: Fast Held Hand Lyrics: Your time was well wasted on The things we’ve said The things we’ve done They’ve always been for both of us And honestly lately I’m inclined to believe Oh, yeah That we can pick it all back up from where we left it If need be No good questions I could ask No more useless amendments I need my man “Maybe” is not enough But I can’t fake it I am a fast held hand I am your loving arms I got people around me I don’t mean to harm I’m a kid on a freeway You’re a trucker pulling his horn Seamless pieces But well worn And I know that you’re mad But this isn’t my car and these stickers are not my opinions But you found them reason to follow me all the way back to my exit in Ripon I don’t even keep Tahoe blue You could leave if you wanted to Oh, leave me It’d be so easy I am your biggest fan I am your wedding song I’m not used to people knowing something’s wrong It’s okay not to notice It’s okay not to need me What are you talking about? It was so easy I am an honest tan I go where I should I was stupid to think you’d tell me something good I am a donor of useless organs, oh baby Otherwise I would It’s bad right now But it was so easy Yeah, it might be bad right now But it was so easy
2.
Song title: Eyes Glazed Over Lyrics: You don’t know what this means to me The look on your faces tells me you might agree But the gold doesn’t go to the bigger man My every move filled with sentiment, oh That’s me in the picture That’s me in your hand No need to look closer You don’t know who I am I’m a lighting bolt Yeah, I hook to the right I’m looking to give you some and then some But I know what the problem is It’s taking a little time for me to land one, so Later on when I settle down And I feel my feet touching back on the ground I’ll take a break, yeah I’ll put on the lid Then pick up the pieces, put’em together Look at what I did ‘cuz I’m a Lightning bolt Yeah, I hook to the right I’m looking to give you some and then some But I know what the problem is It’s taking a little time ‘Cause I’m a little tired I got big ideas I’m looking to make a handsome ransom, but I know What the problem is It’s taking a little time for me to land one Good to know it wasn’t all for nothing when you feel your eyes start glazing over Just goes to show we’re not permanently talking even though Sometimes you swear you barely know her And I was up to something Now my day is gone Looking forward to the morning as I’m waiting for the dawn My lights were on What took so long to find a way to fill the silence? It’s good to know it wasn’t all for nothing when you feel your eyes start glazing over Just goes to show we’re not permanently talking even though Sometimes you swear you barely know her And I was up to something Now my day is gone Looking forward to the morning while I’m waiting for the dawn My lights were on What took so long to find a way to fill the silence?
3.
Medium Horny 02:54
Song title: Medium Horny Lyrics: Oh, maybe I try to impress you with my being a donor Phoneless lust seems unsafe and unlikely My neighbors need answers Give me the question I’m more than lazy But I’m less than exciting And medium horny You’ve a Rolodex of holy women for me I’m a sunbeam so she must be lonely I’m sick of bar banter But attracted to the neon Oh, maybe I try not to guess so I’m just reading it over Boneless thugs seem to hate and to like me It’s not what I’m after But it’s something I can lean on You used to call me that (Time suggests we live better than this, better than this) Hold my glasses Hold my only key home Even if they ask us Blame it on the service of a cellphone
4.
Baseball Bat 03:42
Song title: Baseball Bat Lyrics: I bought every word when you told me that But anything’s convincing with a baseball bat I was on a roll I was useless But I always came home before the news did Did I think of you then, no Do I think of you now, yeah At least I hope so It’s hard enough figuring out where this place is So why the long lines? And why the long faces? I know You were Let down By my wording I felt Sorry Hey now Don’t say “for me” Blue-green Sunbeam Fadeout Now that’s something They don’t know how they sound When they’re joking I didn’t try to stay the same I wore you out I changed my name, yes You are a soft drum in my chest You fill my lungs You fit me best, but I know You were Let down By my wording I felt Sorry Hey now Don’t say “for me” Blue-green Sunbeam Fadeout Now that’s something They don’t know how they sound When they’re joking
5.
White Noise 02:21
Song title: White Noise Lyrics: Lately I’ve been doing good lately You said I’m crazy to leave and trust me I wanna believe yuh So don’t make me But I was wrong And you were wrong And I was broke within half an hour Baby let your love come down on mine Baby let your love come down on mine Like it used to, it used to, it used to, it used to Even if I was only being clever by saying leave me nothing at the tone I can’t remember a better laugh Than when I played it back when I got home And between the white noise and a light cough The familiar scrape of a cap being twisted off Not only did I know that it was you But I could tell which room It’s sad but true I asked what do they have against you and you said “everything everything everything” Baby let your love come down on mine Baby let your love come down on mine Like it used to, it used to, it used to, it used to
6.
Song title: When You Know, You Know Lyrics: Fell asleep, at least I tried From the bottom bunk instead of looking for reason to find your bed Baby don’t wake me every time, no You don’t have to wake me every time, no I’d be out of season to decline Sorry I laughed when you said “I can’t wait to take it slowly” When you know you know These things they tend to grow I’m happy even though you’re spending all the time we wasted Baby don’t wake me every time, no You don’t have to wake me every time, no Maybe I seem lucid in your eyes I don’t wana see that go Even if we take the long way I know I’m just making conversation in your car And I can’t wait to come see you depending on where you are, but When you know you know These questions tend to grow Anything I need to know before we take this exit Yeah, I couldn’t just be your loving man I wana be more than something that’s just steadily moving If I had a better mouth I woulda put it down before it got to you What are you doing?
7.
Megabus 03:25
Song title: Megabus Lyrics: I don’t mind Wasting time If I’m writing down plans with the opposite hand that’s fine And it’s funny you ask It’s easy to catch but hard to find Know me So who do you love Who’s getting drunk on the Megabus And who do you trust Who’s putting up with that side of us Oh, just know me I can’t lie For my life Between saying I’m busy and Swearing I’m doing just fine But don’t feed me the line about hurting myself with the dullest knife Know me So who do you love Who’s getting drunk on the Megabus And who do you trust Who’s putting up with that side of us Oh, just know me Why’re you crying It grows back, right? Well I’ll stay ’til the morning But I’m not staying the night And while I’m used to the floor To anything more I go “my, my, my” Know me So who do you love Who’s getting drunk on the Megabus And who do you trust Who’s putting up with that side of us And who’s taking some It doesn’t matter until it does And who’s playing dumb Making it seem like it’s just because Oh, just know me Oh, just know me
8.
Normal Day 03:29
Song title: Normal Day Lyrics: I can’t stay But you’re no nearer than I’m far away, yeah I can’t stay But you’re no nearer than I’m far away If you ever think I’m being dishonest, I’m not I just want to spend the summer alone, yeah Now I’m counting on more good times and darling it’s a lot But it might have to wait ’til I get home I don’t feel it now I didn’t feel it then I doubt I’ll feel it when I come out of this comfort zone I don’t wana make a vow to love you ’til my life ends But trust me, I can’t do it on my own I’m trying to give my stuff to the Goodwill They lied and said that they do not need it I said I can see some space back there But they insisted still I lied and said that’s okay my ride’s about to be here Only wanting something new to do I know a thing or two, oh Only wanting something new (sad but true) To do (despite everything you say) I know a thing or two (yes you do, I hope you have a normal day) Only wanting something new (sad but true) To do (despite everything you say) I know a thing or two (yes you do, I hope you have a normal day)
9.
Finally 03:04
Song title: Finally Lyrics: Oh, do you think you need me? Am I being emotional? (need to make sure you’re laughing enough) Just wanna make sure you’re laughing enough Oh, do you think it’s easy? Am I being insatiable? (are we just making it up) Just wanna know if we’re making it up I was sleeping when you found me I’ll never make it hard to be around me Yes, I am better off now that I know yuh But everything that I got will not make up for what I owe yuh Baby, please I can hardly treat my body right Your time was well wasted on me But I can’t do this every night Oh, do you think you need me? Am I being emotional? (need to make sure you’re laughing enough) Just wanna make sure you’re laughing enough Oh, do you think it’s easy? Am I being insatiable? (are we just making it up) I just wanna know if we’re making it up, oh If you still say it Tell me now while it’s still warm Finding it taxing I was hardly bummed, elated You were always on While the drum dumbed on and faded
10.
Up2You 03:14
Song title: Up2You Lyrics: Heart Don’t make it easy I could die old and lonely Or I could just leave that up to you (Up to you, up to you) If I’m not welcome I’m still inclined to stay Don’t you know it They like you, don’t they Overlooking reasons on why I came Don’t you know it They like you, don’t they (They like you, don’t they) I’m not a morning man Unless it’s late enough But I’m not rich enough to die No, I’m not rich enough to die You won’t find thinner legs on a bigger bum ‘Cause I’m not rich enough to die No, I’m not rich enough to die William H. Macy’s got the upper hand I was born in the suburbs But he’s got a bigger plan for me, yeah My mother’s mother talks in comic sans I will never not love her I wish there were more emails to read, yeah William H. Macy’s got the upper hand I was born in the suburbs But he’s got a bigger plan for me, yeah My mother’s mother talks in comic sans I will never not love her I wish there were more emails to read, yeah

about

The album title for French Cassettes’ new album Benzene—an abstraction of frontman Lorzeno Scott Huerta’s family nickname—was chosen on a whim. “I wish I had a better explanation,” he admits. “I guess I should have Googled it first.”

The self-deprecation is classic Benz, as is this crossing of the wires between the flippant and the deeply meaningful. It’s one reason the San Francisco band’s third album holds up so well to repeated listens. Even when influences like The Magnetic Fields and The Beach Boys peek through, Huerta’s lyrical aesthetic is his own: the San Francisco band’s new album is packed to the gills with funny, memorable one-liners that take a twist for the heartbreaking. “My mother’s mother talks in comic sans,” he sings. “I will never not love her. I wish there were more emails to read.”

Benzene, recorded with Cassettes’ cofounder Mackenzie Bunch (they started the band together in High School back in Ripon, California) and drummer Rob Mills bears evidence of a band more comfortable with both taking risks and taking it easy. “When You Know You Know” finds a soulful groove that continues into lilting quasi-Americana of “Megabus.” But the band never stands still for long: “Normal Day,” with its breakbeat-style drums and woozy Mellotron, is the band at its most carnivalesque. “White Noise” is a testament to Bunch’s knack for adventurous production, all warbling and dueling guitars and brutally oversaturated drums.

About the Vinyl: 12" cloudy clear transparent vinyl in a gatefold jacket and printed inner sleeve

credits

released June 7, 2024

All songs recorded by Mackenzie Bunch, Scott Huerta, and Rob Mills at Big Mac Studio in Oakland, CA, Bathmaster Studio in Burbank, CA, and the band’s apartments in San Francisco.


All songs mixed by Nick Krill and mastered by João Carvalho

All songs written by Scott Huerta with the exception of “Baseball Bat” written by Mackenzie Bunch and Scott Huerta.


Album muni art by Paula Duarte @sfcitygrl


Layout design by Ava Reeves


Gatefold photo by Marisa Bazan, and lyrics page photos by Andrew St. James, Marisa Bazan, Zoey Marciniak


Thank you so much to the whole team at our label Tender Loving Empire, Andrew St. James for his unwavering commitment and musical contributions to our live set and the band as a whole, and to everyone who listens to our records, makes it to shows, and just generally supports the band. Truly means a lot.


Scott Huerta — Vocals, Guitar


Mackenzie Bunch — Guitar, Bass, Keyboards


Rob Mills — Drums, Percussion


Benjamin Adams — Bass and Backing Vocals on “Normal Day”


Andrew Stephens — Trumpet on “Baseball Bat”


Nico Peña — Electric Guitar on “Fast Held Hand”

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French Cassettes San Francisco, California

Harmony-driven power-pop from San Francisco.

The quartet’s new LP, Rolodex, is hook- filled and rooted in pop, layered with intricate vocal harmonies and counter-harmonies, inventive percussion, and every shade of clean and fuzzy guitars stacked up like an orchestra.

These uncommonly majestic, esoteric pop forms serve as the perfect delivery service for Huerta’s playful and verbose lyrics.
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