BARNABY JONES KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG

“Something Wrong” arrives in the wake of a catalog that has steadily sharpened its blend of heavy grunge and punk urgency

Barnaby Jones’ catalog goes through the rough edges of Obsession, the broader palette of Flowers of Gold, and the increasingly direct attack of “Little Bugs,” “Halo” and “Kill The President.”

Developing a band becoming more comfortable with the tension between heaviness and immediacy, Barnaby Jones reveals itself as the best heavy-grunge band from Portland!

The band’s recent work has shown a willingness to move from moody, slower material into blunt punk momentum Meanwhile, “Kill The President” must be praised for its fist-pumping, anthemic attack. I like that range because it shows that Barnaby Jones are interested in finding the right physical weight for each idea.

The band’s recent recordings involve dedicated production, mixing and mastering, while the Irongrove Studios sessions preserve a more immediate performance character. For me, that combination of roughness and discipline is where Barnaby Jones have the most potential.

Interview with Barnaby Jones

(•)> What was the first musical or lyrical idea that became “Something Wrong”?

(•)> The title sounds deceptively simple. What exactly is the “something” that feels wrong in the song?

(•)> Did “Something Wrong” begin from a guitar riff, a vocal melody, a lyric, or a rhythmic idea?

(•)> Barnaby Jones have moved between the slower atmosphere of “Little Bugs” and the much faster, punk-driven attack of “Kill The President.” Where does “Something Wrong” sit between those extremes?

(•)> How did your heavy-grunge foundation influence the guitar tones and dynamics on this particular song?

(•)> Was there a specific production choice that you consider essential to the final character of “Something Wrong”?

(•)> The band’s recent work has become increasingly direct and anthemic. Did you consciously write this song with a live audience in mind?

(•)> What did you learn from recording the Live at Irongrove Studios performances that affected the way you approached subsequent studio recordings?

(•)> How do you decide when a Barnaby Jones song needs to stay heavy and abrasive and when it benefits from more melodic breathing room?

(•)> “Kill The President” paired an aggressive musical approach with explicitly political writing. Does “Something Wrong” continue that outward-looking perspective, or is it more personal?

(•)> Looking back at Flowers of Gold, what do you think you understand about songwriting now that you didn’t when those songs were recorded?

(•)> What does “Something Wrong” reveal about the next stage of Barnaby Jones that listeners might not have heard coming?

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out Barnaby Jones on the Pigeon Opinion Playlist