#marktester

When imagining Glam Rock, one is often met with visions of outlandish attire, theatrical displays of human sexuality, and the thirst for carnal human essence that can only be quenched by performing in front of an audience that you feed of their very existence. At least that’s what I imagine! Many people align with the image of a group donning jumpsuits too but I digress. This trio born out the wondrous cornfields of middle America proves to be the long lost elfin children of Tyrannosaurus Rex. The psychedelic angel dust that coats the albums of this band, BURNT ONES is one everyone should invite into their cochlea . 

BURNT ONES is: Mark Tester, Amy Crouch, and Landon Caldwell (with the more recent line up including Brian Allen). I have been a fan of their for the years they were active (2009-2018 roughly). They are originally from Indiana, then moved to the Bay area for a bit (I believe some members are back Indiana???).

The track “MEET THE GOLDEN ONE” is my pick for this weird mix of Glam songs/bands/people etc I’ve designated this blog to cover because I genuinely enjoy the constant breath of fresh air this band takes with their music that radiates a fearless, yet drunk on dopamine vibe.It’s almost as if they have been pushing you psyche to fall in love with the glitter and somehow have your spirit lifted in to the sky for an ultimate climax of REALLY GREAT SONGWRITING. The psychedelic elements that drench the bands later releases are still as vibrant but have grown a bit further away from the original glittery Glam sound they started with and more into painting a fantasy of everlasting loops of time and space. 

Of course I encourage everyone always to listen to the full catalog of music each and every band’s song I review, I just like to pull out some of the hot gems I can’t keep my mouth shut about...

In MEET THE GOLDEN ONE, you are met with a familiar riff... with a powerful nod to Norman Greenbaum’s SPIRIT IN THE SKY; the track instantly melts my face off the all the fuzz tickling my senses! The gears shift slightly as the fine tuned rhythm section and fuzz laden guitar play their signature Glitter soaked octaves and tease us with whats to come. It is at this moment you should be fully immersed in the aural scenery that the band has staged for the duration of the song. Complete with hand claps and background gang vocal “C’mon!”’s an d”Ooooo!”’s you know you’ve hit a Glam rock NUGGET!! With the playful vocal delivery wonderfully articulated by Mark Tester, to the ethereal and steady drum beat effortlessly delivered by Amy Crouch that is surrounded by the fluid yet driving force behind the bass served to us on a golden platter by Landon Caldwell; this fucking song got me to another level of high and I haven’t even sparked my spliff yet!! I gotta say, my shit’s gettin all tingly over here. 

I would say My hunger has been satiated but I gasp for breath upon listening to the B side of this record. The track gives you the wettest and sloppiest kiss on the cheek when it opens up with a a vocal style that pays homage to wonderful 50′s DooWop and 60′s girl groups. I’m currently smoking some GirlScout cookies and listening to this song high af and on a microdose of mushrooms I’ve been transported to the inside of a sonic kaleidoscope.The vocals at the end of each verse seem to fly outside of the sing into an echoing chamber of saints awaiting the arrival of the glitter messiah have sung! The amount of aural orgasms that I am experiencing in the back of my closed eyelids is insane and the playful, coquettish vocals leave you feeling instant ecstasy! LUV is extremely catchy and and sticky like that Fruit Stripe gum that comes with tattoos... it stays with you.

 I would dive deep into the BURNT ONES discography and follow up with what the band is up to with their other and/ or solo projects.

Without Further ado///

BURNT ONES: MEET THE GOLDEN ONE and LUV

BURNT ONES: