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New Year's In Tokyo

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First “singles-based” studio album. All tracks remastered and reissued on Blanks '84 CD

Release Info
Band Memoirs

Release Info

Tracks

Intro
The Day I Was Turned Into A Chipmunk
Dead Tomato
Star Trek
Lump O' Luv
Sex Slave
Blanks Worst Medley
Farewell To The Blanks

The Blanks: Kar, Ran, and Spike
Guests: Christopher Araha Arohadej and Mark Miller

Recorded live to two-track at Original Studios, Houston, TX. Produced by The Blanks.
©1984 The Blanks.

1984: First issue, cassette, Blanks Enterprises

2008: Remastered and reissued on Blanks '84 CD.

Cover Art

Click for larger image:

Blanks '84 CD cover

Blanks '84 CD liner notes

Blanks '84 CD label

Band Memoirs

This album was a real project for us, and totally changed the way we recorded. It also almost ended the band. We knew we wanted to do the New Years album in Tokyo, but Kar had recently seen this mushroom movie and as explained on the album we didn't do it in Japan at all.

We did have a few recording innovations that we really wanted to try. The experimentation led to the song “The Day I Was Turned into a Chipmunk.” We spent as much time on that one song as we did on all of Trashrock Christmas.

As we continued to record, it was obvious this album was different, and I will admit that I was distracted during the long recording process. I remember one day that Kar and Ran had planned to record, but I decided not to record that day and ran off with some friends instead. Kar and Ran felt that I wasn't as dedicated to the new direction as they were, and so we broke up. We got back together to do some more work on the album though. I think we may have broken up again at least once during the recording process. I think we eventually agreed to get back together only so we could finish and release this album with the idea that it would be our last. We also started working with Christopher Araha Arohadej around this time.

An ironic thing about this period was Ran's solo album. Earlier in a recording session we thought it would be good for each member to do one solo song. I did “Bamboo in the Shower.” Anyway, Ran had refused, saying that we were a band and it was bad for the band unity. Then around this period he comes out with a full-length solo album. Kar and I both helped on parts of the album, but it was a sign of change.

Once the album was released it was received probably better than any of our previous albums. It was encouraging, and we were on a creative roll and enjoyed our new found acceptance. The band was back together, though there would be future break ups.

– Spike

There was a lot of controversy and turmoil during the making of this album. I believe there were actually a couple of versions released, though there's only one reflected here. The band was breaking up all the time. It made no sense as we were making our best music to date. “The Day I Was Turned into a Chipmunk” still ranks as one of my favorites.

We knew we were onto something special in the early making. We recorded a song called “Static Radio” for this album, which we felt would be a major break-through for the band. This marked a new direction in Spike's lead singing style. Several folks heard the cut and anticipation for the new album skyrocketed. Later, Ran realized the song's lyrics sounded frightening familiar to a Clash song. I'm not sure if this was an inadvertent mistake on Spike's part, but we ditched the song anyway. (We later recreated the song for Vintage Blanks Sampler, ironically another breakup/farewell album.) Spike already wanted to do less lead singing and I think this added to his feelings.

We were looking for a new singer anyway. I had written the lyrics for “Dead Tomato.” We knew it would be a hit. Christopher Araha Arohadej did a great job on that song. We hoped he'd slide into the lead singer role, but he quit the band in quite a public way, and like Jimmy, denounced the band. Around this time, Ran, Spike, and I held a press conference about Chris leaving the band. Now known as the “Garden Hose Interview,” we made it clear that Chris was not welcome to participate in future Blanks activities. However, we did continue working with him as evidenced on 10 Minute Tape at Chris's.

We auditioned other singers but none really worked out. Ultimately, these events made it inevitable that I'd transition into the lead singer role.

– Kar