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Blanks Tour the Mall

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Spoken word album featuring conversations with The Blanks. Reissued on limited-release CD.

Release Info
Cover Art
Band Memoirs

Release Info

Tracks

Intro
Mall Stairs
Waterbed Mart
Looking For Interview 1
Music Interview 1 - Smith
Looking for Interview 2
Music Interview 2 - Mannequin
Music Interview 3 - Ellen J.
Preparing for Escalator Interviews
Escalator Interview 1
Escalator Interview 2
Escalator Interview 3
Insanity Plea Foul Play 1
Looking for Interview 3
Insanity Plea Foul Play 2
Political Interview
Insanity Plea Foul Play 3 / Phone Call
Getting Picked Up / Reflections
Static Talk 1
Static Talk 2

The Blanks: Dynamic Drew, Kar, and Ran
Guests: mall patrons and band friends/family

Recorded live to two-track at Town & Country Mall, Houston, TX. Tracks 19 and 20 likely recorded at Original Studios, Houston, TX. Produced by The Blanks.
©1984 The Blanks.

1984: First issue, cassette, Tone Master Records
2007: Remastered compact disc, Blanks Enterprises.

Begin Cover Art

Cover Art

Click for larger image:

Blanks Tour Mall CD cover

Blanks Tour Mall CD liner notes

Blanks Tour Mall CD label

End Cover Art

Band Memoirs

Blanks Tour the Mall is a recording of Spike (known as Dynamic Drew at the time), Ran, and me walking around a mall talking and interviewing other patrons. I barely remember making this album. It's very strange.

After not hearing this album for years, I listened to it quite a bit in preparation for reissue. Much of the content was a mystery lost in my memories. After recent listens, it's even more mysterious. The band poses as member of The Blanks fan club to interview mall patrons about their musical preferences. Also, a recurring theme of The Blanks vs. Insanity Plea (featuring ex-Blanks member Mark Miller) runs throughout the album. The audio quality of the original source was terrible. The remastered version is much cleaner, but listeners should still expect noise and hissing. Also, the content is very strange. Easily as challenging an album as Blanks II and Trashrock Christmas.

Finally, the last two tracks feature very static conversations with the original – now lost – “Static Radio” single playing in the background. This is a rare and special treat for all eggheads.

Note The Blanks discography has indicated two errors for years. First, this was recorded in Houston's Town & Country Mall rather than Memorial City Mall. Also, it's clear it was 1984 as opposed to 1983. The release notes and website have been updated to correct these.

– Kar

My favorite part of this recording, if I am remembering this correctly, was Spike's extended interview with a mannequin.

– Ran