Unlike The Presidents last album, "Freaked Out & Small," which only took 10 days to write and record in a Seattle Studio, their upcomming album has been developing for over a year now... ever since they started touring again New Years Eve 2003. Durring this wait, I have been super excited to hear what NEW SONGS the presidents would come up with. While no official track list has been given for the forthcoming album, I’ve taken a look at what songs are most likely to be presidential contenders, and which ones might be dropping from the race.

SAFE BETS:

"Some Postman is Grooving"

This new song is probably the most sure thing to be on the new album. Not only has it appeared on almost every set list at shows over the last year, but a free download has been posted on the presidents official website www.presidentsrock.com , not to mention that Chris has said multiple times in concerts that the song will appear on their new album. This is a really cool song that I fell in love with the first time I heard it (a live giraffes concert at bumbershoot that was webcast over the internet) I think the whole concept of a postman who reads other peoples love letters is really funny. The presidents version is much more guitar driven but just as fun and groovy.

"Highway Forever"

This rocking tune has also consistently been one of the new songs included on recent setlists. Supposedly inspired by driving through the largest state in the USA (Texas) this song is one of the longest I’ve ever heard pusa do. Most versions run over 5 minutes, like at the Roanoke show with kick ass guitar solos that rok you up and down all over the road. However at the SXSW show they were able to play the whole song in under 3 minutes! In my opinion, the song roks too hard to be that short, and I hope an album version is really really long!

"Poke & Destroy"

As with the other safe bets, this song has been played pretty often recently, but its not always played. Of the three times I saw the presidents this past year, they played this tune twice. However I wish it had been all three times because this might be my favorite of the brand new songs. Not only does it have a cool bass riff and catchy power chords, but its all about Boys uncontrollable urge to poke and destroy everything in their path compared to sweet polite little girls. I can practically hear this song on the radio right now, if station DJs didn’t have their heads up their asses… and if this song was like recorded and released already.

"Jilted on the Tarmac"

Despite this song having already been recorded and released on Chris and Tad’s "Hand Me That Door" I think this song has a very good chance of being re-recorded presidents style. Not much has been changed, except for the heavier sound. I enjoy hearing Jason Finn getting a rare chance to shine as he takes a singing solo for the "jilted" parts. Also dave uses a really cool sounding pedal for the rok out part of this song. I don’t know if it’s a new pedal he bought, or one he hasn’t used much before, but I love the way it sounds and think this song is worth it just to hear that pedal! This song has also made several recent concert appearances to add to is cause to make the album.

"Love Everybody"

As far as I know, this new song is a NEW new song, in the sense that the first I heard of it played at a concert was just last week, March 17 at the Olympia WA show. But even though is hasn’t appeared a lot, this song is just too good not to be recorded on the album. I predict that it will get played a lot more in the future too, oh yes. The riff kind of reminds me of Kick Out the Jams. The lyrical style reminds of Devo in parts. Also, Dave’s cool pedal comes back in this song. This is a very happy song (love everybody, make them feel good about themselves) but it is still very much a rock song. This is the kind of song I can see lots of people singing along too at a concert once it becomes more known and popular.

"Drool At You"

This song is a remake of an old Chris Ballew song off of his CASPAR demo tape called "Here." That version was very slow and melodic. The new PUSA version is very fast and punchy. I think it works very well with this new arrangement. In fact I probably would not have recognized this song as a remake if it didn’t have close to the same lyrics. Also this song is a great example of Ballew’s free flowing nonsensical lyrics that I always find so fun and enjoyable.

POTENTIAL CONTENDORS

"Useless Crushes"

Ahh yes… the sensitive feelings song that popped up on the Making of Freaked Out & Small documentary, but did not appear on the Freaked Out & Small CD!!! I thought I was the only one who wished this song had been recorded and released, but apparently a lot of people on the pusa list really loved this song as well. And who can blame them, I mean who doesn’t have useless crushes on fabulous red heads??? There was talk that this song didn’t make the cut in the past because Dave and Jason didn’t like it. However, Chris told French pusa-holic Joseph in an interview posted on his website http://gozef.free.fr/itwengl.htm that it sounds good with 2-string and 3-string (which is what all the other songs so far use) and might make the actual album. Here’s hoping!

"Problems"

The presidents have recorded several cover songs in their career, most notably Video Killed the Radio Star and Kick Out The Jams. Will Problems follow in these songs footsteps? Its very possible, since Problems has been one of the most played songs at recent concerts, usually during the encore and tied into the end of We’re Not Gonna Make It. I think this song would be fun to have on the album, especially because Chris does his best Sex Pistols voice impression, and its fun to talk that way.

"Home" + "Currently Unkown"

According to infamous pusa-hoic Mike Lyon yahoo pusa group who spoke with Chris after a concert in December, two tracks from Sonic Uke are being reworked fo the album, including "Home." I’m not sure what the other track will be (hopefully hippy happy humping, caspar and bones, or an updated monkey river) but I think Home has a really great chance of being on the album. The demo version of this song is one of the most raw, dark, powerful songs on Sonic Uke. Some fans believe this song inspired "Fuck California" because of a part with similar lyrics (guess what they are). This song has definitely begun the retooling process which gives me hope it will make the album. How do I know this? Because if you go to www.chrisballew.com you can download a song sample called "5,500 Miles" which is apparently the new title to this song. So Awesome.

LONG SHOTS

"Clean Machine" + "Good Morning Tycoon"

Both of these songs came from the shelved 3^rd Giraffes album, Zero Friction, and both have been mentioned as possible songs to be retooled for the presidents album. SeattlePi.com had an article which said Clean Machine might possibly make it, seattlepi.com and Mike Lyons same update (linked earlier, but here it is again for convenience) http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/pusa/message/11369 mentioned Good Morning Tycoon. I think both of these songs are long shots to make the album however because they feel more like giraffes songs than presidents songs. Who knows, maybe they will find a way to make them rok tunes, but I think both of these are the type of songs that Chris needs his other bands to vent out. They ooze that certain element that makes Chris always want to try new bands with other people. I’m not saying their bad songs at all, in fact I like both a lot, but at the moment I can’t picture them meshing with the other potential songs on the album.

"Cool Time"

This song was used as the intro to the Roanoake Show. Somewhat simple, but after a few listens it definitely grows on you. So is there any chance this will become a song on the album. According to Josephs interview, http://gozef.free.fr/itwengl.htm this song is used mostly as a way to turn a soundcheck into a song, when a regular soundcheck is not available. While admittedly it works well as an opening to a concert, I don’t think its album material. Maybe it is the next "Ladies and Gentleman" but don’t be surprised if it doesn’t make the final cut.

"Farmer John"

This song originally debuted as a Subset song, but Chris and Dave found a way to make it work on three-string and two string guitars. This was one of Subset’s best songs, and I’m glad that it hasn’t been forgotten (as it was performed at the last two shows with special guest rapper Outta Site) I don’t think this song will make the cut because with Outta Site doing most of the vocals I don’t think it would fit in well with the other songs. Plus I still have hope that one day Subset will release a full LP and I want farmer john to debut there. Also, Chris Ballew is supposedly producing an album for Outta Site, and maybe this song is intended to go to that album instead. Anything is possible, but in my book Farmer John is a longshot to make the album.

"Jenifer’s Jacket"

This song was also on the making of Freaked Out & Small video, but did not make the CD. Joseph’s interview http://gozef.free.fr/itwengl.htm says this song hasn’t worked so far, and might be better as an acoustic song. The presidents have only really released one acoustic song on an album, and that was Sunshine on Pure Frosting. Therefore, I don’t think this song has a good chance of getting released by the presidents any time soon.

          So there you have it. I don’t know if I need to say it but none of this information is official and it is nearly all my opinion when describing the likeliness of songs getting made. I hope I shed some light on what the upcoming, as of yet untitled album, will be like, and hope I built some excitement for it as well. Thanks for reading, have a great day.

Send Feedback to me at:           Gurner@usc.edu