Selfafornia
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Selfafornia is the second compilation album by the American pop rock band Self, released for free via Spongebath Records as an internet download on July 27, 2001. It includes songs scrapped from Self's third and fourth studio albums Breakfast with Girls (1999) and Gizmodgery (2000) along with other demos, receiving positive reception.
Production
During the creation of Self's third and fourth albums, Breakfast with Girls (1999) and Gizmodgery (2000), lead member Matt Mahaffey wrote the song "Suzie Q Sailaway". He recorded the song with toy instruments for the latter album but was requested by DreamWorks Records to put the song on the former. Mahaffey subsequently re-recorded the song with a full band, stating that he didn't want any toy recordings outside of Gizmodgery. This process delayed the release of Breakfast with Girls, which, combined with the song's shift in style, led to a retroactive dissatisfaction with it.
In November 1997, Michael Simpson of the Dust Brothers had started mixing music for Self's then upcoming album Breakfast with Girls, he created a remix of the toy recording of "Suzie Q Sailaway". Mahaffey preferred this remix to the original version, stating a wish to use it on a future album. Around this time, Mahaffey had met Ken Andrews of Failure through a mutual friend, Andrews would later produce Breakfast with Girls with Mahaffey. Andrews would additionally record three songs with Mahaffey in April 1998, including "Shelf Life" and "Wednesday Again."
Release
Selfafornia was intermittently released in portions through Spongebath Records in mid-2001, with the final set of songs releasing on July 27, 2001. Available as a free internet download, it contains nine songs in MP3 format, primarily from the writing sessions of Gizmodgery, and Breakfast with Girls. Spongebath Records would close its doors shortly after the release of "Selfafornia" in late 2001.
"See If You Swim" was previously featured in volume 9 of the Japanese pop fanzine Kheer in April 2001, with past label-mate Fluid Ounces, and was later included on Self's third compilation album Porno, Mint & Grime, released on April 14, 2005. "Resurrect" was previously released as a part of the Japanese edition of Gizmodgery in April 2001.
Reception
Laurent of Indiepoprock complimented the compilation's sound, describing it as encapsulating the band's bright and quirky instrumentation amidst a low budget.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Matt Mahaffey except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "See If You Swim" | 3:20 | |
| 2. | "Wednesday Again" | MahaffeyKen Andrews | 3:29 |
| 3. | "America" | 1:08 | |
| 4. | "Shelf Life" | 3:42 | |
| 5. | "Waiting" | 3:03 | |
| 6. | "Anything is Impossible" | 3:57 | |
| 7. | "Baby, Can You Dig Your Man?" | Seth Timbs | 4:04 |
| 8. | "Puppy Love" | MahaffeyTimbs | 3:47 |
| 9. | "Suzie Q Sailaway" (Mike Simpson Toy Mix) | Matt MahaffeyMike MahaffeyMac BurrusChris JamesJason Rawlings | 2:49 |
| 10. | "Resurrect" | 3:22 | |
| Total length: | 32:41 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
- Matt Mahaffey – guitar, vocals, drums, production
- Seth Timbs – piano, vocals
- Ken Andrews – guitar (2-4), vocals (2)
- Mike Mahaffey – guitar, backing vocals
- Chris James – piano
- Mac Burrus – bass
- Justin Dietz – bass
- Swan Burrus – backing vocals
- Jason Rawlings – drums
- Michael Simpson – production, mixing
- Todd Kinnon – mastering (1–4, uncredited)
- Brad Ross-MacLeod – artwork (uncredited)
External links
- archived download at Selfies.com