New York, NY (Top40 Charts) When singer, songwriter and guitarist Kim Shattuck took the production reins for her band's third album, The Muffs knew they were going to deliver something special. As she writes in the liner notes for the album's rerelease, "It was the first time I ever produced, and I was super proud of my new batch of songs. "Happy Birthday to Me had more hooks than my daddy's fishing hat," according to drummer Roy McDonald, and, bassist Ronnie Barnett says, "All cylinders were firing, our collective dream was being lived, and it was on our terms."
Twenty years later, Happy Birthday to Me will reach a new audience. Available from Omnivore Recordings on LP for the first time in almost two decades (first reissue pressing on white vinyl, with black to follow), as well as on CD (expanded with a U.K. B-side and six previously unissued demos), it's as vital as ever. Both formats feature photos, liner notes from the band, track-by-track commentary from Shattuck, and new mastering from multiple Grammy® winners Gavin Lurssen and Reuben Cohen.
Street date for the Omnivore reissue is March 3, 2017.
Shattuck enthuses: "I love this album. It means a lot to me. It was a very creative time for me personally, and for The Muffs." Barnett adds: "While Blonder and Blonder might have been our big swing, it was on Happy Birthday to Me where we felt like we'd achieved everything." And drummer McDonald sums up: "Happy Birthday to Me is my favorite Muffs album. From start to finish, it's the one that best represents what we're about."
You don't need to close your eyes and make a wish. This stellar reissue of Happy Birthday to Me proves that you can have your cake and eat it too. Dig in.
Track Listing:
1. Crush Me
2. That Awful Man
3. Honeymoon
4. All Blue Baby
5. My Crazy Afternoon
6. Is It All Okay?
7. Pennywhore
8. Outer Space
9. I'm a Dick
10. Nothing
11. Where Only I Could Go
12. Upside Down
13. You and Your Parrot
14. Keep Holding Me
15. The Best Time Around
Bonus Track:
16. Pacer
*Unwrapped (Previously Unreleased) Bonus Tracks:
17. Till You Walk Away (Crush Me) (Demo)
18. That Awful Man (Demo)
19. Honeymoon (Demo)
20. My Crazy Afternoon (Demo)
21. Outer Space (Demo)
22. The Best Time Around (Demo)
