TV Eyes' lone self-titled release was destined for cult fandom from the very beginning. A collaboration between former
Jellyfish members
Jason Falkner and Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. along with drummer
Brian Reitzell, who spent time with both
Redd Kross and
Air,
TV Eyes' pedigree was rich with pop greatness. The genesis of the band dates back to 2000 when
Reitzell and Manning were composing a score to an imaginary film called
Logan's Sanctuary, a fake sequel to the 1976 sci-fi flick
Logan's Run. At Manning's suggestion, they brought in
Falkner to sing and play guitar on a couple of tracks, and the former
Jellyfish mates' chemistry gelled with
Reitzell's own musical sensibilities. Upon completion of the soundtrack, the three conspired to start a new project based on their shared love of early-'80s electropop and post-punk, a decidedly different direction than their power pop pasts. Recording sporadically between 2000 and 2003, the trio members applied their collective intelligence and chops to a set of songs that twisted the angular melodies of bands like
Gang of Four and
Killing Joke with the metered synth rhythms of
Gary Numan and
Kraftwerk. From the dark midnight pulse of opener "Over the City" to the percussive sizzle of "Love to Need," it's clear this is no feel-good, '70s rock
Jellyfish reunion. The edgy tones, tightly wound beats, and slick synths are laid out with razor precision as
Falkner stretches his vocal range over the album's nine stylized songs. Much like their previous bands,
TV Eyes seemed to be a band out of time, drawing on past influences yet preceding the massive, '80s-inspired electro revival that would dominate the indie world a decade after this record was made. That it sat on the shelf until its 2006 Japan-only release ensured that
TV Eyes would hardly get the chance to succeed, and after only three live shows the project faded out, and the album became a much sought-after, out of print obscurity among hardcore admirers of the involved musicians. Kudos to reissue specialists Omnivore Records for rescuing yet another worthy lost album with their deluxe 2014 release, complete with
Falkner-penned liner notes and four bonus cuts.