Mrs. Magician is back! For those unfamiliar, Mrs. Magician is a garage punk band based in San Diego, CA. They formed in 2010 and between then and 2016, they managed to release 6 singles, 2 albums and 1 B-sides collection. Both of their full lengths were released on Swami Records, the label helmed by legendary San Diego guitar slasher/voice crasher, John Reis (Rocket From The Crypt, Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes, etc.) Mrs. Magician had been inactive the last 8 or so years, as lead magician Jacob Turnbloom released 2 solo albums between 2019-2022. His solo work is very much worth seeking out as well.
2026 now sees the return of Turnbloom to his Mrs. Magician vehicle with a revamped lineup that includes drummer Andrew Montoya and bassist Mark Rivera. The first taste of new music comes in the form of a single, High Resolution b/w Dead Alive. It’s available on the 7” format via the aforementioned Swami Records (with only the A-side track on streaming services) and serves as a primer for a brand-new full length, due out in May of this year.
High Resolution is a pitch perfect A-side for a single. It’s among Turnbloom’s best work to date. The song kicks in with a brief intro that sets the tone with bouncing drums and a reverb drenched surfy guitar lead. Next is a verse with a propulsive beat and nonchalant yet strong vocal melody, which sets up the shift to the pre-chorus and the introduction of an eerie synth line. The pre-chorus closes out with 4 sharp hits and then the song explodes into the chorus. The chorus is trademark Mrs. Magician. It’s huge, with multiple guitars (featuring guest guitarist Ian Fowles) and stellar semi-falsetto vocals that create a wash of sound, along with another synth part. The melodies from all the instruments complement each other perfectly, with Rivera’s bass pinning things down and Turnbloom’s vocals setting up what’s to come later in the song. Verse 2 and pre-chorus 2 are in line with their predecessors, but chorus 2 takes things up a notch. All the catchiness of chorus 1 is present, but as chorus 2 extends, Turnbloom adds the kind of vocal harmonies that would make the Beach Boys perk their ears up. This then leads into a simple yet memorable bridge, highlighted by a series of triplet drum fills from Montoya. Coming out of the bridge is a wink and a nod to the 80’s, with the music becoming subtle as Turnbloom sings “I want my MTV”. The final chorus then detonates, with every instrument and vocal from the song building and layering to create a full blend of pop perfection. As the final chorus ramps up to a close, a strong synth line reminiscent of RFTC’s On A Rope repeats right before the song stops on a dime and is over. High Resolution is so fantastic it can… needs… to be played again. Immediately! And then again and again.
The B-side tune, Dead Alive, is a more laid-back affair. There’s a vocal/guitar intro that leads right into chorus 1, which repeats the vocal phrase “Dead or Alive” in toe-tapping fashion. A full-band verse follows and leads into chorus 2. After this, the song takes a cool turn with a new 2-part hook that features guest vocals from Tiffany Lizardi Turnbloom, Jacob’s wife. Fun fact, they met at a previous recording session where she sang backup vocals with Jacob. Gotta dig rock n roll romance! Back to the song, we get the verse, chorus, hook that takes the song to its close. During the song, you’ll notice a second guitar that picks up and becomes more involved throughout. The tasteful mix is provided by Turnbloom and guest guitarist, the Swami himself, John Reis. Dead Alive is a steady burn worth multiple listens in its own right.
Based on this single, I am highly anticipating the new full length!
