The Trash Can Sinatras – Obscurity Knocks | A Lost Indie Pop Gem

The Trash Can Sinatras – “Obscurity Knocks” Not every young band spends its record-company advance on a recording studio, but that is exactly what the Trash Can Sinatras did. Formed around the Ayrshire pub and club scene, they were spotted by Go! Discs’ Simon Dine and, after signing to the label, bought their own studio in Kilmarnock. Inevitably, they called it Shabby Road . Having their own place meant there was no expensive studio clock ticking away while they experimented with the songs that became their debut album, Cake . Released in the UK in February 1990 “Obscurity Knocks” was the perfect introduction to the band: chiming guitars, a wonderfully busy melody and lyrics seemingly determined to squeeze another pun or twist into every available space. Singer Frank Reader later admitted that, when they were younger, the band felt an urge to get every good idea into a song because it might be the best idea they ever had. He also jokingly wondered how he had managed some of those early vocal melodies, suggesting he must have possessed “superhuman lungs” . The track was produced by Roger Béchirian and mixed by John Leckie , and later became the opening song on Cake . The Obscurity Knocks EP reached No. 86 on the UK Singles Chart , but the song had a much bigger impact across the Atlantic, climbing to No. 12 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1991. Its reputation has lasted rather longer than its title might suggest. Guitarist Paul Livingston later joked that one difference between American and European audiences was simply the accent in which people shouted for “Obscurity Knocks”. More than three decades on, its combination of sparkling guitars, breathless wordplay and melodic invention still makes it one of the best places to begin exploring the Trash Can Sinatras. Band Members on “Obscurity Knocks” Francis “Frank” Reader – Vocals Paul Livingston – Lead guitar John Douglas – Rhythm guitar George McDaid – Bass guitar Stephen Douglas – Drums Production Roger Béchirian – Producer Peter Rose – Assistant producer and engineer Tony Harris – Engineer John Leckie – Mixing If you enjoyed the track, please Like the video and Subscribe to the channel — and tell us in the comments which song you would like to see featured in a future Jukebox Cuts . #JukeboxCuts #TheTrashCanSinatras #ObscurityKnocks