Warbly Jets unveil 'Monsterhouse' in November

Alternative rock duo WARBLY JETS premiered a new video for their single “TMI,” the latest offering from their just-announced album, MONSTERHOUSE (out November 12). 

MONSTERHOUSE is the Los Angeles-based duo’s second full-length studio album, following their critically-acclaimed, self-titled debut released in 2017.

“The first album changed our lives explains Samuel Shea. “But parts of it feel too one-dimensional since there are no rules in pop music anymore,” adds Julien O’ Neill. “We’re witnessing a rebirth of what music can be. Music is getting way more flexible and people’s ears are wide open. It’s easy to be inspired by the infinite possibility. That’s what this album is about for us.”

MONSTERHOUSE features their most personal songwriting to date. “It’s a patchwork narrative of our own experiences,” explains O’ Neill, “but I hope people listening will find a lot to relate to with the questions we’ve been asking ourselves. Things like, why do you feel that you can’t go on without that person? How did you grow up so fast? How do you change again for the better?”

The self-titled debut won them the respect and attention of press and streaming outlets, earning spots on Apple Music’s The New Rock playlist, Sirius XM Alt Nation radio, and Matt Wilkinson’s Beats1, as well as touring slots opening for acts like Liam Gallagher, Dandy Warhols, and Rival Sons in-between international tours of their own.

“With the first record, I think there was a bit of us trying to make something that would be well-received,” explains O’ Neill. “Now we’re really focused on creating music that pushes us forward, and that we're excited about.” 

In 2019, the band put out the EP Propaganda, the age of Trump and late-era capitalism leading them to explore darker, politically-charged themes with genre-wrecking, sample-based songs that left the band feeling displaced.

“I think we were labeled as sounding too mainstream for the indie crowd, and too indie sounding for a major label deal,” explains Shea. “It left us in no man’s land, in a bit of an un-cool social purgatory.”

“Becoming the odd man out has the added benefit of being the only one of your kind,” Shea continues. “It’s given us our own lane, and as much as it’s isolated us, it’s also pushed us.”

The new album combines alternative rock, synthpop, loops, and audio collaging, a pastiche of inspirational touchstones. 

“I think we walked into this album more from a producer role than ever before,” explains O’ Neill, citing everyone from Dangermouse to Rick Rubin as sonic inspiration. “There was an intention not to make music as a band playing songs, but to create a sonic landscape you could step into.”

Endless hours in the studio spent teaching themselves how to make records played into every left-of-center choice. “We’ve really learned how to play the studio like an instrument.” explains Shea. “Those long hours pull me straight out of any illusions, and show me that there’s always an infinite amount of learning to be done. Once we start using the same approach too much, it’s time to learn something new.”

Track listing:

1. Monsterhouse
2. Bad News
3. NASA
4. TMI
5. Let Go : Be Free
6. Bloodlust
7. Low Resolution
8. I Want It All
9. Victimizer
10. Young Future Of Amer!ka
11. No Brainer
12. 2020
13. Time On Our Side