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Under The Lampshade

by the james clark institute

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marcusalmightygemineye
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marcusalmightygemineye Another fantastic album by James and the band. Lots of great guitar playing as well as strong vocal melodies. If you like power pop...this is a must own. Favorite track: Remarkably Like You.
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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Housed in a groovy gatefold miniature album jacket with insert.

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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    The vinyl of all vinyl records. Beautiful gatefold jacket. Insert includes photos, credits, lyrics. Download card included. Purple vinyl. Tastes like grape.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Under The Lampshade via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days

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  • T-Shirt/Shirt + Digital Album

    Celebrating the new album, Under The Lampshade. Gildan heavy cotton Available in various men's and ladies' sizes. Available in your favourite colour as long as your favourite colour is purple. Come slip under the lampshade.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Under The Lampshade via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days

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1.
Right about now I’d like to hit Hollywood You’re my latest favourite punchline Right about now you’ve got me pissed off in 4/4 time Right about now I’d like to hit Hollywood Be bedazzled by the glittering gold Right about now your actions are getting old And yes I have some pent up fury, it’s your antagonism galore I will be the judge and jury and imitation Ringo Starr and hit Hollywood Right about now I’d like to smash the maple wood Full moon fever let me blow off some steam Right about let me show you what lunacy means....POW! And yes I have some pent up fury, it’s your antagonism galore I will be the judge and jury and imitation Ringo Starr and hit Hollywood It’s the rolling of the eyes that really gets under my skin The controlling I despised, you must have known there would be repercussions As you were building the tension, yeah Right about now I’d like to hit Hollywood You’re my latest favourite punch bag Right about now your opinions have become such a drag And yes I have some pent up fury, it’s your antagonism galore I will be the judge and jury and imitation Ringo Starr and hit Hollywood Hit Hollywood Right about now I’m going to hit Hollywood, yeah!
2.
A Kinder You 03:11
Today is the kind of day to listen to Blue And a Kind Of Blue too. The rain on my parade caused the floats to wash away And the wind won’t inflate a kinder you. Down on 30th the downpour was murderous But I had some troubles to wash away. Refused by your whetted kiss I perused my top 40 list And I found a couple of mainstays. Now today is the kind of day to listen to Blue And a Kind Of Blue too. The rain on my parade caused the floats to wash away And the wind won’t inflate a kinder you. Number 3rd in line when your telegram arrived. In black and white it was over. When the radio turned on me the piano played blue and green And these 2 standards became my saviours. Now today is the kind of day. You said it’s better when you’re travelling. Miles and miles of meandering. Meanwhile my sweater is unravelling metaphorically. Don’t you know today is the kind of day to listen to Blue And a Kind Of Blue too. The rain on my parade caused the floats to wash away And the wind won’t inflate a kinder you. No the wind won’t inflate a kinder you. No no the wind won’t inflate a kinder you.
3.
Phantom Girl 03:36
Who’s seen the phantom girl? Who’s seen the phantom girl? She seemed to vanish almost instantly, The minute he tarnished his credibility. I’d like to think she’s thought of me though unlikely is my guess. She didn’t like Mondays and the rest of the week was not my best. Who’s seen the phantom girl? Who’s seen the phantom girl? Singing My Best Friend’s Girl with my best friend’s girlfriend, In a car filled with irony and clapping hands. I’d like to think she’s thought of me though it sounds ridiculous. She didn’t like Mondays and the rest of the week was not my best. Who’s seen the phantom girl? Who ooh? Who has seen the summer shaped lips and the funky glasses? I remember her skipping hearts while I was skipping classes. I learned all my lessons well in the name of Elvis, While being drawn into the arms of her magnetic forces. Who’s seen the phantom girl? Giving up the ghost is never and option, When you’re being driven by wild delusion. I used to think we were so well suited, even tailor made. Still she exited the party early and left me under my lamp shade. Who’s seen the phantom girl? Who’s seen the phantom girl? Who ooh?
4.
Tornado 03:58
She’s colouring pictures to keep herself calm while they scream obscenities to her on the phone. She’s counting on the whole universe and the lotto tickets inside her purse. She’s painting abstracts with discounted acrylics then finding the faces of the loved ones she misses. She’s letting it all get the better of her and the losing tickets inside her purse. Tornado over The Eldorado tonight. Tornado over The Eldorado tonight. When it all blows over she will be just fine. It’s such a bad year for good feelings inside. He drew a bath, first shaking off all intrusions. Leaving her to draw her own conclusions, Of their history of riding the see-saw. Was this just his luck of the draw? Tornado over The Eldorado tonight. Tornado over The Eldorado tonight. When it all blows over she will be just fine. It’s such a bad year for good feelings inside. Outside there’s another new threat. She stays calm with another cigarette to spark. Inside there’s a further upset. Emptiness and altogether bereft of picture postcards. Tornado over The Eldorado tonight. Tornado over The Eldorado tonight. When it all blows over she will be just fine. It’s such a bad year for good feelings inside. It’s just a bad year for good feelings inside. Watch out for those tornadoes tonight!
5.
Well so much for looks being deceiving You’re an open book that requires no repeated readings The shutters are all closed you shutter to yourself She’s not coming back this time, the glow paint said so on the ceiling In your pathetic world you’re a majestic fool Known to the ladies as Prince Alarming And it’s whatever o’clock in the morning And you are literally all alone It’s whatever o’clock in the morning It’s time to take stock at whatever o’clock in the morning, yeah In this darkened house take a note to yourself The only thing that you’ve got going is your woman Mr Moon he shines straight through the cracks of your mental state And onward to the parting gift that’s pinned to the cushion The silence is deafening, what you’re definitely hearing Are the creaks and weaknesses in your own foundation And it’s whatever o’clock in the morning In a bed that’s barely warm It’s whatever o’clock in the morning It’s time to take stock at whatever o’clock in the morning, yeah The shadows on the walls simply remind you of The conclusions found on your MRI And it’s whatever o’clock in the morning And you are literally all alone It’s whatever o’clock in the morning It’s time you took stock at whatever o’clock in the morning In the morning In the morning Whatever
6.
Next time. Next time. The next time you pass me by on Darkness Avenue, You may not recall me but you’ll recognize the hue of the scar that looks remarkably like you. I waited for what seemed a lifetime while you prioritized your valentines. You lined us up like chocolates but you’re the one who’s centre was toxic. The next time you pass me by on Darkness Avenue, You may not recall me but you’ll recognize the hue of the scar that looks remarkably like you. Flowers as flaccid as my heart felt when I opened up your card and my name was misspelled. I could have cut you some slack but his name was crossed out in black. This time you’ll be oblivious like last time and the time previous. But next time you’ll shine. So I stumbled home in the sunrise feeling lowest of low in the high rise. Against my better judgment I’m still waiting for a compliment from you. So the next time you pass me by on Darkness Avenue, You may not recall me but you’ll recognize the hue of the scar that looks remarkably like you. Like you. La la la la like you. Next time. Next time
7.
Black licorice touching red lips in between Irish coffee sips. Are you ticklish? She quips, Desiring to feel satiated but she finds it hard to articulate it. Black licorice touching red lips. Have you seen her looking devilish? He ends up speaking only gibberish. Desiring to be elevated but he finds it hard to articulate it. It doesn’t matter if they all know what you’re up to. It only matters that this guy’s in love with you. How many revolutions until the conclusion that you want justifies the looks that you flaunt? Black licorice touching red lips. She blushes while he fidgets. He used to feel so insignificant Now he just feels overrated with all of the zeal she’s speculated It doesn’t matter if they all know what you’re up to. It only matters that this guy’s in love with you. How many revolutions until the conclusion that you want justifies the looks that you flaunt? Then in the AM hours a trumpet solo blows away the sour notes that rang before. For forty years or more! Black licorice touching red lips. White fingers pawing fish nets. Think of all the trouble that he gets himself into, uneducated. Oh he can’t even spell articulated. No, no, no! It doesn’t matter if they all know what you’re up to. It only matters that this guy’s in love with you. How many revolutions until the conclusion that you want justifies the looks that you flaunt? Black licorice - red lips. Black licorice - red lips. Black licorice - red lips.
8.
Waiting on the waitress to calculate what I’ve spent. Waiting while the waitress calls her talent agent. Then I’m going to take her out tonight! I’m going to take her out tonight! And she’s going to serve me well. Waiting on the waitress to let down her hair. Waiting to get her number with the pencil from her ear, Then I’m going to take her out tonight! I’m going to take her out tonight! And she’s going to serve me well. I’m swimming in her coffee-coloured eyes. I’m beginning to wake up and smell a compromise. She has stars in her eyes and a script in her hand but tonight I’ll be her Cary Grant. I’m brimming over in those coffee-coloured eyes. There are stars in those eyes and a script in her hand but tonight I’ll be her Marlon Brando Whoa! Whoa! Waiting on the waitress to get off her shift. Waiting on the waitress to collect her tips. Then she’s going to take me out tonight! She’s going to take me out tonight! And I’m going to serve her well. I’m going to take her out tonight! I’m going to take her out tonight! And she’s going to serve me well. Well. Well. I’m going to take her out tonight!
9.
You were the queen of contortion how you squeezed inside my miniature heart And twisted all my emotions and turned them downside up Since then there’s been a lack of elegeance inside my catacomb That’s why I brought you home That’s why I brought you home That’s why I brought you home That’s why I brought you home Don’t say I don’t think about you it’s never been the case In the ten years since I last held you and the twenty since I first saw your face There’s been a lot of developments mostly done by mirrors and smoke That’s why I brought you home That’s why I brought you home That’s why I brought you home That’s why I brought you ... Home sweet home There’s comfort in your proximity Hum complete drum Was a concept that hit me right smack in my simplicity I thought you were perpetual Yes I thought you’d never let go That’s why I brought you home That’s why I brought you home That’s why I brought you home That’s why I brought you home Home Home
10.
Sequestered in the cellar with 40,000 pieces of plastic Drastic times called for something just a little bit more fantastic While you fluttered above me with those fluttering lashes You can mark my words, my words were remarkably sarcastic And you can take it as gospel, take it as truth Take me away I’ve been taken with you And you’ve taken all of my time Somebody told me that... No good deed goes unpunished, no good deed goes unpunished Walter Reed had his hunches and he was right, you give me fever tonight I’ve got $10,000 of my own money invested in my deal Oh so don’t get me started on the necessary evils I have shown you the ropes and the dope now step off of my coat tails You’ve got to ride your next ticket back to the land of free meals And you can take it as gospel, take it as truth Take me away I’ve been taken with you And you’ve taken all of my time Somebody told me that... No good deed goes unpunished, no good deed goes unpunished Walter Reed had his hunches and he was right, you give me fever tonight You’ve been a bee in my bonnet right from the start I should not have offered up my sardonic heart to you Somebody told me that And you can take it as gospel, take it as truth Take me away I’ve been taken by you And you’ve taken all of my time No good deed goes unpunished, no good deed goes unpunished Walter Reed had his hunches and he was right, you give me fever tonight Tonight Tonight

about

“James Clark is back with a new collection of catchy and lyrically challenging tunes. Under The Lampshade has James growing stylistically while still keeping to the core values of intelligent pop craftsmanship that we have all come to associate with him. May I be so bold as to say this is his finest batch of songs yet?”
-Moe Berg, Producer.

There is something to be said about classic old school craftsmanship. When rock and pop records were made in the sixties the formula was simple: Go to an actual recording studio, have your band play instruments, cut ten songs, divide between Side A and SIde B (or in
the case of “Under The Lampshade” Overside and Underside), thoughtfully sequence, design an album cover (complete with gatefold), press vinyl, send to radio and play live.

For many the times have changed but for The James Clark Institute making an actual album is a timeless process. “Under The Lampshade” is a thoroughly modern throwback album produced with care from longtime studio collaborator Moe Berg (The Pursuit Of Happiness/Trans-Canada Highwaymen). From the rousing album opener “Hit Hollywood” to the last chords of “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished” this record is as relevant today as it would have been in 1966. Ten songs clocking in anywhere between 2:51 and 4:20.

Following the success of their last album "The Colour Of Happy" the new album will continue in the same direction as his fans hope. "Under The Lampshade” is the foolproof follow-up to 2021's 'The Colour Of Happy'” says the Canadian band leader James Clark. “The record largely has the same amount of happy, hooky melodies disguising bittersweet and impassioned lyrics. But there is also a progression in the JCI sound as we used a string quartet on two songs."

Set aside about 35 minutes, have an uninterrupted listen and remember when pop music was pop music. “Under The Lampshade” - Available on all streaming services, and of course gatefold vinyl November 10, 2023.

credits

released November 10, 2023

Produced by Moe Berg.
Recorded at Union Sound Company - Toronto, ON.
Engineered by Darren McGill.
Mixed and mastered by Robert Nation at EMAC Studios - London, ON.
All songs written by James Clark.
All songs SOCAN.
Arrangements by Moe Berg and The JCI.

James Clark - vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, percussion.
Tom Gibson - electric lead guitars.
Tim Gall - bass guitars.
Greg Condie - pianos and organs.
Dean Carl Glover - drums and harmony vocals.
Lauren Hawkins - harmony vocals.
Moe Berg - electric guitars, harmony vocals.
Peter Stevenson - trumpet
Joni Fuller - strings (jonifullerstrings@gmail.com)

Photography - Sean Ryan (seanryanimages.com)
Design - clartoons ink (room5records@gmail.com)

Under The Lampshade is dedicated to the memory of Mark Ruffolo.

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the james clark institute Toronto, Ontario

Under the guise of ‘The James Clark Institute’, Toronto based music artist, James Clark takes the classic pop song style that he grew up with and gives it his own spin. The music of Elvis Costello, Ray Davies and Lennon and McCartney have all influenced James' musical style. “A wealth of songwriting talent” says renowned music writer/ ex-MuchMusic VJ Michael Williams in Cashbox Canada. ... more

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