Shuffle It All
Shufflepuck and The Generation Blue Project prove great music is timeless.
The original conceit of the Abandoned Albums podcast was to find albums that had been recorded but never released by labels. Without having someone on the inside (at a label), it was a bit challenging to get my hands on those — which is to say impossible.
And so the podcast morphed into a “forgotten” album format until it eventually evolved into a podcast about music that would fit into the “now” and/or “then” column.
Our goal with Abandoned Albums is to keep the recorded work of artists on the cultural radar and, when possible, ensure that the recorded work of new artists LANDS on the cultural radar.
When S.W. Lauden approached me about The Generation Blue Project and the band Shufflepuck, my interest was piqued. That’s hardly surprising, considering his projects typically generate a high degree of interest. But before we go down the Shufflepuck road, let’s explain what The Generation Blue Project is - it’s a project that celebrates what is affectionately called “Geek Rock.”
If we are to believe the internet, Geek Rock is:
Geek rock is a musical genre that draws heavily on geek culture and themes,
focusing on topics that are of interest to geeks, such as science fiction, fantasy,
technology, and academic subjects. This genre is known for its witty lyrics,
eclectic sound, and the use of electronic instruments alongside traditional rock
instrumentation. Geek rock bands often have a devoted following within geek
communities, and their music is seen as a celebration of geekiness in all its
forms.
Musically, geek rock covers a wide range of styles, from indie rock to punk, but
what unites the bands within this genre is their lyrical content and the culture
they embrace. Lyrics often feature references to video games, computer
technology, popular science, mathematics, and literature, with a notable penchant
for humor and irony.
The Generation Blue Project is a compilation album with tracks by some of the scene’s bands, like Nerf Herder, Ridel High, and Baby Lemonade (episode 104), and yes, Shufflepuck. It’s accompanied by the book “An Oral History of the Hollywood Geek Rock Scene in the 1990s and 2000s.” It’s a terrific pairing that would work exquisitely on a sunny Saturday at the beach or a cloudy Sunday at home (the latter, I can attest to).
Now, it could be said that Weezer is to Geek Rock what The Beatles are to, well, everything.
Their “Blue Album” is largely considered Ground Zero for Geek Rock, but as the The Generation Blue Project project highlights, Weezer was hardly the only band. And the line from Weezer to Shufflepuck is short, very short indeed… but no spoilers.
And that leads us to Shufflepuck, a band that stormed through that Hollywood scene, quickly becoming the band to see.
Shufflepuck was:
Adam Orth - vocals, guitar
Justin Fisher - guitar
Ed Alexander - bass
Keith Fallis - drums
The Shufflepuck ascension was fast and furious, and when all the labels came knocking, the band only had eyes for Interscope Records. In the mid-90s Interscope was the label to be on. It would seem a natural pairing, like a nice Pinot Noir with a perfectly cooked medium rare NY Strip steak, for the hottest band to sign on the hottest label… and that’s precisely what happened.
Shufflepuck recorded one full length album for Interscope Records that was sadly, never released… and that’s when the story gets interesting. After numerous listens the fact that this album did not see the light of day in 1996 is just another brick in the wall of great musical travesties.
Given the time, I am confident, and not alone, in saying the album would’ve been a hit by every measure had it been released. But, you’ll have to listen to the podcast to get the whole story - no spoilers here.
From Adam and Justin’s humble Connecticut beginnings of tee-ball games to childhood friendships to heavy metal to everyone’s eventual sojourn west to Los Angeles all the way up to Shufflepuck’s ultimate implosion, this band’s story is fascinating. And having the principles - and childhood friends - Adam and Justin sharing the Shufflepuck story is one of the main reasons that a show like Abandoned Albums exists.
And we’re happy to be able to share it with you.
LISTEN TO THE GOODS:
Keith’s conversation with Adam and Justin of Shufflepuck:
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The Generation Blue Playlist:
The Geek Rock Playlist by S.W. Lauden:
💙👓🙏