Photo by Aaron Fisher Cohen
There’s a strange romanticism to arcade crane machines that any teenage lover has likely experienced. You keep feeding quarters into that hungry little slot, hoping you can maneuver the teasing metal claw with enough skill to grab hold of a plush little teddy bear that might delight your date. But by the time you’ve actually won that stuffed animal, you’ve likely dropped more money into that damned machine than the prize is actually worth. Really, those glass-boxed games are nothing more than a change collection bin gobbling up your donation in exchange for perceived earned credit with your paramour.
Cosmic American singer-songwriter Cassandra Jenkins is all too familiar with the conflict of the game’s allure, as she professes on her new song, “Candy Crane”. The lead single from her Play Till You Win debut full-length, “Candy Crane” lays out woozy and warm guitar notes like the slowly blinking lights of those machines. Jenkins clearly finds pleasure in besting the crane, but finds herself anxious about what her joy means in the context of sheer consumerism. After all, it’s just a toy, isn’t it? “So when you think of all the things/ You ever hoped you’d be/ Tell me, did you ever dream/ Of plastic, plush, and candy?” she asks, her voice a beautiful blend of smoke and delicacy.
Take a listen below.
Play Till You Win is due out on April 7th. Jenkins, who formerly played bass for Eleanor Friendberger, will support the release on a West Coast tour. Find those dates ahead.
Cassandra Jenkins 2017 Tour Dates:
02/15 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios *
02/16 – Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern *
02/19 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop *
02/21 – Los Angeles, CA @ Satellite *
02/22 – San Diego, CA @ Hideout *
* = w/ Landlady
