Spring 2022 Mix

Mark Oldenkamp makes the kind of music you hum along to in the car before realizing what you're actually singing about. After losing his father, brother, and best friend within 18 months, he spent his "grief budget" on making "Dark Hearts"—an album that sounds like a good time, until you pay attention to the lyrics. Fifteen tracks. Zero closure. Surprisingly large amount of ska and even indie and dubstep, but definitely nothing involving drug use (abuse, however).  There’s even a couple of tracks that would turn you into a "Swifty", well, if she sang them. Better yet, these are songs that Lily Allen would sing as Christmas carols under a full moon, on Halloween, with the Grinch playing bass.

Speaking of the Grinch…  Mark also writes horror novels about atomic bomb double survivors bound by a cosmic entity, a witch with an immortality spell, versus a homophobic brother with a gay twin who teams up with an asexual drug runner to battle evil.  Too happy for your palate? Then, how about a little boy with a big, demonic secret that makes the Omen look pedestrian?  If non-fiction is more your lane, he has you covered with Gay Massage Manuals, sleepwalking stories that are terrifying (say what?), and even Remote Viewing and secret government psychic programs.  Oh, and there are a couple of memoirs sure to get him excommunicated by both Christians and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Despite the apparent darkness, it’s not all crying tears of blood;  there are several hopeful, genre-jumping tracks, from country to R&B to reggae to Dolly Parton that will make you slow dance alone and put away the Xanax.

Thus, “Dark Hearts” is not just about dying but also living our best "lownly" life, or whatever this is called. And yes, he did attempt to smash only/own/lonely into one word. But he is gay, and they're into pronouns, so yeah… his idea.

I am Chris Comstock, I started Herbalcide, I make music, edit it and post it here for you to enjoy! Peace!


Spring 2022 Mix

jCron