| Artist | Tony Molina |
|---|---|
| Released | 2009 |
| Genre | Power pop, indie rock, lo-fi, punk rock |
| Length | 13:10 |
| Label | 650 Tapes (2008) Self-released (2023) |
| Producer | Bart Thurber |
| Next year | 2013 |
Embarrassing Times is the 2009 debut solo album by Tony Molina.
Background
In 2008, Molina recorded two albums with his band Ovens. He had already written a few songs that “were not totally in the Ovens style." Molina recorded his solo songs when two friends had to cancel studio time with Bart Thurber at the House of Faith recording studio in Oakland. Molina took over the recording time and recorded his solo songs. These recordings became Embarrassing Times.[1]
Beau Monnot, who played with Molina in Dystrophy and Ovens, played drums on tracks 3, 9, and 10. All other instruments are played by Tony Molina.[2]
The album includes four covers of songs by Roy Wood, Telly Savalas, the Dead Milkmen, and Camper Van Beethoven.[2]
Molina has said that this album is one of his favorites, adding, “It was kind of accidental, but it gave me incentive that I was like, ‘OK, maybe I can make another solo record someday.’”[1]
Release
Embarrassing Times was first released in 2009 as a cassette, with a run of 50 copies. These 50 copies came free with the first 50 mail-ordered copies of Ovens (the band's self-titled album) from Aquarius Records.[3][2] In 2023, Catholic Guilt Records rereleased the album on vinyl in a limited 500 copy run.[4][5]
Yellow Green Red praised the reissue's "richly melodic guitar-pop" and described the album as "a thrilling glimpse of [Molina's] formative sonic DNA."[6] Woody Jagger praised the album on its rerelease, writing, "The Californian returns to the fray with his magic formula of brief, melodic nuggets—a style that resonates so well with Teenage Fanclub, The Byrds, and Weezer."[7] In a review of On This Day, Post-Trash called Embarrasing Times Molina's "master work."[8]
One track from Embarrasing Times, "I'm Not Down," was later re-released on Molina's compilation album, Songs from San Mateo County.[9]
References
- ^ "Tony Molina, “Embarrassing Times”". Thrillhouse Records. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ^ "Tony Molina — Embarrassing Times". Discogs. Retrieved May 22, 2026.>
- ^ "[ O ] titles at Aquarius Records". Aquarius Records. Archived April 17, 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ^ "Embarrassing Times by Tony Molina". White Crate. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ^ ""Embarrassing Times" Out Now!". Catholic Guilt Records. August 25, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ^ ""Reviews - October 2023"". YELLOW GREEN RED. October 1, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ^ Mestre, Juanjo (November 1, 2023). "15 recomendables novedades discográficas más del 2023". Woody Jagger. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ^ Mercado, Zach (December 3, 2025). "Tony Molina - "On This Day" Album Review". Post-Trash. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ^ Brownholtz, Mandy (July 2019). "The Heartfelt Nostalgia of Tony Molina's Tapes From San Mateo County". Audiofemme. Retrieved May 22, 2026.