To be clear: Spencer Thomas’s “Video Farm” has nothing to do with agriculture.
“I heard about this concept where people are forced to run videos over and over again in order to boost views,” says Thomas. “I can’t tell you any specifics beyond that, but the image of one person sitting in front of a wall of tablets, monitors and phones all playing the same things is forever seared into my brain. It’s another one of those ever-frequent moments of, ‘Oh. This is where we are now.’”
That nicely sums up the common thematic thread of Cynical Vision, the former Futurebirds keyboardist’s third LP and his second for the Strolling Bones label. Thomas has always been fascinated by that elusive place where the spiritual and the digital intersect.
“We live in a world of instant gratification, with all the answers at our fingertips,” he says. “But it’s harder than ever to find any kind of deeper purpose or meaning.”
Recorded in Athens, Ga., with producer Nate Nelson (White Voilet, Ruby The Rabbitfoot), the album spans eras and genres to get its point across in way the balances the organic and heartfelt with the esoteric and ephemeral, employing drum machines, vintage synths and fuzzed-out electric guitars for a warm and inviting analog/electronic vibe. There’s nothing preachy or distant about Thomas’ message, which is born out of genuine concern for humanity. And the album’s latest single is a case in point.
“I wanted to write about video farms, but not from a high horse of righteousness,” says Thomas. “After reading about Randy Newman’s career, I understood how he used satire to shine a light on injustice, so I wanted to try that. I wrote from the perspective of a character looking to make money but missing the point entirely. This gave me a chance to indirectly take jabs at our handling of climate change, food shortage, government spending, etc. Now, with AI data centers popping up in rural areas across the U.S., the sentiment is all too relatable.”
For the video, Thomas worked with Cody Rogers to drive home the narrative. “It’s an endless doomscroll that gets darker and more politically and conspiratorially dense as it goes on,” says Thomas. “The funny catch is that I play all the TikTok tropes. We thought it was a unique take on where our overwhelmed culture is now.”
We’re proud to premiere Spencer Thomas’s “Video Farm.” Cynical Vision is out March 20.
—Hobart Rowland
