Released on the day Americans voted in the 1996 presidential election, the Seattle trio’s second album continued their extraordinary mid-90s success, reaching number three in Australia while bringing songs from their earliest independent recordings into the major-label era.
The Presidents Of The United States Of America released their second album, II, on 5 November 1996, the same day Americans went to the polls to elect their next president. The coincidence suited a band whose name, music and public image had always carried a sense of humour. Thirty years later, the album remains an important document of the Seattle trio’s commercial peak, reaching number three in Australia and proving their unconventional approach could extend beyond their hugely successful debut.
Chris Ballew, Dave Dederer and Jason Finn had emerged internationally with their self-titled 1995 debut, an album that turned stripped-back instrumentation, short songs and absurdist lyrics into an unlikely alternative rock success story. Songs including Lump, Peaches and Kitty introduced audiences to a band that deliberately avoided conventional guitar rock arrangements.
Rather than change direction for the follow-up, the trio doubled down on the formula.
Recorded in August 1996 at Studio Litho in Seattle, II delivered 15 tracks in just under 40 minutes. Ballew’s distinctive basitar, Dederer’s guitbass and Finn’s energetic drumming remained the foundation of the sound. The instruments were part of the group’s identity, allowing them to create a surprisingly full rock arrangement from unconventional string configurations.
The album opened with the brief instrumental Ladies And Gentlemen, Part 1 before moving into Lunatic To Love, Volcano and Mach 5. The latter became the lead single, released on 21 October 1996 ahead of the album.
Australia responded particularly strongly. II climbed to number three on the ARIA Albums Chart and finished 1996 at number 37 on the Australian year-end album chart. It subsequently achieved platinum certification in Australia, confirming that the band’s appeal had extended well beyond the initial excitement surrounding their debut.
Internationally, the album reached number 31 on the US Billboard 200, number five in Canada and number 20 in New Zealand. It also entered the top 50 in several European markets and earned gold certification in the United States and Canada.
One of the most interesting aspects of II was its connection to the band’s earlier independent recordings.
Three songs had originally appeared on Froggystyle, a cassette recorded before the debut album and sold at early performances. Lunatic To Love, Puffy Little Shoes and L.I.P., originally titled Little Indian Princess, were given new recordings for the Columbia release.
Twig also had a history predating the album. It had appeared as a B-side to the Lump single under the title Twig In The Wind. A semi-acoustic version would later surface on the Rarities collection.
Bringing these songs into the major-label catalogue preserved part of the group’s early musical history. They were not simply starting again after the debut. The second album also acknowledged the recordings and performances that had built their following before international success arrived.
The newer material included Bug City, Bath Of Fire, Tiki God, Toob Amplifier and Supermodel. Volcano and Tiki God subsequently became singles, with Australian releases following in 1997 and 1998 respectively.
The album also contained one of the more unusual hidden tracks in the band’s catalogue.
Basketball Dream features Tony Ballew, a young relative of Chris Ballew, recounting a dream about basketball star Magic Johnson. Chris can be heard faintly whispering lyrics beneath the spoken story.
The recording itself was not new. It had originally appeared in 1987 on a release by Chris Ballew’s earlier project, The Dukes O’ Pop, and subsequently on the 1989 Egg album Feel Good, although with different musical backing. Its subject matter has led to the hidden track frequently being identified as Magic Johnson Dream.
The recording credits reflect the collaborative approach behind the album. Ballew handled basitar, bass, lead vocals and keyboards, while Dederer played guitbass and guitar and contributed backing vocals. Finn supplied drums and percussion.
Additional contributions included Dave Thiele on piano and percussion, while Morphine’s Mark Sandman played tritar on Froggie. The album was produced by the band alongside S. Craig Montgomery, who also engineered the sessions. Jerry Finn handled mixing, with Wally Traugott responsible for mastering.
The closing instrumental, Ladies And Gentlemen, Part 2, brought the regular running order to an end, with Basketball Dream appearing as the hidden track.
By the time II was released, The Presidents Of The United States Of America had already established one of the more unusual success stories of the alternative rock era. Their approach was deliberately uncomplicated, but the songwriting was strong enough to carry the concept into a second major-label album.
The commercial performance in Australia was particularly significant. A number three chart peak demonstrated that the band’s appeal was not restricted to novelty or the momentum of a breakthrough single. Australian audiences had embraced the music itself.
Thirty years after its election-day release, II remains a snapshot of a band operating at full creative and commercial speed. It connected the independent recordings of their early Seattle years with the international audience they had acquired through their debut, while retaining the eccentric personality that made The Presidents Of The United States Of America distinctive.
The 1996 election eventually passed. The album, however, remained.
The Complete Track Listing: II
Ladies And Gentlemen, Part 1
Lunatic To Love
Volcano
Mach 5
Twig
Bug City
Bath Of Fire
Tiki God
L.I.P. (Little Indian Princess)
Froggie
Toob Amplifier
Supermodel
Puffy Little Shoes
Ladies And Gentlemen, Part 2
Basketball Dream (hidden track)
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