Here's The Rentals' Video for "It's Time to Come Home"

God love us some power pop. Throw in some fuzzy guitars and celestial vocals and we're in heaven. This is just one of the reasons why, when The Rentals, a.k.a. the musical collective headed up by Matt Sharp, made their first new record in 15 big ones—last year's Lost in Alphaville—we got very excited indeed. The song might sound super sweet, with Sharp's vocals a cushiony counterpoint to female duo Lucius on backing harmonies, but the video itself gives this tune a rather sinister twist.

It actually forms half of a two part story dreamt up by the former Weezer bassist and Rentals mainman and brought to life by director Daniel Kaufman. (The second half of the story will be completed on the next single "Traces of Our Tears.")

Sharp outlines the premise thusly: "It takes place somewhere around 50 years into the future, a group of five elderly scientists are driving through the streets of East LA on an ordinary winter’s day. The scientists are each in possession of a dossier that contains a wealth of information about their younger selves. As they flip their dossiers, we come recognize the five senior citizens happen to be Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, Ryen Slegr, Lauren Chipman and Patrick Carney [the drummer in The Black Keys]—who are also the five main contributors on Lost In Alphaville. Meanwhile, I’m back in a makeshift science laboratory in a rusty old industrial loft while I’m singing to The Rentals that is time for them to come home.

"Wearing white Hazmat Suits, the frail, grey haired scientists haphazardly wander through the seedy streets of downtown Los Angeles desperately in search of their younger doppelgangers. As they become increasingly frustrated about the futility of their quest, they start lashing out at strangers on the street."

What happens next involves ether rags, kidnapping, medical table, and the transferrance of souls. "A simple science fiction tale about the quest for eternal life," says Sharp. "Or just imagine if Cocoon starred Gary Numan and Grimes, instead of Wilford Brimley and Steve Guttenberg."

Brilliant!

The Rentals Tour Dates

05/05 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst Atrium
05/06 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
05/08 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
05/09 – Vancouver, BC @ Electric Owl
05/10 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
05/13 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
05/14 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
05/15 – Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room
05/16 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
05/18 – Detroit, MI @ The Loving Touch
05/19 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
05/20 – Montreal, PQ @ Theatre Fairmount
05/21 – Boston, MA @ Middle East
05/22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
05/23 – Washington DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
05/25 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
05/26 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
05/27 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
05/28 – Houston, TX @ Walter’s Downtown
05/29 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
05/30 – Austin, TX @ The Parish %
06/02 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom
06/03 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Bunkhouse Saloon
06/04 – San Diego, CA @ The Irenic
06/05 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
06/06 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room

All Dates With Rey Pila + Radiation City

% with Radiation City only