Golden Bloom Covers Wussy’s “Magic Words”

Choosing a song to cover is an art. Golden Bloom’s Shawn Fogel is quite adept at it, as shown by his choice of Wussy’s “Magic Words,” a track from the Cincinnati quartet’s celebrated self-titled album. “Magic Words,” a mid-tempo rocker, and his favorite, is transformed lovingly by Fogel into a poppier version of itself. Still present are the droning guitars, but added are the shiny synth touches that are a Golden Bloom trademark. All of this adds up to a unique approach to Wussy’s well-crafted phrases and lyrics. “I heard a lot of possibilities in my head, different directions I could take the song, says Fogel. “I ended up trying to inject a little more power into the pop and had a lot of fun reinterpreting this song in the studio.”  Fogel is not alone in the desire to reimagine Wussy. This Will Not End Well, a remix album that was digitally released in September, is filled with tracks from Wussy, but does not include “Magic Words”.

Shawn Fogel is no stranger to the art of the cover. This past summer and at CMJ 2010, he and members of Golden Bloom and The Motion Sick embarked on the ambitious task of playing Neutral Uke Hotel’s In the Aeroplane Over The Sea live on ukulele, melodica and trumpet as Neutral Uke Hotel. The shows were well received, filling venues with fans singing, clapping and stomping along to the beloved album.

Fogel is back in the studio with Peter Katis (Frightened Rabbit, The National, Interpol and Tokyo Police Club), to produce some tracks on the follow up to Fan the Flames, which was compared favorably to Summerteeth-era Wilco, The New Pornographers, and Big Star and loved by critics and fans alike. 
Download the “Magic Words” MP3! Click Here to Read More..

My My My Celebrate the Release of New Single “War Party” on Friday, October 15th

A “symphony of synths” is how Russell Baylin, founder, singer and songwriter of Chicago’s beat-driven pop band My My My describes their new single “War Party,” and for good reason. The band overdubbed 123 tracks of keys upon keys to create a wall of danceable sound that is the next evolution of a power pop group that has been a North by Northeast Selected Artist for two years running. But “War Party” isn’t all synth. Baylin and Sarah Snow’s powerful vocal interplay bring the song’s themes of social alienation and belonging poignantly across. The single release show is set for Friday, October 15th at Subterranean in Chicago. Secondary Modern and The Hudson Landing will also play.

My My My, who have been favorably compared to The New Pornographers, released their latest full-length in May. Leather Silk poetically explores Sex, Love, The Apocalypse, Designer Clothes, and PMS. And along with shout-along choruses, listening to the album is like being at a self-help retreat in a sweaty hotel banquet hall, where you forget about your life while you jump up, sit down and sing out. Deli Magazine says their third album is “filled with finely tuned electronics, sweeping guitar riffs, and dueling vocals.”

Through the grace of Craigslist and sheer timing, My My My formed on the heels of a Chicago winter in 2007 when Baylin set out looking for artists to share his musical vision. He found singer Sarah Snow, and together, their shared vocals capture life’s playful frustrations and satisfactions. Johnny Szymanski adds sonic subtleties that highlight the sarcastic, yet good-natured undertones in the music. Guitarist Ante S. Gelo brings multifaceted rhythm, riffs, licks and nuances that accentuate the dynamics as drummer Bill Skafish and bassist Jake Bartolone drive the mood with forceful, yet vibrant beats that sound like flirtatious revenge. Together My My My creates a vivacious depth to refreshing songs that seduce with a sly, witty intensity.

Since their serendipitous inception, My My My has captivated audiences with their magnetic boy/girl vocal dichotomy, sonorous and buoyant melodies, and dynamic, resonating beats at the Sundance Film Festival, Milwaukee Summerfest, North By Northeast (NxNE), and clubs throughout the Midwest and as far as San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Friday, October 15th
Subterranean
2011 W. North Ave, Chicago, IL
(773) 278-6600
Single Release Party for “War Party”
With Secondary Modern and The Hudson Landing
Doors: 8:30 PM
Show: 9:00 PM
17+; $10
Purchase tickets: http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3205515&REFID=subtcal
Click Here to Read More..

Golden Bloom Returns to Studio with Producer Peter Katis

Wooooooooooooooooo! We are shouting at GLG! Golden Bloom (OK, well, Shawn Fogel) is finally working on another album, which will not doubt be stellar. We seriously can not wait for his next work of pop genius.

Fogel has begun recording new Golden Bloom material, once again with producer Peter Katis! If you haven't heard, Katis is an uber producer who has worked wonders on records for The National (their last five records), Frightened Rabbit, The Swell Season, Interpol and Tokyo Police Club, to name just a few. The magic began this month when Fogel returned to Tarquin Studios with the prolific pop-maker Peter Katis. Golden Bloom's last full-length, Fan the Flames, which was compared favorably to Summerteeth-era Wilco, The New Pornographers, and Big Star and loved by critics and fans alike was recorded by Katis

So what can we expect from Fogel this time? Power pop? Rest assured. Intelligent lyrics? Certainly. The best music Golden Bloom has ever made? Absolutely. Fogel says, “[The experience] is similar to Fan the Flames in that I'm trying to make the best music I can in the moment, but I'd like to think whenever you work on something new you're in some way trying to out-do your previous work. I think the songs are really strong and more mature than the last batch of songs that comprised Fan the Flames.”

Wait, it's going to be even better than Fan the Flames? That's serious. Someone is going to need to fan us.



Click Here to Read More..

GLG Fresh MP3 Friday-Neutral Milk Hotel and TLC Covers, Leopold and His Fiction, Naked Hearts and more...

You need free mp3s, we have free mp3s. Feel free to post any of the approved songs below on your blog or tweet to your friends. Not on our email list to receive these directly and want to be? Send an email over to info(at)greenlightgopublicity.com

New This Week!

Neil Nathan, From The Distance Calls Release Date: August 24, 2010
“California Run”
“Highways”
Genre: Powerpop
For fans of: Matthew Sweet, Cat Stevens, The Go, Marc Bolan

Neutral Uke Hotel
“King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1” (Neutral Milk Hotel Cover)
Genre: Indie rock, Cover song
For fans of: Neutral Milk Hotel

And for those you may have missed...

Naked Hearts, From Mass Hysteria released May 11, 2010
“Mass Hysteria”
“Call Me” Genre: Fuzz pop/grunge
For fans of: PJ Harvey, Sonic Youth, Liz Phair

The True Jacqueline, From Nice Bird due out June 22, 2010
“Mondegreen”
“It’s the Water”
Genre: Twee pop
For fans of: Early New Pornographers

Avi Wisnia, From Something New due out June 29, 2010
“New Year”
“No Scrubs” (TLC cover)
Genre: Brazillian Bossa Nova, Contemporary Jazz
For fans of: Jamie Cullum

The White Ravens, From Gargoyles and Weather Vanes due out July 6, 2010
“Sparks”
“Tick Tock”
Genre: Garage rock
For fans of: The White Stripes, Fiery Furnaces

Gwyneth & Monko, From Good Old Horse due out July 20, 2010“Good Old Horse”
“Lexington Ballad” Genre: Americana/Folk
For fans of: Jenny Lewis, Gillian Welch

Alan Cohen Experience, From Space & Time due out August 31, 2010
“Einstein”
Genre: Anti-folk/power pop
For fans of: Adam Green, Jeffrey Lewis, The Moldy Peaches

Leopold and His Fiction, From the upcoming album TBA
“Golden Friends”
Genre: Garage folk
For fans of: The Black Keys, Kings of Leon, Heartless Bastards Click Here to Read More..

Favorite Friday with The True Jacqueline

I'm really excited to debut one of many new weekly features we will have on the GLG blog. On Fridays, hence the name Favorite Friday - one GLG band/artist will send us a list and comments about their "favorites" of the week. It could be a list of albums they are listening to in the van, books they are reading, guilty pleasure TV, and so on. We hope these various "favorites" will give you a glimpse into the other sides of our bands.

For the inaugural Favorite Friday we present:
The True Jacqueline's
Favorite Albums of the Week

"There's a lot of good new music that's come out recently. We've had some healthy discussion about the direction the new MGMT album has gone (Andrew's not a fan, Zach is). Kate is in love with Dr. Dog. We've all really dug the new New Pornographers album--all very solid stuff in their catalogue that doesn't try to reinvent their sound, but solidifies it. Zach is head over heels in love with Frightened Rabbit's new one, as well." And to make it even more fun, singer/keybordist Zach Farrell sent us this adorable shot from his recent wedding. Congrats!!

1. MGMT Congratulations
2. The Rentals Songs About Time
3. Man/Miracle The Shape of Things
4. R.E.M. Monster
5. Dr. Dog Fate
6. The Vivian Girls The Vivian Girls
7. The Magnetic Fields Charm of the Highway Strip
8. The New Pornographers Together
9. Frightened Rabbit The Winter of Mixed Drinks
10. Trojan Mod Reggae Box set

Don't forget that The True Jacqueline's album Nice Bird comes out on June 22! Click Here to Read More..