What better way to celebrate your debut album than to give it away in weekly exclusives? That’s just what Popwreckoning favorite Golden Bloom is doing with its new album, Fan the Flames, which drops on August 18th. Popwreckoning has been bragging about the talents of Golden Bloom mastermind and multi-instrumentalist (piano, bass, drums, sax, harmonica) Shawn Fogel for some time, so we’re ecstatic to bring you, dear readers, the 8th track from Fan the Flames, “The Mountainside Says” (more on that below).
On Fan the Fames, Fogel showcases his pop sensibilities, musicianship and talent for writing damn good songs be it intro “E.H.M.” which kicks off the record with a burst of energy in the form of a rapid fire snare coupled with driving guitar and key hooks, the ballad-like approach of the more personal “She Leaves Me Poetry” and politically minded gems “Doomsday Devices” and”The Fight at the End of the Tunnel”.
As part of the “Summer of Golden Bloom”, Popwreckoning is excited to offer “The Mountainside Says” as an exclusive download from Fan the Flames. “The Mountainside Says” is a bright, melodious track musically, that is coupled with heavy lyrics dealing with social commentary on the state of religion into today’s world. Fogel sings, “‘I’ve got the answer,’ the TV set says / on the old King James Bible commercial. / When we start taking out ads / do our faiths become fads? / Our religion’s reduced to rehearsal. / So we practice our prayers every night / and in god’s awesome name we still fight / until each of our souls have been saved / and our sins been forgiven / no matter how sick or depraved.” You simply cannot ignore this song, even just this verse alone — whether religious zealot, agnostic or what have you, these words demand a reaction. “The Mountainside Says” exhibits Fogel’s ability to stray from safe and easy, propelling him into the realm of truly great songwriters.
Golden Bloom – “The Mountainside Says”
Though Fogel played all the instruments on the record, Golden Bloom’s live show lineup includes Deleon frontman Dan Saks, Ryan Ball, bassist for famed Pink Floyd tribute band the Machine, Brooklyn guitar ace Jeff Patlingrao, Guster sideman Josh Cohen, and music journalist Michael Azerrad. With such talent all around, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Golden Bloom puts on one of the best live shows around.
Fan the Flames is out on August 18th. For more Golden Bloom action, check out Up End Atom, available now on Hartless Hind.
Tracklisting:
01. E.H.M.
02. Doomsday Devices
03. Fan the Flames
04. She Leaves Me Poetry
05. The Fight at the End of the Tunnel
06. Dead Petals
07. If You Believe
08. The Mountainside Says
09. Theme for an Adventure at Sea
Album Tracks Already Available:
01. EHM (via Magnet Magazine)
02. Doomsday Devices (Ruby Isle Remix) (via Under the Radar)
03. Fan the Flames (via Tuneraker)
04. She Leaves Me Poetry (via Bag of Songs)
05. The Fight at the End of the Tunnel (via The Consequence of Sound)
06. Dead Petals (7/24 via Ryan’s Smashing Life)
07. If You Believe (7/31 via Spin)
08. The Mountainside Says (us, today!)
Album Tracks Coming Up Next:
09. Theme For an Adventure at Sea (8/14 via Fensepost)
Golden Bloom: website | myspace | interview with | @ the m room | mp3 minute: “Your Minute of Fame”
Photo: Dese’Rae Stage
Thumbnail: Alicia J. Rose
best line “as i look to the trees though they’ve lost all their leaves they still stand for what they believe.”