People are often curious about how songwriters come up with their lyrics. Golden Bloom’s Shawn Fogel is here to tell you; all it takes is a ride on the train. Perhaps that’s oversimplifying things just a bit, but his latest mp3, “You Go On (& On)” from the forthcoming EP March to the Drums was written while riding on the train in New Jersey, like many of his songs. “Maybe if I say that enough times in the press NJ Transit will give me a lifetime pass?” says Fogel. If all of the tracks on March to the Drums are as well crafted as “You Go On (& On)” they ought to think about it. Download “You Go On (& On)” here: http://glgpub.com/file_download/148/Golden-Bloom-You-Go-On-(and-On).mp3
With March of the Drums, Golden Bloom is shifting toward the personal in lyrical content. “The last batch of songs from the Fan the Flames (Golden Bloom’s last full-length release) era was more about politics and the balance between frustration and optimism,” says Fogel. “‘You Go On (& On)’, along with the others that will appear on the March to the Drums EP, is a little more personal.” What better topic for a songwriter of Fogel’s talent to make into song than that of music’s power in his life? “The song is about the drive to make music, the excitement of being on the verge of something, the uncertainty of what comes next, or whether or not it’s even worth it. Ultimately, the chorus quashed any uncertainty; ‘right or wrong / the fire that burns in the song / is keeping your heart beating strong / you go on & on’.”
March to the Drums, the follow up to Golden Bloom’s Fan the Flames (2009); which was compared favorably to Summerteeth-era Wilco, The New Pornographers, and Big Star and loved by critics and fans alike. He’ shooting for a release this year. On this new EP Fogel has worked with long-time studio counterpart Ryan Ball as well as in-demand producer Peter Katis (Frightened Rabbit, The National, Interpol and Tokyo Police Club) again. He’s also recently recorded a cover of Wussy’s “Magic Words,” which is available at http://goldenbloom.bandcamp.com/track/magic-words-wussy-cover