It's hard to believe it's been four years since the debut release of The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty's kick excellent debut "Ways of Hearing." But growth takes time and rather than rush a follow-up album to market to capitalize on their newfound success, the group opted to take their time and focus their efforts at their own pace. It paid off.

On their much anticipated sophomore album, ambition is key. The name of the album itself "The Iliad and the Odyssey and the Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick" spans a glorious 71 characters and is bound to swallow the screen of whatever device that attempts to display the text. The essence of the album is built upon delicate, pleading vocals that sit atop stirring dynamic movements that seem to move between small and vulnerable to full-on symphonies that are bursting with emotion.  

"The Iliad and the Odyssey and the Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick" will be released by veteran indie label Count Your Lucky Stars on April 25th, 2024 (an homage to their first released single of the album) during the dead time when the cold end of winter is transitioning to a hopeful and promising spring- an apt metaphor that seems to encompass the heart of the album.

The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick- April 25

JEFF is a split featuring original songs from Mt. Oriander, Topiary Creatures, Superdestroyer and Hey, ily!.

Released by Lonely Ghost Records and Count Your Lucky Stars on May 23rd, 2024.

Superdestroyer - Knife Fiight!

Topiary Creatures - William Bonneville Salt Flats

Mt. Oriander - I'm Sorry, but That One Is Just a Snake

One long song from Keith Latinen, two shorter songs from Daniel Becker in a beautifully handmade artwork featuring a drawing from Tommy Lester (diddums doodles), all revolving around themes of loss and letting go.

I’m not going to waltz around facts here, this is a sad record, and once Mt. Oriander’s sole but lengthy song ‚You Chip Away Everything that isn’t an Elephant‘ starts twinkling multiple clean guitars through your speakers or pods, you will be swept away by its melancholy. Before you know it Keith Latinen, well known from his former, genre defining band Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) jumps head first into an instrumental, soaring upbeat part of Mineral-esque or Penfold-ish intensity that sets the stage for a partly twinkly, partly head-nodding and beautifully told story of childhood nostalgia, as if JD Salinger and Douglas Coupland had a love child, a short story, so vivid, you can almost grasp it. The seemingly everyday setting lulls you in, only to break your heart with its final sentence, fully revealing this is about more than nostalgia.   On the flipside Daniel Becker takes over the narrative of loss and abandonment and turns loss into letting go, and nostalgia into sad acceptance. His first song „Field of View“ is a brooding, slow paced testimony of a man who is beginning to make peace with ending a fight that can’t be won, for the sake of staying healthy, staying alive, but aware of what made him who he is, for better or worse. The short sophomore song „Hypothetically Speaking I“ serves as a passage into Amid the Old Wounds’ contribution to last year’s split 7“ with Australia’s No Action, picking up sentiments of not being accepted and expressing awareness that the life settings we grow up with are ok – potentially required – to be questioned, in order to provide peace for your inner child.

This may not be your perfect soundtrack to this summer’s open window ride to the beach, but let’s be honest, life isn’t always a ride to the beach, is it? Within many of us lies sadness, lies anger, and very often these are symptoms of trauma response caused by loss or negligence, among others. So if you find yourself dealing with sadness, this record might provide one thought that could be most instrumental in getting through: You are not alone.

Rounded off with remarkably detailed artwork, specifically handdrawn by Tommy Lester aka Diddums Doodles (most prominently known for his work for Chalk Hands) this 7“ will be available September 19th 2024.

Press write up by Magnus Jaschke.

Co- release with Count Your Lucky Stars, Rufen Publishings, Shove Records, Slow Down Records, Civic Duty, Time as a Color, Friendly Otter, strictly no capital records, and New Knee Records.

Amid The Old Wounds - Hypothetically Speaking I

Amid The Old Wounds - Field Of View Digital

Mt. Oriander - You Chip Away Everything That Isn't An Elephant

It's been nearly a decade since the last Count Your Lucky Stars 4-way split (the last one dropped 7/3/15), but it's hard to let a good thing die. For those of you new to the series (or those of you who need a refresher), each split features four bands with an exclusive song each. Previous splits featured emo-revival stables like Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate), Dikembe, Dowsing, Hightide Hotel, and Two Knights, among others. 

The fifth and newest entry returns featuring the cornerstones of the new Count Your Lucky Stars stable- Camp Trash, Expert Timing, Mt. Oriander, and Thank You, I'm Sorry. Each entry carries the hallmarks of what that band is known best for. On Camp Trash's 'Friendship America', we have a rowdy poppy indie song that crushes and crashes and refuses to let up the entire tune. Expert Timing's 'Sudden Glow' shows why they are the greatest hidden-gem of indie/punk world, writing anthems that should be blaring out of every stereo as they support the next big thing before becoming the next big thing. Mt. Oriander slow things down with easily the most sobering song on the collection with soulful guitars and soulful vocals that morn the loss of life of a close loved one. Thank you, I'm Sorry close the split with a wistful tune 'Snow Window' that feels like the cherry on top with it's full-blown indie pop leanings and synths that wrap you up like a blanket and lull you to sleep. 

No other bands could have revived the series as well as these. Four great songs that you won't find anywhere else.

The fifth entry of the CYLS Split Series drops 10/25 digitally and on vinyl. Available on black vinyl, comes with instant download the day of release.

Thank You, I'm Sorry- Snow Window

Mt. Oriander-Everything Is Connected, but Nothing Is Working

Expert Timing-  Sudden Glow

Camp Trash- Friendship America

Be Safe accomplish a rare feat in that they actually embody what their band name evokes- a feeling of safety that seems to wrap around you like a warm blanket during the middle of a snowstorm in winter while their music keeps you snug. With deeply personal lyrics that drive a story and a delicate soundtrack that paints each scene, Be Safe carry themselves with the pedigree of a band that has been there and is comfortable with their craft. Features members of Perfect Future.

Available now for the first time on vinyl. Vinyl co-release with (Best Brother Records (USA), Fonoradar Records (Poland), Rufen Publishings (Japan), Slow Down Records (Norway), strictly no capital letters (UK), and Time as a Color (Germany).

Be Safe- To Suffer

Count Your Lucky Stars is a record label based out of Fenton, Michigan.  You can visit us at www.cylsrecords.com.  <3

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