Mark Goodman (songwriter/frontman) on "Which Way":

Matt Wilson, formerly of Trip Shakespeare and currently of The Flops, produced Magnet's second album Which Way. He helped create a vintage rock/pop sound by using mellotron, guitar hooks, and walls of backing vocals.

Which Way was a "Modern Rock" hit in some cities, but the label (PC Music) could not afford the payola to make it a national hit. Oh well. They tried.

I had a great time making this album at Zippah Studios in Boston. We used tons of vintage gear, and it was great to hear Matt come up with hooks and backing vocals. Its a very different vibe from the Velvet Underground feel of the first album, Don't Be a Penguin.

M

Which Way

Songs For Soundtracks is a collection of Magnet songs from four previously released albums; Don't Be a Penguin, Which Way, Shark Bait, and Caffeine Superstar. Mark Goodman formed Magnet in 1996 when he recruited Moe Tucker, the legendary drummer from the Velvet Underground to play on Magnet's debut album, Don't Be a Penguin. You can hear Moe drumming on Julie, Blame, Down Down, and Banger from Penguin and on The Saddest Song from Shark Bait, Magnetâ€™s 3rd album.

Matt Wilson (Trip Shakespeare,The Flops) produced Magnet's 2nd album, Which Way. Matt took simple indie pop tunes and created full, layered sounds with guitar, keys, melotron and backing vocals. Which Way and Tree Limb are included from the Which Way EP.

David Lowery (Camper van Beethoven, Cracker) produced Magnet's 3rd album, Shark Bait at his studio, Sound of Music. Lowery recruited Bob Rupe, Johnny Hickman from Cracker and Bryan Harvey from House of Freaks to play on the album. Jonathan Segel, Camper Van's violin player, contributed to Shark Bait as well. Songs For Soundtracks includes The Saddest Song, Rope and Rule Me from Shark Bait.

Caffeine Superstar, the 4th Magnet album, featured a mellower, dreamy pop sound with Chris Lovejoy (Charley Hunter) on drums and Victor Krummenacher (Camper) on bass. Paul Bauman (Carpbrain) and Steve Schiltz (Longwave) added tasty guitar flavors. Feel No Pain, Over Easy, Best Way Down and I See come from Caffeine Superstar.

Songs For Soundtracks is dedicated to the memory of Bryan Harvey who was murdered in early 2006.

Tree Limb

Mark Goodman (frontman of Magnet) on "Don't Be A Penguin": 

Don't Be a Penguin is the first of four Magnet albums. It features the drumming of Moe Tucker from the Velvet Underground. The songs were written around her classic stand-up style of drumming, and they range from a driving sound like "Julie" to a mellow country vibe on "Banger." Moe enjoyed recording the album and liked the final product enough to go out and do a couple of tours with Magnet in 1997.

"Summer & Winter" is a cover of an Anne Summers song that features a duet with Moe...."You once told me you'd save the world...You once told me...you'd marry Traci Lords.."

If you are a fan of the Velvet Underground, I hope you will appreciate this album.

M 

Julie

Mark Goodman (frontman of Magnet) on "Don't Be A Penguin":

Don't Be a Penguin is the first of four Magnet albums. It features the drumming of Moe Tucker from the Velvet Underground. The songs were written around her classic stand-up style of drumming, and they range from a driving sound like "Julie" to a mellow country vibe on "Banger." Moe enjoyed recording the album and liked the final product enough to go out and do a couple of tours with Magnet in 1997.

"Summer & Winter" is a cover of an Anne Summers song that features a duet with Moe...."You once told me you'd save the world...You once told me...you'd marry Traci Lords.."

If you are a fan of the Velvet Underground, I hope you will appreciate this album.

M


Down Down

Mark Goodman (Magnet frontman) on the Shark Bait album:

Shark Bait is Magnet's third album. David Lowery from Cracker and Camper van Beethoven produced the album at his studio, Sound of Music, in Richmond. He recruited some local friends and bandmates, Johnny Hickman and Bob Rupe from Cracker and Jonathan Segal from Camper to help create an eclectic array of sounds. The album features the guitar playing of Bryan Harvey (ex-House of Freaks and Gutterball).

The sounds range from the very mellow atmospheric "Rule Me" to the harder hitting "Rope." We used some fun studio tricks like recording on micro-cassete to get tape warble. "Shave Your Head" has a nice drum loop, pop chorus, and assorted odd sounds - and the album closes with the Morphine cover of "The Saddest Song" - featuring Moe Tucker on drums and an eerie falsetto vocal double.

M

Shave Your Head

Mark Goodman's band Magnet released 4 albums and one greatest hits compilation in the 1990's. He recorded and toured with the Velvet Underground's Moe Tucker, worked with Camper Van Beethoven's David Lowery, and toured the U.S. extensively. 

MTV on Moe Tucker joining Magnet
http://www.mtv.com/news/509577/former-velvet-moe-tucker-tours-with-magnet/



Magnet (the band)

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