What does it sound like to be in love?

Gold-Bears formed in 2010 when Jeremy Underwood recruited a few friends to play songs he’d stockpiled since the demise of his former band, Plastic Mastery (555 Recordings/Magic Marker Records). The band quickly released a smashing 7” on Magic Marker Records, recalling the immediacy and urgency of Boyracer or The Wedding Present melding with the pop sensibilities of Slumberland contemporaries like Summer Cats and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. They expanded their sound a bit on their next release ( a 4-song 7” on Miami-based indie pop imprint Cloudberry Records) by stripping away some of the fuzz on one song and adding drone elements a la the Microphones to another while still maintaining their indie punk roots.

After hibernating in their home studio for the winter, Gold-Bears emerge with *Are You Falling In Love?*, an even further expansion of the band’s sound. This 11-song collection of frenzied crash pop, strummy ballads, and syncopated pop dirges is one of the most dynamic indie pop records of recent. In just over 33 minutes Gold-Bears funnels jangly noise pop soundscapes through the energy of Titus Andronicus’ punk anthems, and even manage to give us a few reprieves for slower tunesthat showcase Underwood's more sincere vocals.

The album kicks off with “Record Store,” a song so full of infectious spirit that it seems like the rhythm section can hardly keep up. “Record Store” segues seamlessly into “All Those Years,” one of the catchiest, poppiest songs in their repertoire. From the initial “ba ba bas” to the sugary sweet harmonies provided by Kristine Capua (Very Truly Yours) you instantly know that this song will never leave your head. Smack dab in the middle of the album is the shoegazey “Are You Falling in Love?,” which bowls you over with a thumping bass line, calculated drumming,  guitars that sound like airplanes and bees and lush violins. Toward the end of the album we hear “Xmas Song,” a song about the insecurities of love set to the tune of a crash pop classic, rife with feedback and fuzz that’ll fit nicely on your mixtape following This Poison! or Neutral Milk Hotel, depending on who you are trying to impress.

The 11 songs on this album are brimming with gentle majesty and fervent energy. Whether you follow the stories in the lyrics of the songs or bop around your room to the jangly guitars, this album will surely remain on your turntable for months. Because after all, you have, indeed, fallen in love… with Gold-Bears.


Gold-Bears - Totally Called It

"Wordless Wonder" is the long awaited full length from Real Numbers.  It follows up a pair of 12" EPs on Three Dimensional Records, a single on Florida's Dying, and recent appearances on cassettes from Forged Artifacts and No Problem.  Tenderly crafted by Matt Castore at his St. Paul, MN studio A Harder Commune from late 2015 to early 2016, it is presented here on Slumberland Records for your enjoyment.

Members of the band include Eli Hansen (Cozy, Boys Club, Retainers) on vocals and guitars, John Eggerman (Cozy, Private Interests, Mystery Date) on bass, and James Blackfield (France Camp, Nice Purse) on drums. The addition of full time lead guitar player Ian Nygaard (Nice Purse, Howler) reveals a much fuller sound while maintaining the band's trademark DIY simplicity. 

As for the songs... The three chords of "Falling Out" sparkle with layered melodies reinforcing the poignant tale of an embarrassed boy having to explain to his parents why he fell out of a car.  Other contemplative topics include the Television Personalities' fall from John Peel's good graces ("Frank Infatuation"), 60's biker flicks ("Just So Far Away") and a Welshman's infidelity ("Only Two Can Play"). Throughout the album, happy harmonies intermingle with sadness-laced larks. The title track, an introspective meta-composition about the frustrations of lyrical penmanship, rewards the astute listener with light pleasantries.

Tracking was a layered affair with a focus on guitars. "We wanted something different than previous releases which had a very 'live' production," explains Eli. This was accomplished by doubling most rhythm tracks, stacking leads and - on a few songs - adding a 12-string acoustic, Eli's "new favorite instrument." Continuing their flirtations with keys (see the solo on 2013's "Ordeal") Matt Castore's wind organ closes side one, while Eli's childhood Casio SK-1 adds depth to the side two closer "This Happy Sadness" - a song simultaneously about a mix-tape, failing relationships, and Matt Haynes' pre-Sarah fanzine "Are You Scared To Get Happy."

Real Numbers made their debut East coast rounds last summer and are planning a return trip in September.  Previous jaunts have consisted of Gonerfest (2011), SXSW (2013), UK/Europe (2010 & 2011) and Japan (2013 & 2014).  An Australian tour in 2013 yielded such tremendous opportunities as lawn bowling with The Stevens, performing live on FBI Radio, crashing at Gooch Manor, and having Shorty and Joe from Royal Headache fill in on drums and guitar.

"Wordless Wonder" will be released by Slumberland records on October 14, 2016.

Wordless Wonder

Real Numbers - This Happy Sadness

Real Numbers - Sister's Serving Tray

Real Numbers - Public Domain

Order LP/CD: http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/catalog/show/307
Order iTunes: http://smarturl.it/wordlessitunes

"Wordless Wonder" is the long awaited full length from Real Numbers.  It follows up a pair of 12" EPs on Three Dimensional Records, a single on Florida's Dying, and recent appearances on cassettes from Forged Artifacts and No Problem.  Tenderly crafted by Matt Castore at his St. Paul, MN studio A Harder Commune from late 2015 to early 2016, it is presented here on Slumberland Records for your enjoyment.

Buy LP/CD

Real Numbers - New Boy

Real Numbers - Falling Out

Real Numbers - Only Two Can Play

Real Numbers - Wordless Wonder

Order LP/CD: http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/catalog/show/307
Order iTunes: http://smarturl.it/wordlessitunes

"Wordless Wonder" is the long awaited full length from Real Numbers.  It follows up a pair of 12" EPs on Three Dimensional Records, a single on Florida's Dying, and recent appearances on cassettes from Forged Artifacts and No Problem.  Tenderly crafted by Matt Castore at his St. Paul, MN studio A Harder Commune from late 2015 to early 2016, it is presented here on Slumberland Records for your enjoyment.

Members of the band include Eli Hansen (Cozy, Boys Club, Retainers) on vocals and guitars, John Eggerman (Cozy, Private Interests, Mystery Date) on bass, and James Blackfield (France Camp, Nice Purse) on drums. The addition of full time lead guitar player Ian Nygaard (Nice Purse, Howler) reveals a much fuller sound while maintaining the band's trademark DIY simplicity. 

As for the songs... The three chords of "Falling Out" sparkle with layered melodies reinforcing the poignant tale of an embarrassed boy having to explain to his parents why he fell out of a car.  Other contemplative topics include the Television Personalities' fall from John Peel's good graces ("Frank Infatuation"), 60's biker flicks ("Just So Far Away") and a Welshman's infidelity ("Only Two Can Play"). Throughout the album, happy harmonies intermingle with sadness-laced larks. The title track, an introspective meta-composition about the frustrations of lyrical penmanship, rewards the astute listener with light pleasantries.

Tracking was a layered affair with a focus on guitars. "We wanted something different than previous releases which had a very 'live' production," explains Eli. This was accomplished by doubling most rhythm tracks, stacking leads and - on a few songs - adding a 12-string acoustic, Eli's "new favorite instrument." Continuing their flirtations with keys (see the solo on 2013's "Ordeal") Matt Castore's wind organ closes side one, while Eli's childhood Casio SK-1 adds depth to the side two closer "This Happy Sadness" - a song simultaneously about a mix-tape, failing relationships, and Matt Haynes' pre-Sarah fanzine "Are You Scared To Get Happy."

Real Numbers made their debut East coast rounds last summer and are planning a return trip in September.  Previous jaunts have consisted of Gonerfest (2011), SXSW (2013), UK/Europe (2010 & 2011) and Japan (2013 & 2014).  An Australian tour in 2013 yielded such tremendous opportunities as lawn bowling with The Stevens, performing live on FBI Radio, crashing at Gooch Manor, and having Shorty and Joe from Royal Headache fill in on drums and guitar.

"Wordless Wonder" will be released by Slumberland records on October 14, 2016.

Real Numbers - Frank Infatuation

English Singles are a staple of Sacramento, CA's excellent DIY pop/punk scene. Featuring members of local legends The Bananas, Nar and Bright Ideas, English Singles mine a rich tradition of DIY pop that stretches from Swell Maps and The Television Personalities through to The McTells and The Sea Lions. Scratchy and home-made (but NOT lo-fi!), English Singles take pop back to the basics of catchy tunes, urgent guitars and sing-along choruses. Their live shows are frenetic and impassioned, with lead Single Scott Miller often seen wading into the crowd for some quality face-time with the fans.

Following up two fine singles on Slumberland and Squirmy, English Singles are back with this excellent three song EP. "Ordinary Girls" is a fine mid-tempo tune with a stick-in-your-head vocal melody and ace 12-string guitar leads. "Bitter End" is one of the band's earliest songs and live favorite, full of jittery guitars and rough-and-ready drums. The EP is rounded out by "Rain," a perfect slice of power-pop that clocks in at a brisk 1:53 but doesn't sacrifice anything in terms of energy, melody or excitement.


English Singles - Ordinary Girls

Slumberland began operations in 1989 as a collective effort consisting of members of DC area bands Velocity Girl, Big Jesus Trash Can/Whorl, Black Tambourine and Powderburns. We were inspired by such musical happenings as C86, early Creation, Postcard, K, Bus Stop, lower East Side noise, and also the renegade art aesthetics & methods of people like Cage, Burroughs and Duchamp. The explosion of punk had left behind a thriving network of 'zines, labels and distributors and we felt that there was room for our noise-loving, pop-obsessed aesthetic. While there were loads of US indie labels releasing a steady stream of 7"s, there wasn't much pop going on. Notable exceptions included Bus Stop, K and Picture Book, and we hoped to join that group and help chisel out some space for melodies amongst the noise.

Early releases from Velocity Girl, Whorl and Black Tambourine struck a note, and we found like-minded popsters getting in touch from all over the world. As we expanded the label roster and our own horizons, the goal was always to share great songs and interesting sounds from a range of styles. Our first burst of activity through the 1990s and early 2000s brought seminal records by legendary bands like Stereolab, Rocketship, The Ropers, Lorelei, The Aislers Set, Hood and Boyracer.

By the mid 2000s we were seeing a resurgence of interest in guitar pop and the start of the ongoing vinyl revival: the perfect environment for Slumberland! We launched into our latest phase of activity with as string of classic releases from The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, Crystal Stilts, Frankie Rose, Veronica Falls, Allo Darlin', Joanna Gruesome and so many more.

2025 is our thirty-sixth (!) year we are still at it, ploughing our own furrow and bringing you unique, genre-defining (and genre-defying!) releases from bands like The Laughing Chimes, Humdrum, The Cords, Autocamper, Jeanines, The Umbrellas, Neutrals, Artsick, Kids On A Crime Spree, Papercuts, Lightheaded, Tony Jay, Chime School, Lunchbox and many, many more. Indie fashions come and go but we're still thrilled by great songs and the new ways that pop can be rejuvenated to fit the times.

Popular tracks tagged #crash-pop