The All Golden

Kent, OH's the All Golden formed in fall 1999 when Chris Sheehan and Scott Bennett left their previous indie rock incarnations behind to form an experimental outfit. Bennett had spent time chiefing duties at Waterloo Sound Recording and engineering albums for the likes of Harriet the Spy, Gem, and the Revelers. He also tweaked the Witch Hazel Sound's 1998 album It's All True and met Sheehan. Both shared a love for Joy Division, Sonic Youth, and the like and recorded a 7" entitled "Velikovsky." "This Guitar's Gone to Heaven" single followed on the fledgling Bubblegum Smile label in spring 2000, while the All Golden gained praise from college radio and indie press. BBC Radio 1 host Steve Lamacq also featured "This Guitar's Gone to Heaven" on his evening session show. By 2001 and with plenty of praise from indie raves across the globe, the duo was back at Bennett's Waterloo Sound recording songs for a full-length studio effort. The Witch Hazel Sound's Kevin Coral assisted in production and the Flying Carpet People's Craig Lisik (drums) and Harriet the Spy's Dave Neeson (bass) joined the band. Neeson's stay was brief, for Joel McAdams joined the group just prior to a CMJ Musical Festival showcase in fall 2001. A Long Good Friday (2002) was the fruit of those sessions and the All Golden's crafty pop measured fresh, yet weathered. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide