The second self-titled album by Pennsylvania indie-rock trio Good Old War is at its lush heart, an album of immense growth. A natural evolution from the band's debut Only Way to Be Alone (Sargent House), Good Old War radiates with warmth and vulnerability, both qualities undoubtedly cultivated by the band's hands-on self-production, and the environment of solitude in which the album was created.
Holed up in a remote house in the Pocono Mountains through the white winter month of February 2009, Keith Goodwin (vocalist/guitarist), Dan Schwartz (vocalist/guitarist), and Tim Arnold (vocalist/drummer) coalesced into a dynamic harmonious unit, using their time in complete isolation to explore new approaches to their music-making process: they learned new instruments; they wrote about subjects like love, loss, and addiction; they explored musical conventions far outside indie rock/ folk territory.
Good Old War's sophomore album doesn't just maintain the intricate vocal harmonies, infectious sing-along melodies, and pop-song writing foundation of Only Way To Be Alone, it expands them. The results are a collection of songs that could translate from a living room to an arena without losing their heartbeat. Since their conception two years ago, GOOD OLD WAR has shared the stage with The Gaslight Anthem, Heartless Bastards, Anthony Green, RX Bandits and The Honorary Title.
The band recently completed a tour with Circa Survive, appeared at Austin’s SXSW Music Conference, the MACRoCk festival in Virginia on April 2nd and The Bamboozle festival in New Jersey in May. Their single "Coney Island" enjoyed Triple-A airplay and the video was in heavy rotation on MTVu. A UK press campaign is now underway with reviews expected in Mojo, Uncut, NME, The Broadsheets, Rocksound, Clash, Word and more.
Reviews
“In some ways, the trio could be Philadelphia's answer to Fleet Foxes: magnificent three-part vocal harmonies (inspired by Simon & Garfunkel and CSNY) draped over rustic, sly-but-catchy acoustic melodies fashioned out of guitars, accordion, piano, and subtle percussion.” - Seattle Weekly feature
“Good Old War has the feel of a group of musicians settling in and coming into their own, fully embodying the idea of being a band” - Alternative Press full page Review/Interview
“Every song reiterates the fact that Good Old War is a band with melodic and harmonic genius. Their voices all complement one another, but they are also strong enough to stand alone” - Stereo Subversion Review [9/10]
“Good Old War is a rising star in the indie folk world, and consistency is their strong suit, as every song on the fifteen-track album ranges from good to fantastic. And the release date couldn’t be better; Good Old War is the indie fan’s feel-good summer album of 2010.” - Sputnik Music Review
“Good Old War has captivated me from the moment I heard Coney Island. With their follow-up, Good Old War, I’m obviously still enamored. The trio’s exploration of various sounds of style and are cause enough to say Good Old War is a warranted step above Only Way To Be Alone.” - Tastemaker Magazine Review
