Patrick Bloom's MySpace Blog

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Tuesday, September 01, 2009

New Patrick Bloom album, Ghosts of Radio, now available!
Category: Music

The release and radio shows have died down, my daughter has successfully started kindergarten, and the weather has turned cooler in Iowa. So here's that update I promised earlier...

The new album is now available online.

Yes, I wrote it. It's true. There were some issues, mind you. CD Baby, the retailer whom I use for sales, came under new ownership, redesigned their website, and everything went *kablooey*. They were finally able to get things operational though, so all is peachy. Ghosts of Radio' is now available for 11.99 on CD, or 5.99 via digital download. Here's what folk are saying:

Diana Nollen of The Gazette:

On his blog, the Iowa City singer/songwriter/ guitar player describes his latest work as "an album about paranoia, sex, disillusion, loss, death, scandal, whimsy and reckoning. No normal dang love songs for me, no sir. Iowa has a way of twisting a soul in the wind. Must be the tornadoes." That's just a tiny window into the talent Bloom puts into the nine songs shimmering on "Ghosts." The dark themes are there -- they're just tucked so neatly into rootsy rhythms and melodies that flow so sweetly into your ears.
(read entire review here)

Jim Musser of the Iowa City Press-Citizen:

Taking its name from Bloom's flexible, elegant backing band, "Ghosts of Radio" picks up where his excellent "Moses" left off, further exploring wistful, deliciously melancholic memory with a cinematic eye for detail and a poet's touch... Front to back, it's a richly appointed, masterful record.
(read entire review here)

So dem's the word thus far. If you're so inclined, you can also find the album in the 'Store' tab on my Facebook page. Radio promotion starts in the next month. Leaves will drop and Iowa will become the most beautiful place on earth. And I will watch Flight of the Conchords and snicker knowingly.

1:20 AM

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Friday, August 21, 2009

Ghosts of Radio reviewed by The Gazette
Category: Music

Another kind review has landed. The wonderful Diana Nollen of The Gazette penned the following:

Aug. 14--IOWA CITY
Patrick Bloom has created more poetry in motion with "Ghosts of Radio."
CD REVIEW

On his blog, the Iowa City singer/songwriter/ guitar player describes his latest work as "an album about paranoia, sex, disillusion, loss, death, scandal, whimsy and reckoning. No normal dang love songs for me, no sir. Iowa has a way of twisting a soul in the wind. Must be the tornadoes." That's just a tiny window into the talent Bloom puts into the nine songs shimmering on "Ghosts." The dark themes are there -- they're just tucked so neatly into rootsy rhythms and melodies that flow so sweetly into your ears.

The first cut, "Minnesota," displays his crystal-clear vocal -- and storytelling style, set to an easy, loping beat that mirrors the journey he's describing.

A little farther down the road is "Rosalie," with lyrics that spit fire, wrapped in a light dance that evokes memories of couples moving like tops around a wooden plank dance floor that doubles as a roller rink by day.

Wonderful analogies weave through "Red Dodge Dart," fueled with saxophone, trombone and trumpet. It's a funny, funky breakup song using the same hooks to bemoan the loss of a favorite girl and a favorite car.

"Sycamore Tree" is the one that catches you off guard. While the quiet beat and sparse instrumentals swing lightly with the lyrics, what swings from that tree is the album's darkest theme. "Oh My Soul" captures Bloom's flair for sprinkling his music with regional references. Anyone who's been awakened too early by a rooster will applaud this bluesy song with a knowing nod.

Thanks Diana!

10:28 PM

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Saturday, August 15, 2009

Review of 'Ghosts of Radio' in Iowa City Press Citizen
Category: Music

Here's the first of the reviews for the new album from Jim Musser of the Iowa City Press-Citizen, and it's not a bad start:

A pop classicist of the first order, singer/songwriter Patrick Bloom readily evokes mid-period Paul Simon with his sweet, liquid tenor and seemingly effortless lilting tunefulness; that cozy sonic neighborhood remains home base for much of his third solo disc, but he is not chained to it.

Taking its name from Bloom's flexible, elegant backing band, "Ghosts of Radio" picks up where his excellent "Moses" left off, further exploring wistful, deliciously melancholic memory with a cinematic eye for detail and a poet's touch.

Bracingly punctuated with deft guitar figures by Eric Straumanis (whose playing delights throughout), the opening "Minnesota" is a loping, easy-rolling folk-rock gem, while "Union Suit" approximates Simon massaging a Neil Young country-rocker.

The war-torn, elegiac "Prophetstown" yields to a bemused, bittersweet "Rosalie," whose hints of The Band's music hall sensibilities escalate into full "Basement Tapes"-era junk-trap glory on the hilarious "Red Dodge Dart."

"Idle Signs of Summer," with its colorful, daft'n'randy small-town vignettes and infectious chorus, is a minor masterpiece, the feisty, slightly nutty "Oh My Soul" conjures a Terry Adams (NRBQ) fever dream, and the closing "Baltimore" celebrates a peculiar spin on Death's release.

Front to back, it's a richly appointed, masterful record.

1:00 AM

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Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The new website is active!
Category: Music

Yuppers, after a lot of work, the Patrick Bloom website is ready to roll. Please send word if anything doesn't seem to be working properly.

Currently listening:
The Reminder
By Feist
Release date: 2007-05-01

3:30 AM

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Sunday, August 09, 2009

August... New Album!
Category: Music

Hiya Earthlings,

It's been a while, eh? Indeed. There's been a lot of work going on, but nothing really to announce. Until now. Now there's a lot to announce. Here goes...

-New album

Indeed, after a long wait it's finally here. The new album is titled 'Ghosts of Radio', after the wonderful group that backs me up in full band shows and times of crisis. (Everyone should have a back-up band, whether or not they play music. As a matter of fact, we should all have a soundtrack as well). This new album is looser than the previous ones, and it even has a horn section. I'm describing it as an album about paranoia, sex, disillusion, loss, death, scandal, whimsy, and reckoning. No normal dang love songs for me, no sir. Iowa has a way of twisting a soul in the wind. Must be the tornadoes.

But I digress... you can hear the new songs in their entirety on my Facebook page . The physical album is not available for sale online as of yet, but it's in process and I'll send out a little note when it's official. Should be soon. In the meanwhile, it is available for full download at Digstation. Please note that anyone on this mailing list can download the new album 'Ghosts of Radio' or the previous release 'Moses' from Digstation for just $5... send a note my way and I'll send back a super-snazzy code that bypasses the official Digstation retail price. Shazam.

-CD Release show!

Saturday, 8/15 at The Mill in Iowa City. The magnificent band The Mayflies open the evening at 9:00 pm (more about them below). Please attend if you're in the area and you can score a new 'Patrick Bloom & Ghosts of Radio' t-shirt. They're great for cleaning up beer from your carpets. Also later this month will be two live radio shows, both of which can be heard on line if you like.

-New website (soon).

I've been working on a total site redesign for the website, and I'll also send word when this is done. Included in the redesign will be an oft-requested 'lyrics' page, and detailed info on each album, including full streaming audio for the new album. Did I mention that you can hear it on my Facebook page? Just hit the Music tab, and the first 9 songs on that list are the new album.

-Facebook

Of course. How could I not? If y'all would like to be my pal on Facebook, I'd be honored. The link, in case you didn't catch it earlier is here. I should note that this link is specifically for my active music page... there is another Patrick Bloom page that will be taken off line after the 15th, so please be sure to jump on the new one if you're currently in my Facebook family.

-Twitter

Geek out, yo: http://twitter.com/patrickbloom

-MySpace

Ok, I've had this for a while, but I figured that I should mention it in the company of Twitter and Facebook, because that's what nerds do: http://www.myspace.com/patrickbloom

-The Mayflies record several Bloom tunes!

The aforementioned band The Mayflies used to be home for me. I left in 2004, but they've continued growing and have become outrageously good (probably due, in part, to my departure). They recently released their new album entitled 'A Thousand Small Things', after a line from one of their songs that happens to be written by me. In all, 5 of the 10 tunes on the album were penned by yours truly, and I'm a proud daddy. You can listen, download, or buy their album here.

That may be everything for now. I haven't been so great about blogging in a responsible fashion, but I'm attempting to do consistent updates on both Twitter and Facebook. Feel free to drop word my way though either of those forums, or just send a regular email. Or get totally whack and say hello in person.

Currently listening:
Blue
By Joni Mitchell
Release date: 2008-12-10

12:52 AM

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Thursday, April 02, 2009

April shiz.

It's been a week. Ol' Mother Nature has been messing with us Iowans, throwing Spring in our faces and then tragically ripping it away just as we're getting excited. (Is she mean, or does she just have a very dry sense of humor?) A good pal of mine, one of my favorite people in the world, is not as well as could be, and that's placed quite a damper upon things. I thought that my 15 year old cat was dying, etc.

But then, I'm also living in one of the prettiest places around. Said pal will avoid long-term un-wellness and I hope that we shall celebrate with key lime pie and friends endlessly. And my cat did not die. So see? Not so pessimistic after all, eh?

Musically, I've mostly been recording. In this last week both Randall Davis has been in to record some electric guitar and David Zollo has done his piano magic on the album, and the whole thing is starting to take shape. Plans are, right now anyway, for a late Spring release. Then my life disappears into the endless void of radio promotion. The album will be looser and more playful than Moses was, yet it will still maintain that ironic hopelessness that you love so much. I kid... it really won't be so ironic.

A recent feature in the quarterly magazine Off Deadline focused on Mud Dauber Records, the label that I and several other musicians call home, and how it carries over into my day to day life with family and all. Unfortunately the magazine left out the photo series of me riding my rare collection of racing goats, so that'll probably kill my indie cred. You can read the story here.

Currently watching:
Pushing Daisies - The Complete First Season
Release date: 2008-09-16

5:35 AM

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Monday, March 23, 2009

Prophetstown
Category: Music

Work continues on the new album. There has been loads of frustration and I'm behind schedule, but things are starting to sound worthy of being heard by other folks. Megan Valencia threw down organ for a couple of days. And by "threw down", I mean she beat the living hell out of the thing and sent it limping from the studio. Here is her smiling face:

That was during our session at Minstrel Studios in Iowa City. Then I jumped over the Flat Black Studios to start some editing and acoustic guitar work. Luke Tweedy is the man behind Flat Black, and he's a gem. Fast, professional, great ears, great microphones. Here's a picture of Prophetstown in action ("oooooh"):

I head back in this week to pile on vocals and additional guitars. My pals Randall Davis and David Zollo will be in soon to add yet more guitar and keys to the thing, Katharine Ruestow of The Diplomats will wail some harmonies, and then we shall see what we have.

On a different note, there's a website called OurStage... it's a bit of a social networking site, but for music. Artists can enter songs into various contests every month, vote for songs, network, etc. I tend not to use this site very much, but Heaven On The Radio has seemingly randomly shown up at #2 for the month on their Americana/Alt.Country chart. I suppose that I wouldn't mind hitting #1, so if y'all would be inclined to get involved and vote, you can do so here.

Now that I've effectively pimped myself out, here are the lyrics for the previously mentioned Prophetstown, named after the fine locale in Illinois. I've been getting lyric requests, but just send a note my way if it becomes overbearing.

PROPHETSTOWN

a river runs hard with rain a broken vein beneath the sky
a cannon stands dead and proud beside the bell of Prophetstown

the Indian Wars of ’32 brought Lincoln through swimming in blood
he took a torch and left the night baptized in light and ash and mud

everybody burn another one
our heroes turn once again once again
we’ll watch the starry sky fall down in Prophetstown

the Civil War betrayed her men housed them like wrens inside her breast
they shuffled off their beds turned down leaving their hearts in Prophetstown

everybody burn another one
our heroes turn once again once again
we’ll watch the starry sky fall down in Prophetstown

now all the boys with bloodshot eyes and muscle cars hypothesize
how it might feel to kiss a girl and leave their world drunk and alive

everybody burn another one
our heroes turn once again once again
we’ll watch the starry sky fall down on Prophetstown
on Prophetstown

Currently listening:
Ruby Vroom
By Soul Coughing
Release date: 1994-09-27

4:33 AM

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Friday, March 06, 2009

Socially speaking...
Category: Music

Wow. It's March already? March. How did that happen?

Firstly, a heads-up for the kind folks on my email list. I'm moving the email service from Google over the ReverbNation. Google has been fine, but it's higher-maintenance than I'd like, and the sign-up process is a bit bulky. ReverbNation won't really do much different for you as an end-reader, but it will look prettier, and it'll make MY life easier. It is, after all, all about me.

So things have been quiet with me. Mostly I've been doing life. Life has been cold, but good. My daughter is sprouting, my wife has been sick, my cats have been loud. And I'll be taking a break from all of this to head back into the studio this month and finish another CD.

Interesting thing about that... the CD is dying. I use iTunes almost exclusively to listen to music, but I still purchase CDs as the source of that music. In general, folks have started using downloads as the main way to source music, legally or otherwise, even from us indie artists. Yet we still manufacture thousands of these things because... well, because we have to. Radio stations, except for a very small (and, I suppose, growing) number, all require CDs for radio play, as do most press outlets. So we print 'em and send 'em and sell 'em, (that last part in shrinking amounts). Eventually, I imagine everything will remain primarily on-line, and even more cool little record stores will close.

I suppose that the bright spot in this scenario is that music has become more democratized than ever, and discovery points for great music has become plentiful, even if it's buried in other less-interesting stuff. No moral to be taken from this for me, but it's definitely interesting. (Oh, and you can purchase amazing vinyl for 5¢ at garage sales).

And speaking of discovery points, all of us musical types are jumping on the social network bandwagon. Me too, though quite reluctantly. Even ReverbNation is a bit of social network, but it's more a tool. Like me. Anyways, here's where y'all can find me:

Main sites...
MySpace
Facebook
Twitter (yup, Twitter)

Secondary sites (mostly musical, and completely self-indulgant):
Last FM
iLike

Deep, collective sigh. That feels better.

3:34 AM

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Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Charting
Category: Music

Well, looks like Moses has charted again. This time the album reached 6 on the Freeform American Roots chart for the month of August. The FAR chart is compiled for 3rd Coast Music Magazine out of Texas, and 3rd Coast describes the chart as "real music played for real people by real DJs". I'm flattered.

The folks who report to the chart are running radio programs nationally and internationally, and they're definitely a independent bunch. Responses definitely varied. Some folks passed on the album. One DJ played the album despite being "irked" by me voice. A few featured the album as a current fave and some even became MySpace pals with me. Strange world. I'm sure I've also inadvertently contributed heavily to the world's supply of coasters (everybody loves a cold beverage).

Thanks for the fine feathered support.

Currently listening:
The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend
By Baby Huey
Release date: 2006-03-16

2:08 AM

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