Video: The Soft Pack, “Answer to Yourself”
- story Matthew Schnipper
This song, by California punk dudes The Soft Pack, includes the lamenting lyric I think I’m gonna die before I see my time. The video includes them working at a pizza place, delivering pizzas. Can’t remember if that’s existential or something else, some other pre/post-modern mental philosophy that says day-to-day is the same slog forever. Standing on the beach staring at the sand, standing on the beach with a gun in my hand = pizza delivery? It’s not communist, at least, to be like “Working through my life and waiting for that time when I am going to not be working doing this.” So maybe “Answer to Yourself” is Soft Pack’s capitalist manifesto. Think about it. “Answer to yourself,”, do you. This isn’t FUBU—for us by us, it’s FMBM (fumbum?)—for me by me. That’s the point of California, right?—total sunshine enjoyment. Kind of the point of punk—work out your problems on your own. So maybe we’ve de-riddled this: Soft Pack are Buddhist dudes who find value in work, but only hard work that benefits yourself. Or maybe they just got an offer to get some free pizza and were like “Cool, sounds good, we’re hungry.” (via Stereogum)
The Soft Pack, “Answer To Yourself” MP3
- story Peter Macia
- photo Robert Yager (F58)
When we stopped by for some Studio Time with The Soft Pack in New York recently, they still had no title for their new album but seemed in pretty good spirits and sang a little of what’s to come. But today brings the official first listen to the fruits of their labor with producer Eli Janney in the form of new single “Answer To Yourself.” They apparently thought our interview was awkward, so we’ll be “Talking To Ourselves” for the rest of the day. 
Great song though, dudes.
Download: The Soft Pack, “Answer To Yourself” (via NME)
Studio Time with The Soft Pack
- story THE FADER
When we heard quintessential California punk rock band The Soft Pack has come east to record their debut album for Kemado, we were a little surprised they’d want to take the surf from their sound. But when we showed up in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn, they were hunkered down in a basement studio with board wizard Eli Janney, who was the reason for tempting them cross country. We sat with the band (a shy Janney had to make a phone call) to talk about the recording process and what comes next for a lovingly scrappy group named after the weird kind of cigarette box.
New Phoenix Remixes from The Soft Pack and Shuttle
- story Peter Macia
Phoenix supposedly have an entire bonus disc of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix remixes coming out with the deluxe version of the album soon, but unless it’s filled with revisionarisms that will explode planet Earth, it seems the band is willingly giving away that whole bonus disc for free on its own. The newest two are a nuggetfied Soft Pack cover of “Fences” and tropical/funky sounding rework of “Love Like A Sunset” from Passion Pit drummer Nate Donmoyer aka Shuttle, who might have gotten firsthand approval from Phoenix while touring with them recently. Or he just stole shit off their computers. Either way, keep ‘em coming.
Download: Phoenix, “Love Like A Sunset” (Shuttle Remix)
Download: Phoenix, “Fences” (The Soft Pack Remix)
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posted on Oct 5, 2009 in MP3 / STREAMS tags electronic/dance, Passion Pit, Phoenix, rock, Shuttle, The Soft Pack
Video: The Soft Pack, “Down On Loving”
- story Matthew Schnipper
It’s like The Soft Pack wanted to make the polar opposite of their raw powered “Pull Out” live video, so they went to the beach and softened up for “Down On Loving.” Maybe all that pulling out got them down on loving. Ok sorry, but it was too easy. Anyway, “Down on Loving” has the typical nonchalant magnificence of a Soft Pack pop ripper that we hope to see on their upcoming full length, now with the added bonus of a dog being walked through behind them. No way that isn’t one of their proud mamas in a cameo appearance.
Video: The Soft Pack, “Pull Out”
- story Matthew Schnipper
The Soft Pack (née The Muslims) are recording their debut for Kemado in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn this month, and last week we stopped by to hear a little music and talk with them about the process of making their masterpiece—you’ll be able to see that up on FADER TV soon. Until then, check out this live video for simply genius new song, “Pull Out,” which is apparently live but looks like a cable access-era Black Flag music video done in all the colors your eye turns after it gets punched. Really, though, we always thought of The Soft Pack as being like a modern day Misfits, simple surf punk made by California goofballs. As if to prove our (their) point, they are playing in front a sign that says “punky.” The “y” is the secret sauce.
Dubious Decisions Department: The Muslims Change Their Name To The Soft Pack
- story THE FADER
In a confounding move that will go down in history forever (read: some blogs will talk about it briefly), The Muslims have changed their band name to The Soft Pack. Presumably, this is because suddenly a bunch of white dudes calling themselves The Muslims doesn’t seem like such a good idea, but we’re going to go ahead and say the change is the bad idea, especially since “soft pack” reminds us of shitty tasting cookies. We say change it back, and in tribute we are web-publishing our Gen F on THE MUSLIMS from FADER 58, on stands now.
Update: As has been pointed out to us by salty Nikkos, white dudes can be Muslims, too. Good point, but can San Diegans be Muslims?? Heh?
