Album Notes

Portland’s Willamette Week has declared Dan Jones “the most clever and ingratiating pop-rock singer-songwriter under the summer sun” and that "any given verse of his songs packs more wit than a roomful of singer-songwriters could muster in a month of open mikes.” After three stellar solo albums and a fourth with his indie collective The Squids, Jones is fronting a new combo: The Golden Motors. On their debut blast of postpunk rock, the songcraft is up front, the guitars are loud, and multiple decades of underground rock are jammed into one psychedelic punky-garage rock and and roll tour-de-force. SST bands, 60’s pop, the twining lines of Crazy Horse, the open tune folk-drone of Sonic Youth and midwest alt-rock--it’s all here on yet another great record penned by Eugene, Oregon’s under-the-radar gem, released on his own label, Daily Records.

In 2010, Jones appeared on the Jealous Butcher label's acclaimed Led Zeppelin tribute From The Land of Ice and Snow, and released an e.p. with Eugene folk-rocker Peter Wilde, My Name Is John Smith, produced by Chris Funk (The Decemberists). He also put together The Golden Motors. Catalyzed by bass player Dan Schmid (Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Black Francis) and driven by half of Eugene’s beloved hardcore outfit Pass Out Kings (Scott K on guitar and Jivan Valpey on drums), The Motors deliver Jones’ songs in their heaviest incarnation yet. Transcending the trends-du-jour without turning retro--it’s a great band, and it’s about the songs. The band’s first year included local bills with postpunk legends Mike Watt and Calvin Johnson as well as contemporary indie bands Telekenisis and Boats.