Christian Music News

In early 2014, cerebral rocker Steve Taylor brought together friends John Mark Painter, Jimmy Abegg and Peter Furler to form Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil, a new band which birthed “one of the nicest surprises of 2014” (WonderingSound). The 11-track giant of an album, appropriately titled Goliath, was funded by a 30-day, $120,000 Kickstarter campaign. On March 31, the album will be released in three different versions – an iTunes exclusive Deluxe Version, vinyl and cassette - by way of Sounds Familyre Records.

The iTunes Deluxe Version will feature three bonus tracks, including an engaging interview with New York Times best-selling author Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz, Scary Close, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.) Both the vinyl and cassette editions will be pressed in multiple colors – green, yellow, orange, violet and pink for the former, and red, yellow and “Splint blue” (named for Taylor’s own indie label) for the latter.

"The decision to release Goliath on cassette is in response to overwhelming demand from our fans, who evidently drive old cars with really crappy stereos,” jokes Taylor, who’s been around long enough to remember the format’s heyday.

"Steve Taylor is a pro and he's just being himself,” raves Sounds Familyre founder Daniel Smith, whose label has been home to artists like Sufjan Stevens, Danielson, and Ben + Vesper. "Listen to that voice... they don't make them like that anymore. Is it possible to be a true rocker, an observer, a lover, and funny as anything? Yup, that's Steve Taylor. We’re thrilled and humbled to be releasing the LP version of this new album."

Smith’s partner Scott Hatch is equally enthusiastic. "I remember seeing Chagall Guevara [Taylor’s original band, who were signed to MCA Records] live in 1991 as a teenager, which was my first time seeing Steve Taylor perform live or hear any of his music. It was truly a watershed moment for me. I'm happy to see Steve return to music with his wry lyrics and energetic approach, and I’m excited do anything I can to release the new album on an unsuspecting public."

Fans, critics and commentators alike have been consistent with their praise of Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil’s bombastic debut. “Late Night With Seth Meyers” bandleader/“Portlandia” co-creator Fred Armisen put out a “public service announcement” on YouTube upon Goliath’s initial release encouraging his fans to check the new band and record out.

Other writers agree on Goliath’s strength, with J. Edward Keys of Wondering Sound noting the project is “wound tight and ready to pounce,” while Dw. Dunphy of PopDose called Goliath “A true rock record... sometimes coiled and waiting to strike, sometimes not waiting at all...one of the best albums of the year.”

In support of the album’s release, the band will tour the U.S. with its first date March 26 in Seattle. Stops at New York’s Webster Hall, Portland’s Alhambra Theatre, and Los Angeles’ Hotel Café are a few of the major markets on the spring run.

Tour Dates Include:
3/26 Seattle, WA - El Corazon
3/27 Portland, OR - The Alhambra Theatre
3/30 Los Angeles, CA - Hotel Café
4/4 Toowoomba, Australia - Easterfest
4/21 New York, NY - Studio @ Webster Hall
4/30 Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Club

More dates will be announced in the coming days.

Bonus Tracks for ‘’Goliath iTunes Deluxe Version:
12. Am I In Sync? (Missing Link Version)
13. Foils on 45
14. “Goliath: A Conversation with Donald Miller & Steve Taylor” [plus secret hidden track]