Songs from a Toxic Apartment

Ethan’s debut album, home recorded and mixed, is a very personal song cycle of longing, rage, and redemption.

“Gold’s emotions are sent into a whirlwind as he asks for salvation and tries to stay motivated as the devil stares him down and his relationships are damaged by sex. The album has a childlike emotional purity to it, but that’s not to say that it’s immature or naïve. Instead, it’s rooted in the fact that children don’t obscure their hurt by anger or bravado or even mock diffidence, as adults often do…. The emotions on Songs From a Toxic Apartment are delivered with an unfiltered, glaring legibility.” – Pitchfork

“Remarkably polished pop… with echoes of Badly Drawn Boy… almost disintegrating Syd-Barrett-isms…. Essential New Music.” – The Sunday Times

“Something rather lovely and rather new from a clearly very talented singer songwriter… I’m playing that one a lot…” – BBC Radio London

“Ricco di esperienze personali…tra l’uso dei synth e uno spirito più rock.” – Indie For Bunnies

“It has that low key sound that adds a great deal of atmosphere to the record, and is all the better for lacking that crystal clear clarity you get from the recording studio…. Songs such as the insomniac anthem ‘Why Don’t You Sleep?’ and the sexual politics of ‘Poison’, are full of intensity. There is a stark honesty to this collection of tracks, with a deep emotional vein that is tapped into continuously….There are moments of beauty in the darkness; a little dazzle in the desolation.” – Fatea Records

“Delicate, subtle and moving album.” – The Music Swamp

“The artwork for this record, much like the music, is an eclectic, unique, strange & awesome journey into the darker sides of life…. As a complete body of work this might be the most interesting record I’ve listened to in the past 5 years.” –Rock N Roll Experience

“Folk rock with… a melodramatic twist…. The dramatic lull of his singing fits perfectly with the music he plays. Each song ties together like a story, yet with a dark side to it…. This is the type of music you want to listen carefully, to be sure to pick up all of the beautifully written lyrics…. The climaxes in some of these songs are really quite amazing…. Will certainly get stuck in your head, but you won’t mind because it’s really that good.” – Revolt

“If you take the time to get to know this man’s music, you will be rewarded…. This album contains plenty of amazing moments…but they are, perhaps, even more amazing when you consider the fact that Gold recorded the entire album by himself. And yet these never sound like solo recordings in the least…. Excellent personalized pop that stands up to dozens upon dozens of spins. TOP PICK.” – BabySue

“You know those songs that start small and slow, slowly building into something astounding? Ethan Gold does, and he plays the game exceedingly well…. The overall effect is cathartic.” – Aiding and Abetting

“These off-kilter pop songs give you solid choruses, good beats, and strong song structure; and when the sound opens up, the album can be unabashedly satisfying.” – Ravings of a Mad Music Man

“Songs From a Toxic Apartment is a remarkable album.” – Sonic Dissonance

“in awe of what the multi-instrumentalist was able to capture in his apartment.” – IGN Music

“Oftentimes songs, or entire albums, can be autobiographical and can offer a brief glimpse into the artists psyche or life experience. It’s a rare occurrence when that glimpse feels truly authentic. One can point to the Reggie and the Full Effect album Last Stop: Crappy Town, Weezer’s Pinkerton and Korn’s Korn as the most encompassing albums that adhere to this instance. Now, we can add Ethan Gold’s Songs from a Toxic Apartment to that list.” – Enter the Shell

“Sounds like the acoustic prowess of Iron & Wine and the lyrical flexibility of Bright Eyes, shaken up with a strong dose of rocking out.” – Last Week’s Album

“Ethan Gold is one massively talented dude and stays away from sappy troubadour-dom by utilizing a wide instrumentation for this project. He even produced, arranged, engineered and mixed everything himself – and it’s not even Mountain Goats fidelity – Gold is able to pull off a deep and clean sound from his many performances. If you know Mull Historical Society or early Badly Drawn Boy, think less quirky and more accessible.” – Ghettoblaster Magazine

“Ethan Gold is a talented multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter whose debut CD, Songs From A Toxic Apartment draws on songs he wrote for various characters in a rock opera about teenage male anger and violence. Gold explores memories and turning points, writing songs where sweet sounds are paired with dark themes and predicaments. It is an ambitious and provocative CD, but one with ultimately positive lessons and hope.” – Behind the Beat

“I reviewed Ethan’s excellent record Songs From a Toxic Apartment for Pitchfork today, which you should definitely own if your music library is lacking in the ‘fucking awesome singer/songwriter’ category.” – Budget Fashionistas

1. (intro)
2. Why Don’t You Sleep?
3. Royal Flush
4. Are We Recording?
5. They Turned Away
6. Poison
7. “That” (reprise)
8. Nonstop
9. Tonight…
10. Come on Beat it Down
11. I.C.U. (toxic)
12. On Edge (celestial porch)
13. To Isis Sleeping

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