Event

Jad Fair and Danielson wsg Rebel Kind

MOCAD is honored to present Jad Fair, an enduringly idiosyncratic artist who has been revered in discerning pockets of the global indie rock underground for decades. Danielson's Daniel Smith has long admired Fair, drawing inspiration from Half Japanese (the band Fair formed with his brother in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the '70s) on through to his prolific career today. Their discussions of collaborating finally came to fruition when Joyful Noise Recordings designated Fair its "Artist In Residence" for 2014 and Danielson was tapped as one of 4 artists to record separate respective albums with him for a boxed-set limited release. "Flattered and honored" is how Smith sums up his feelings about the project -- and grateful to get a game-plan for what always seemed a complementary pairing.

The sweet collaboration produced gleaming tunes of sincere sing-speak, resplendent with sparkling back-up vocals and warmly melodic, inventive instrumentation; a sunshine-bright outlook of positive encouragement to keep "rockin' on the side of gooood" -- because, after all, "We deserve chocolate cake/ We deserve apple pie/ Enjoy your life ..."

The resulting album, 'Solid Gold Heart,' is a beguiling blend that builds off each participant's strengths, truly a fresh sum that is greater than its parts. "The goal was to make 3-minute pop songs, as accessible and fun and immediate as possible," notes Smith. And that's what you'll hear, each song an uplifting, mutually enhanced concoction.

Anyone who ever had a Solid Gold Heart -- wouldn't they want to turn around and share it? Of course they would. Jad Fair and Danielson are happy to offer up theirs.