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Head Automatica was the somewhat unlikely pairing of vocalist Daryl Palumbo -- he of N.Y.C. hardcore stalwarts Glassjaw -- and producer Dan the Automator (aka Dan Nakamura of Gorillaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School). Introduced by mutual friends, the duo began work on their debut, aiming for a sound somewhere in between the Automator's beats and squiggles and Palumbo's penchant for rock and punk. When Decadence appeared in late summer 2004, its groove was just that, a bright and trashy mix of electronics and rock & roll, the kind of thing late nights were made for. Palumbo and Automator put together a road band and toured the record, hooking up with such disparate acts as Lostprophets, Thrice, Interpol, and the Rapture. However, Palumbo's ongoing battle with Chron's disease, which the singer suffered from since childhood and often served as inspiration for his lyrics, continued to give him problems while on the road; various tour dates had to be canceled as he spent time in and out of hospitals getting treatment. He continued to relapse as work on Head Automatica's sophomore Warner Bros. effort began. The band -- comprised of Palumbo, bassist Jarvis Morgan Holden (ex-Give Up the Ghost), guitarist Craig Bonich, drummer Larry Gorman, and keyboardist Jessie Nelson -- hooked up with producer Howard Benson to help create an album with a "bright, crisp sound." The resulting Popaganda was issued in June 2006. It proved to be an aptly named album that largely lacked the electronics of Decadence, instead boasting a relatively more straightforward guitar sound largely influenced by late '70s pop. A subsequent summer tour was spent opening for Taking Back Sunday alongside Angels and Airwaves and the Subways. ~ Johnny Loftus & Corey Apar, All Music Guide |
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