Mikal Cronin

Conceived and recorded as a sort of therapy to help cope with adjusting to post-college life, an ensuing break-up and geographic isolation Mikal Cronin steps momentarily away from the rhythm section of Orange County surf-punk bashers The Moonhearts with his debut solo album. read more…

Conceived and recorded as a sort of therapy to help cope with adjusting to post-college life, an ensuing break-up and geographic isolation Mikal Cronin steps momentarily away from the rhythm section of Orange County surf-punk bashers The Moonhearts with his debut solo album.

Fans can take heart, this isn’t a ‘vanity project’ or half-baked endeavour — Mikal’s solo debut is fully realized, cohesive and beautiful. With themes that are personal as they are universal; questioning the future, accepting the past and living in the moment.

Taking influences such as the late sixties Del Shannon and The Everly Brothers and filtering them through his own mutant Californian fuzz, Mikal deftly explores his singer-songwriter side that at moments feel like a punk Harry Nilsson or Curt Boettcher – balancing sweet melodies and chords with chunky, psychedelic guitar freakouts. Don’t let the opening Beach Boys harmonies of ‘It’s Alright?’ fool you into thinking this record can be easily pinned down.

With long time friend and collaborator, Ty Segall producing, Eric Bauer (Ty Segall, Royal Baths) running the tape machine and guest like John Dwyer of Thee Oh Sees, you can be sure you’re in for something special. Once those guitars kick in, and you hit the first transcendent chorus, you’ll be hooked and anxiously awaiting what comes next.

“Cronin stretches his legs to record a clean, ridiculously catchy song with tons of layers. It’s the full scale of things that makes ‘Apathy’ so great — the harmonies, the song structuring, the piles of instruments, but mostly, the anxious feeling that’s strung throughout the song. It’s a song with a lot to grab onto, and it’s a killer introduction to Cronin as a solo artist.” — Pitchfork

“The record packs a huge whollop in its three-minute garage-pop punches. Scraping its way through fuzz, jangle, slow burn motions and even a few psychedelic breakdowns, the record is nothing if not infectious; opening itself up wider with each play. In the truest sense of the word this is just a good record, one that’s quickly jumping up our best of 2011 list and one that’s not likely to leave the turntable soon.” — Raven Sings the Blues

“Cronin is one of those artists that barely appear to be trying, yet every element is executed so naturally that you can tell this is really the result of a lifetime studying what rock ‘n’ roll is all about.” — RCRD LBL

“Part Everly Brother, part feedback overlord.” — Uncut

News

• Mikal Cronin on cover of SF Weekly May 22, 2013
• PopMatters reviews Mikal Cronin's MCII May 20, 2013
• Spin features Mikal Cronin video for "Change" May 15, 2013
• Merge Records premieres Mikal Cronin video for "Change", releases tour dates May 15, 2013
• Pitchfork features Mikal Cronin video for "Change", announces tour dates May 15, 2013
• The Guardian reviews Mikal Cronin's MCII May 11, 2013
• Spin reviews Mikal Cronin's MCII May 10, 2013
• Spin features Mikal Cronin's sessions on Aquarium Drunkard May 8, 2013
• A.V. Club reviews Mikal Cronin album MCII May 7, 2013
• Mikal Cronin featured on Aquarium Drunkard's "Lagniappe Sessions" May 7, 2013
• Consequence of Sound interview Mikal Cronin May 7, 2013
• Paste Magazine reviews Mikal Cronin's MCII May 7, 2013
• MTV Hive interviews Mikal Cronin May 7, 2013
• Pitchfork features Adult Swim's Garage Swim Mix featuring Mikal Cronin, Yours Truly video May 6, 2013
• Consequence of Sound reviews Mikal Cronin's MCII May 6, 2013
• The Four Oh Five reviews Mikal Cronin's MCII May 6, 2013
• 7x7 SF features Mikal Cronin May 6, 2013
• Pitchfork features Mikal Cronin on Guest Lists May 3, 2013
• Mikal Cronin's MCII gets Pitchfork's "Best New Music" May 2, 2013
• Spin features Mikal Cronin's track from Garage Swim Compilation, "Better Man" May 1, 2013
• Mikal Cronin's album MCII featured on Spin's 10 Albums You Can Hear Now list May 1, 2013
• Spin announces Mikal Cronin to be on "Garage Swim" Compilation Apr 29, 2013
• Spin streams Mikal Cronin's MCII Apr 29, 2013
• NPR features Mikal Cronin's MCII on First Listen Apr 28, 2013
• Raven Sings the Blues features Mikal Cronin Apr 1, 2013

Tour Dates

Date	Venue	Location	With	Tickets
Thu 5/23/2013	The Casbah (San Diego)	San Diego, California	Mrs. Magician
Fri 5/24/2013	The Echo	Los Angeles, California	Pangea, Gap Dream
Sat 5/25/2013	Rickshaw Stop	San Francisco, California	Audacity
Thu 6/6/2013	Mississippi Studios	Portland, Oregon	Shannon and the Clams
Fri 6/7/2013	Tractor Tavern	Seattle, Washington	Shannon and the Clams
Sat 6/8/2013	Ole Beck VFW Post 209	Missoula, Montana	Shannon and the Clams
Mon 6/10/2013	7th Street Entry	Minneapolis, Minnesota	Shannon and the Clams
Tue 6/11/2013	Empty Bottle	Chicago, Illinois	Shannon and the Clams (Late Show)
Tue 6/11/2013	Empty Bottle	Chicago, Illinois	Shannon and the Clams (Early Show)
Wed 6/12/2013	Lager House	Detroit, Michigan	Shannon and the Clams
Thu 6/13/2013	Silver Dollar	Toronto, Ontario	NXNE Festival
Fri 6/14/2013	Silver Dollar	Toronto, Ontario	NXNE Festival
Sat 6/15/2013	Silver Dollar	Toronto, Ontario	NXNE Festival
Sun 6/16/2013	IL Motore	Montreal, Quebec, Canada	Shannon and the Clams
Mon 6/17/2013	Great Scott	Boston, Massachusetts	Shannon and the Clams, Roomrunner
Tue 6/18/2013	Kung Fu Necktie	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Shannon and the Clams, Roomrunner
Thu 6/20/2013	Bowery Ballroom	New York, New York	Shannon and the Clams, Roomrunner
Fri 6/21/2013	Comet Ping Pong	Washington, DC	Shannon and the Clams, Roomrunner
Sat 6/22/2013	Emerald Lounge	Asheville, North Carolina	Shannon and the Clams, Impossible Vacation
Sun 6/23/2013	The Earl	Atlanta, Georgia	Shannon and the Clams
Mon 6/24/2013	The Stone Fox	Nashville, Tennessee	Shannon and the Clams
Tue 6/25/2013	Hi-Tone	Memphis, Tennessee	Shannon and the Clams
Wed 6/26/2013	Club Dada	Dallas, Texas	Shannon and the Clams
Thu 6/27/2013	Mohawk (Inside Stage)	Austin, Texas	Shannon and the Clams
Fri 6/28/2013	Padres	Marfa, Texas
Sat 6/29/2013	Club Congress	Tucson, Arizona
Fri 7/19/2013	Pitchfork Festival	Chicago, Illinois
Sun 8/25/2013	FYF Fest	Los Angeles, California