Everything Wrong Is Imaginary is a 2006 album by Lilys

Lilys

Lilys are an American indie rock band formed in Washington, D.C in 1988. The only constant member is Kurt Heasley, with the line-up changing regularly...

, released on the Manifesto label.

Background

The album was written during a traumatic period in Lilys frontman Kurt Heasley's life; His partner disappeared after a psychotic episode and returned to her family leaving Heasley to look after his three children. Heasley therefore worked on the album mainly at home in his spare time. The recordings were then sent to producer Michael Musmanno, who finished the tracks with session musicians.

Critical reception

Jason MacNeil of PopMatters

PopMatters

PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...

 described the album as (along with previous album Precollection

Precollection

Precollection is a 2003 album by Lilys released by Manifesto Records. The album was recorded over two years by the band's only constant member Kurt Heasley with a new line-up of the band, which included producer Mike Musmanno on keyboards...

), "the closest thing to Britrock from a Yankee band I heard in a long time", going on to say "There are too many things right about this album to make you believe it's imaginary". Patrick Rapa of the Philadelphia City Paper

Philadelphia City Paper

Philadelphia City Paper is a free alternative news weekly in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was established in November 1981 as a spin-off of the now defunct WXPN Express newsletter. New issues are released every Thursday....

described it as "one of Heasley's finest yet—10 occasionally noisy, often catchy rock songs". Marc Hogan of Pitchfork Media

Pitchfork Media

Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...

 opined that "much of the record's beauty lies [in] its dizzying production", but wrote that it "never quite feels like the career-culminating record it should be." Mark Edwards of the Sunday Times identified the album's diversity as one of its strengths. Eugene P. Sorricraft from the Highbold Press declared it, "a wonderful expulsion of everything that is otherwise lacking in this sad world".

Tracklisting

1. "Black Carpet Magic" (Heasley) 4:33
2. "With Candy" (Heasley) 2:36
3. "A Diana's Diana" (Heasley) 4:06
4. "Knocked on the Fortune Teller's Door" (Heasley) 4:29
5. "Where the Night Goes" (Heasley) 3:16
6. "The Night Sun Over San Juan" (Heasley) 3:45
7. "Still in All the Glitter" (Heasley) 3:51
8. "Everything Wrong Is Imaginary" (Heasley) 4:34
9. "O.I.C.U.R." (Heasley) 5:31
10. "Scott Free" (Rappaport) 2:13

Personnel

• Kurt Heasley - guitar, vocals
• Michael Musmanno - bass, keyboards, Oberheim programming, electric guitar
• Don Piper - drums, percussion, electric and acoustic guitars, lap steel, vocals
• Michael Johnson - guitars, vocals
• Matt Horn - drums
• Tommy Joyner - drums
• Steven Keller - drums
• Chris McAllen - bass guitar
• Mario "Pel" Lopez - piano