The Special Goodness
Encyclopedia
The Special Goodness is the side project of Weezer
’s drummer Patrick Wilson
. It currently features Wilson on guitar and vocals, and Atom Willard
(Rocket from the Crypt
, Angels & Airwaves
, The Offspring
) on drums. Throughout the years the band has featured various musicians both in the studio and on tours such as bassists Murphy Karges (Sugar Ray
), Mikey Welsh
(formerly of Weezer), Scott Shriner
(currently of Weezer), Pat Finn, Jeb Lewis and drummer Lee Loretta. The band's name comes from a description of how Wilson feels making music.
(2003). After being signed to Epitaph Records
in mid-2003 the band re-released a remixed and re-ordered version of Land Air Sea. Their song "Life Goes By" was featured on Punk-O-Rama Vol. 9
and an unreleased track "Not The Way" was featured on Punk-O-Rama Vol. 10
. They released music videos for both "N.F.A" and "Life Goes By" from Land Air Sea, the latter being directed by weezer.com webmaster Karl Koch.
(such as Space Twins
, The Rentals
and Homie
) to ever actually open for Weezer, which they did on the band's 2002 Enlightenment Tour as Wilson minded both the duties as frontman for The Special Goodness and as drummer duties for Weezer. The Relationship
, Brian Bell's band, also opened for Weezer on the 2008 Troublemaker Tour.
Other notable tours include a west coast tour with fellow Weezer side-project The Space Twins
in 1999 and opening for the Foo Fighters
in 2003, a feat that Wilson would repeat in 2005 as the drummer of Weezer.
One of their most notable shows was on November 2, 1999 at Club Laga in Pittsburgh. The club's promoter billed the gig as "The Special Goodness playing all the Weezer Hits." The band played through their set of Special Goodness songs, but felt as if they had to live up to the bill, so an encore of "Tired of Sex" and "Undone - The Sweater Song" was played.
with Joe Barresi
engineering the sessions. Overdubbing
, mixing
and mastering for the album had been completed and Wilson even had a tentative tracklist for the album, which consisted of many songs that he had written for possible inclusion in Weezer
's fifth album. Yet in a January 26, 2006 post on thespecialgoodness.com, Wilson stated "In my opinion, the songs weren't very good. The lyrics, melodies, chords and playing were strong but these do not add up to compelling songs." He also claimed that "a year of playing to large audiences (with Weezer) I've begun to understand what I truly value about playing and writing. More to come." Weezer.com webmaster Karl Koch has attributed the album's non-release to "concerns of commercial viability."
Recently Wilson cleared speculation by updating The Special Goodness website on July 12, 2006 stating that "3 songs and more on the way" and on August 13, 2006 stating "Ideally, I'd like to release something in the spring but I will sell no wine before its time." On February 15, 2007 Wilson posted on the site "Lots of new songs have been written and I think an album will be released this year."
In mid-November 2007, the following was posted on the TSG website: "Baby coming! Potentially earlier then anticipated, therefore recording session rescheduled for February/March."
Throughout 2008, TSG community was very quiet. On June 26, 2008, Wilson had to undergo knee surgery. In late 2008, he toured with Weezer in support of their 2008 release. Even though songs for another release have been constructed, a close album release seems unlikely. It is currently unknown if 2010 will bring any new recordings, tour dates, or material from The Special Goodness.
A fan messaged Atom Willard via Modlife, and he stated that there are no plans for any new music. He also said that Wilson had moved away, so it was tough to meet up.
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
’s drummer Patrick Wilson
Patrick Wilson (musician)
Patrick "Pat" George Wilson is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band Weezer. He joined the band in 1992. In addition to his work in Weezer, he also fronts his own band, The Special Goodness....
. It currently features Wilson on guitar and vocals, and Atom Willard
Atom Willard
Adam David Willard , known professionally by the pseudonym Atom, is an American drummer who has been a member of several notable musical acts. Willard's drumming career began in 1990 when he joined Rocket from the Crypt, whom he remained with until 2000...
(Rocket from the Crypt
Rocket from the Crypt
Rocket from the Crypt was an American rock band led by John Reis, formed in 1989 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 2005.The band gained critical praise and the attention of major record labels after the release of their 1992 album Circa: Now!, leading to a recording contract with Interscope...
, Angels & Airwaves
Angels & Airwaves
Angels & Airwaves is an American alternative rock supergroup led by Blink-182 guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, also including guitarist David Kennedy from Over My Dead Body, Hazen Street and Box Car Racer, bass guitarist Matt Wachter from 30 Seconds to Mars and former Lostprophets and Nine Inch...
, The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
) on drums. Throughout the years the band has featured various musicians both in the studio and on tours such as bassists Murphy Karges (Sugar Ray
Sugar Ray
Sugar Ray is a band from Orange County, California. The band, starting off more as an alternative metal band, first gained fame in 1997 with their release of the song "Fly". This song's success, coupled with its pop rock sound that was quite different from the rest of their material at the time,...
), Mikey Welsh
Mikey Welsh
Michael Edward "Mikey" Welsh was an American artist and musician, best known as the former bassist of Weezer. He played with Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo during Cuomo's time in Boston during the hiatus in the band Homie...
(formerly of Weezer), Scott Shriner
Scott Shriner
Scott G. Shriner is the bass guitarist for the alternative rock band Weezer.-Early life:Shriner was born in Toledo, Ohio. He took up bass in high school. After being discharged from the Marine Corps, he found his high school bass teacher Mark Kieswetter, with whom he studied until moving to Los...
(currently of Weezer), Pat Finn, Jeb Lewis and drummer Lee Loretta. The band's name comes from a description of how Wilson feels making music.
Releases
The band has released three albums, Special Goodness (aka "The Bunny Record," recorded in 1996 for, and shelved by Geffen Records, re-packaged and re-released during tours in 1999 and 2000 and given a full Japan-only release in 1998), At Some Point, Birds and Flowers Became Interesting (2001, self-released and also known as "Pinecone") and Land Air SeaLand Air Sea
Land Air Sea, is the third album by The Special Goodness. It originally released in February 2003 by N.O.S. Recordings and then a remastered, remixed, and re-ordered edition was released on Epitaph Records on January 20, 2004. The original N.O.S. version had three different covers while the Epitaph...
(2003). After being signed to Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
in mid-2003 the band re-released a remixed and re-ordered version of Land Air Sea. Their song "Life Goes By" was featured on Punk-O-Rama Vol. 9
Punk-O-Rama Vol. 9
Punk-O-Rama Vol. 9 is the ninth compilation album in the Punk-O-Rama series.This is the first of two entries to be released as a two-disc with a DVD. The DVD features current music videos by bands on the CD, with the exception of Randy and Converge who do not appear on the CD...
and an unreleased track "Not The Way" was featured on Punk-O-Rama Vol. 10
Punk-O-Rama Vol. 10
Punk-O-Rama Vol. 10 is the tenth and final compilation album in the Punk-O-Rama series. The following year saw the start of Epitaph Records' new compilation series, Unsound....
. They released music videos for both "N.F.A" and "Life Goes By" from Land Air Sea, the latter being directed by weezer.com webmaster Karl Koch.
On the road
The Special Goodness began touring together in 1999. The Special Goodness was the first side-project/spin-offs from WeezerWeezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
(such as Space Twins
Space Twins
Space Twins was an American rock band fronted by Weezer guitarist Brian Bell.-Early years:Space Twins was founded in 1993 by Weezer guitarist Brian Bell and, his then girlfriend, Susan Fox. Initially, the band was a small project in which the two would dress up in Star Trek style outfits with...
, The Rentals
The Rentals
The Rentals are an American rock band fronted by vocalist Matt Sharp, best known as the former bass player for rock group Weezer. The band is best known for their mid-1990s hit single, "Friends of P.". The group has released two albums, Return of the Rentals and Seven More Minutes on Maverick...
and Homie
Homie
Homie or homey is a slang term in urban culture whose origins etymologists generally trace to African American language from the late 19th century. This was a time when many African Americans were migrating to cities in larger numbers, and "homeboy" meant a male friend from back home. It was...
) to ever actually open for Weezer, which they did on the band's 2002 Enlightenment Tour as Wilson minded both the duties as frontman for The Special Goodness and as drummer duties for Weezer. The Relationship
The Relationship
The Relationship is an American rock band formed in 2006 by Weezer guitarist Brian Bell and Nate Shaw of Die Hunns. The band also includes keyboardist Eric J, bassist Jason Hiller and drummer Blair Sinta....
, Brian Bell's band, also opened for Weezer on the 2008 Troublemaker Tour.
Other notable tours include a west coast tour with fellow Weezer side-project The Space Twins
Space Twins
Space Twins was an American rock band fronted by Weezer guitarist Brian Bell.-Early years:Space Twins was founded in 1993 by Weezer guitarist Brian Bell and, his then girlfriend, Susan Fox. Initially, the band was a small project in which the two would dress up in Star Trek style outfits with...
in 1999 and opening for the Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
in 2003, a feat that Wilson would repeat in 2005 as the drummer of Weezer.
One of their most notable shows was on November 2, 1999 at Club Laga in Pittsburgh. The club's promoter billed the gig as "The Special Goodness playing all the Weezer Hits." The band played through their set of Special Goodness songs, but felt as if they had to live up to the bill, so an encore of "Tired of Sex" and "Undone - The Sweater Song" was played.
Album 4
TSG's fourth album got off to a quick start in early 2005 while Weezer's fifth album, Make Believe, was waiting to be mixed and released. Wilson, along with Scott Shriner on bass and Willard on drums, recorded a full album at The Steakhouse Studio in the San Fernando ValleySan Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
with Joe Barresi
Joe Barresi
Joe Barresi is an American record engineer and producer who has worked with bands such as Kyuss, The Melvins, Tool, Queens of the Stone Age, Coheed and Cambria, Tomahawk, L7, The Jesus Lizard, Parkway Drive and Bad Religion.-Biography:...
engineering the sessions. Overdubbing
Overdubbing
Overdubbing is a technique used by recording studios to add a supplementary recorded sound to a previously recorded performance....
, mixing
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
and mastering for the album had been completed and Wilson even had a tentative tracklist for the album, which consisted of many songs that he had written for possible inclusion in Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
's fifth album. Yet in a January 26, 2006 post on thespecialgoodness.com, Wilson stated "In my opinion, the songs weren't very good. The lyrics, melodies, chords and playing were strong but these do not add up to compelling songs." He also claimed that "a year of playing to large audiences (with Weezer) I've begun to understand what I truly value about playing and writing. More to come." Weezer.com webmaster Karl Koch has attributed the album's non-release to "concerns of commercial viability."
Recently Wilson cleared speculation by updating The Special Goodness website on July 12, 2006 stating that "3 songs and more on the way" and on August 13, 2006 stating "Ideally, I'd like to release something in the spring but I will sell no wine before its time." On February 15, 2007 Wilson posted on the site "Lots of new songs have been written and I think an album will be released this year."
In mid-November 2007, the following was posted on the TSG website: "Baby coming! Potentially earlier then anticipated, therefore recording session rescheduled for February/March."
Throughout 2008, TSG community was very quiet. On June 26, 2008, Wilson had to undergo knee surgery. In late 2008, he toured with Weezer in support of their 2008 release. Even though songs for another release have been constructed, a close album release seems unlikely. It is currently unknown if 2010 will bring any new recordings, tour dates, or material from The Special Goodness.
A fan messaged Atom Willard via Modlife, and he stated that there are no plans for any new music. He also said that Wilson had moved away, so it was tough to meet up.
New album
On January 5, 2011, an update was posted on The Special Goodness website revealing that a new album has been recorded and is currently in the mixing stages: "Very pleased to announce a new TSG album, it’s currently being mixed, has 10 songs, a guitar, a bass, drums and vocals."Albums
- Special Goodness (known as 'The Bunny Record')
- At Some Point, Birds and Flowers Became Interesting - 2001, Self-released
- Land Air SeaLand Air SeaLand Air Sea, is the third album by The Special Goodness. It originally released in February 2003 by N.O.S. Recordings and then a remastered, remixed, and re-ordered edition was released on Epitaph Records on January 20, 2004. The original N.O.S. version had three different covers while the Epitaph...
- 2003, N.O.S. Records (Remastered and reordered on Epitaph Records, 2004)
External links
- Special Goodness website
- MTV’s artist page for The Special Goodness
- [ The Special Goodness] at Allmusic
- Interview with Pat, about TSG, at Independent Music Online