The Goodbye Radio

The sweet songs of the Goodbye Radio’s The Year We Didn’t Have earned a rave review here a couple years back, and the group’s latest effort is a similar set of shimmering power-pop. The lead track’s the swooning “Love Won’t Save Me,” a song should satisfy your AM-era Wilco craving. Their new album is due June 5, with more songs available now on Bandcamp. -David Greenwald - Rawkblog

Widely acclaimed by critics but largely unknown to the masses, the Goodbye Radio are a Long Island band that create some gorgeous pop melodies.

Formed by singer Mike Harrison and guitarist and keyboard player Jeff Walsh (both of who were founders of Endgames), the Goodbye Radio marks the reuniting of Harrison and Walsh with former band mates Lee Greenman (bass) and drummer Andy Fligel.

“That’s The Point” is the lead cut from their five song EP released in 2010 called The Year We Didn’t Have. Musically, they remind us what would happen if the La’s, Simon and Garfunkel and Belle and Sebastian were to join hands and create a slice of sunshine pop.

by Michael Verity - MP3.com

"Harrison's voice and Walsh's chiming guitar are the stuff indie rock dreams are made of...it's the kind of sound that won't stay underground for long."

-Glenn Gamboa - New York Newsday

The East Meadow quartet crafts pretty soundscapes to surround Mike Harrison's distinctive, plaintive vocals and his emotional, well written lyrics. The result is Lambchop with a backbeat or Joseph Arthur joining Belle and Sebastian.
- New York Newsday

The indie alt-rock group has churned out two self-produced EPs (Where You've Been, Where You're Going; Crown Point Summer) and two full length albums (Keep on Running; Daybreak to Sunset) in the past three years while shopping around for a label. Here on Long Island, the band sticks out like a sore peninsula: The gentle melodies, plus Mike Harrison's fragile voice, recall indie-rock heroes such as Galaxie 500 and Superchunk. - New York Newsday

Every now and then, in a pile of indie albums full of irony and sarcasm, you find one band that screams sincerity. That's exactly what The Goodbye Radio's newest release, The Year We Didn't Have, does, and the summery, almost dreamy songs do the opposite of what most indie music does these days – they leave you smiling.

The music is cute enough to make the album summery but not enough to make it cheesy. It's an electric balance between The Postal Service and Iron & Wine. The songs are slow enough to be relaxing but fast enough to be entertaining. They sound like I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody's Business, but even happier.

Then you add in Mike Harrison's lyrics and vocals, which range from almost too high to the perfect octave, and you've got the vocal range of She & Him with only the Him. The lyrics are smart and light - “What's the space between something you want and something you need?” from “From Here to Here is Here”. Even when he's not talking about something happy, Harrison manages to keep from sounding sad, such as “I remember you when we were young/before the angry words and slamming doors had yet begun” from “When We Were Young”.

You can tell The Goodbye Radio is sincere about their music just from listening to it, but if that's not enough for you, the entire album is free on their website.

Key Tracks: When We Were Young, Last Chase, Sweet Song

- Muzikreviews.com

I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard of the now-defunct band Endgames, but their former members, specifically the duo of Mike (Harrison) and Jeff Walsh, have created a new project called The Goodbye Radio, and have decided to release their debut album, The Year We Didn’t Have, entirely free (click on that album link!).

The sound is very much centered around Harrison's crooning, floating vocals, which give off a wonderfully summer feel. The acoustic guitar and keys provide a light backdrop, perfect for The Goodbye Radio’s simple pop music. - Knox Road

The Goodbye Radio is a new ensemble project from Mike Harrison and Jeff Walsh, founding members of acclaimed indie outfit Endgames—named one of the Top 50 Unsigned Bands in the U.S. by CMJ, thanks to albums “Keep On Running” in 2001 and “Daybreak To Sunset” in 2003. Seven years later, joining Harrison on vocals and Walsh on guitars and keyboards on new album “The Year We Didn’t Have” on LadyKaval Records, are former bandmates Lee Greenman on bass and Andy Fligel on drums. Emphasis track “That’s the Point” is a sterling showcase for the Radio, with its Paul Simon meets The Eagles frolicking melody line and optimistic lyrical intent. “From Here To Here To Here” offers an appreciable dreamlike quality, with ethereal instrumentation and the upper-register youthful vocals of Harrison; while “We Love You, Glascow,” is designed as a tribute to Goodbye Radio’s inspirations, Belle & Sebastian and Teenage Fanclub, with a beat-happy arrangement and Brit-pop vibe. “When We Were Young” is another highlight, wistful and reflective (“Before the angry words and open doors had yet begun/I remember you when we were young”). The Goodbye Radio has plenty to shout about loud and proud: Triple-A radio seems a natural home for the group’s versatility and dynamic potion of crisp melodies, memorable choruses and novel arrangements. This “Year” has all promise of a bold new beginning. -Cortney Harding - Billboard Discoveries

In my No Age review the other day, I mentioned how bands don’t make first albums anymore; instead, they’re making demos and MySpace tracks and digital 7?s until people start paying attention. The flip side of that is bands aren’t necessarily trying to sell their first albums. The Internet is littered (or blessed, one might argue) with free EPs and singles and even whole records — like the Goodbye Radio’s The Year We Didn’t Have. The band tells me this one’s just to get people’s attention — when they finish their sophomore album next year, they’ll try to actually sell the damn thing.

It seems like a bizarre situation, right? To accomplish the serious goal of completing a serious, professional-sounding record — which this is — and sacrificing it on the altar of social networking and Internet buzz? As someone who’s been getting digital albums for free one way or another for the last decade, I’m surprised to have mixed feelings about this, but there they nevertheless are.

What I’m trying to say is The Goodbye Radio’s The Year We Didn’t Have is a wonderful record and we should give them money for the pleasure of having heard it. It’s the kind of album that probably should get an alt-country tag, but like the Old 97's or Whiskeytown before them, it’s equally indebted to good, clean guitar pop — Tom Petty, mostly, but you can hear all of the Traveling Wilburys here. The production is soapy and sweet, full and bright enough to actually imagine hearing it on country radio after the new Taylor Swift single, but with actual air — not Auto-Tune — resonating in the recordings. It’s not a record by bedroom kids. Singer Mike (Harrison) (who sounds like a huskier John Stirratt, whose Autumn Defense would be obvious peers) and bandmate Jeff Walsh’s previous act, Endgames, were making albums as far back as 2001, which might be why the group seems interesting in giving this one away in hopes of a fresh start.

The Year We Didn’t Have is the kind of album that slips through the cracks: too genuinely good for mainstream attention but too seemingly middle of the road for kids with choppy haircuts and iPads. Owning a synthesizer and a laptop microphone doesn’t mean being worthwhile; being the Goodbye Radio does, though. So give it a go — it’s free, after all. Then, if the urge strikes you, order a signed CD for $2. You can always give it to your dad.
- Rawkblog

"We Love You, Glasgow" selected as a Finalist in the Rock category. - John Lennon Songwriting Contest

There’s definitely something different going on here. Endgames are testing out a new kind of alternative music. Unusual and experimental, yet catchy and fun. I warmed right up to it on the first track. Lead vocalist Mike Aronow has the perfect voice for this – great range, no posturing, screeching, or trying to sound like Eddie Vedder. (Yes, I’m still getting a lot of those.) His voice is real, almost conversational, putting a human face behind intriguing lyrics.
- Indie-music.com

Sounds like the work of a band that is ready to take over the world....5 stars (out of 5) - Indie Uprising

With Daybreak to Sunset, Endgames proves why they're regarded as one of the best-unsigned bands in America . The album starts out of with a pair of high-energy rockers that sound like Mac from Superchunk fronting Elvis Costello's Attractions. The catchy "Who is Doris Day?" takes a more electronic turn, a la the Postal Service. The rest of the record settles in with some tasty, guitar driven rock. Somebody get these guys a record deal. (CL) - Impact Press

The band has been garnering rave reviews from the local print media, and after experiencing them live I can see why - Aural Fix

New York based Endgames have a large and loyal following and their fans have anticipated a new album with a lot of excitement. Their spanking new recording is called Daybreak To Sunset, featuring music that will reawaken pleasant thoughts and fill your day with a charge of energy that will last for quite a while, just like the energizer bunny, it keeps going and going. Even though days gone by may come to mind, this band is unquestionably modern with hints of alternative influences in their sound that will pull in a large cross section of music listener's young and old alike, with a natural calling to the college audience.

Mike Aronow's alluring pop sensible vocalizations are what give Endgames their individual sound. Their musical platform is perfect for the softer rock-pop flights of "Somebody Knows," while rockin' and drivin' tracks such as "Daybreak" change gears completely, giving the listener diversity and freshness in every track. Their bouncy and zealous pop-rock strolls come tightly packaged with endless hooks and quick blasts of powerful guitar lines delivered by Jeff Walsh. Music is nothing without great rhythm to steer it along and Walsh and Arnow could not pull it all off without a solid bottom line, and that is the rhythm section of Lee Greenman (bass) and Andy Fligel (drums).

If you are looking for a band that is consistent in sound and presentation with outstanding musicians then Endgames will surely satisfy those requirements. Its all tasty sweet rock-pop that never wears you down, it just continually picks you up.
- Music Dish

CMJ, American Music Awards Select Endgames as one of the Top 50 Unsigned Bands in the US.

Featured songs: Never Coming Back, Who is Doris Day? - CMJ

“If you work for a record label and you’re looking for a band to sign that has already written more than one hit…look no further than Endgames.” –Inside Connection - Inside Connection

“In a league of their own…A+.” - The Island Ear

“as good as original music gets." - L.I.E.

Suckfree Radio is searching for the "Greatest Unsigned Band in the World" for their first ever GUBBY award.

A field of 25 bands and recording artists will compete via online voting for the chance to win this prestigious award.

Selected: THE GOODBYE RADIO - Suckfree Radio

Dave and I are not always the best at working through our submissions inbox. There’s generally about a 2 week time before we get around to making our way through stuff that’s waiting for us. Neither of us can really listen at work, and when we get home, demands on our time are plentiful, so things get overlooked or placed on the back burner. As of this moment, there are 120 unread e-mails just waiting for us to get around to them. We need an intern. Or more time.

I say all this because Mike from The Goodbye Radio sent us their new single about 3 weeks ago now, and it’s something I would like to have been hearing for the past 3 weeks. The track’s entitled “That’s the Point,” and it comes from the band’s debut album The Year We Didn’t Have, and it’s easy, springtime pop centered around Mike’s airy vocals.

Get your hands on the single below, and the album in its entirety for free through the band’s website.

The Goodbye Radio – That’s the Point (mp3) from The Year We Didn’t Have - Tympanogram