Name: Social Media Anxiety Disorder
Brand: Dan Israel

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

PLAM005

Colour

Blue

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2021-11-05

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Consi­gnmen­t

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

195893090457

Total Cap

1 / LP

Artist

Dan Israel

Genre US

Rock-Pop

Label US

Poor L'amour

Dan Israel has had a long, impressive career – chipping away at everything from introspective singer-songwriter fare to alt-country before there was such a thing. He’s relentlessly sought respect for his craft and has smashed his head against the wall more times than he’s ever deserved to. A crack songwriter, Dan has had his Dylan phase but, without maybe knowing it, always wanted to be a Beatle. Along the way, he’s honed his wordsmithing skills and, despite his patented, world-weary sound, he knows his way around solid pop fare.&nbsp;

The album’s title reflects what Israel sees as a modern-day phenomenon that he often, unfortunately, finds himself very much a part of - a cycle of frustration that has, at its core, the social media outlets that are supposed to make us feel more connected, and instead often make us feel more anxious and lonely and left out. Many of the album’s songs were written during the winter of 2018-2019, a time which, in Israel’s words, often felt “pretty dark” in his world.These songs, though, are brought vividly to life in ways that feel quite uplifting, and represent an attempt by Israel to transcend all of these woes with rock music. In short, Social Media Anxiety Disorder sometimes represents a departure for Israel, sonically, while also bringing him back to his roots-rock and folk roots.From the fiercely catchy, horn-driven power pop of the album’s opening track, “Be My Girl,” to the dark, moody contemplative drone of “Still I’m Lost,” the songs on Social Media Anxiety Disorder span a wide variety of textures and styles, pushing the boundaries of Israel’s past work. We get to hear what it sounds like when Israel works with two accomplished producers with divergent styles and approaches, and we also get to (brace yourself) hear Israel rap. A little, anyway (while also embracing stream-of-consciousness ranting and raving, that some may even find comedic). “Just Can’t Take It” finds Israel wearing some of his deep love of ‘80s synth-pop on his sleeve, while “125” takes on a haunting, psychedelic tone amidst abstract lyrical directions, and many longtime listeners might well be quite surprised at the many new and uncharted (for Israel, anyway) musical directions taken on “S.M.A.D.”Says Israel:“I quit my day job in 2018 in order to pursue music full time after working for 21 years for the State Legislature. If my 2018 album “You’re Free” represented my near-giddiness at being liberated from the day-job world, this new record is perhaps a bit of a reality check at times, where I think I’m admitting that doing music full-time in this day and age is often just really, really difficult, financially and otherwise. My mental health has been challenged at times too by the stresses of life in 2019, and my life in particular - being a parent, being divorced and navigating that still-unfamiliar life, battling depression and anxiety and addiction issues, struggling to get my music heard when it feels like art has been devalued in general, and feeling utterly lost in an increasingly confusing and bruising political landscape. Social Media Anxiety Disorder is the soundtrack to all of that, for me. It’s also the sound of me letting go, and allowing myself to explore some new territory, both musically and lyrically. If this album has any cohesive theme at all, it’s that ultimately so much is out of our control.”

Social Media Anxiety Disorder

Music US