Performer Notes

Head Automatica: Jessie Nelson (piano, organ, keyboards); Jarvis Morgan Holden (bass guitar); Daryl Palumbo, Larry Gorman, Craig Bonich.
Personnel: Daryl Palumbo (vocals, guitar, programming); Craig Bonich (guitar); Larry Gorman (drums, background vocals); Gerard Way (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Chris Lord-Alge; Mike Plotnikoff.
Recording information: Bay 7 Studios; Sparky Dark, Calabasas, CA; Valley Village, CA.
Photographer: Sean McCabe.
On his second outing as the frontman of Head Automatica, Glassjaw's Daryl Palumbo abandons DECADENCE's electronica sheen (and, consequently, producer Dan the Automator), opting instead for a catchy, New Wave-inspired vibe. Throughout the album, Palumbo's emotive vocals carry every guitar-heavy tune, whether it's the urgent opener, "Graduation Day," or "Curious," which takes more than a page from Elvis Costello's book. Although some Head Automatica fans maybe perplexed by the group's notable shift in direction, POPAGANDA exceeds its predecessor with a winning power-pop charm.

Professional Reviews

Spin (p.84) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he band's sleazy electronic grooves remain razor sharp."

Q (p.114) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Palumbo has an unfailing knack for conjuring instant, memorable choruses....[The songs] shimmer with the innocent, sunny exuberance of an '80s Brat Pack movie soundtrack."

Alternative Press (p.136) - Included in Alternative Press's "10 Essential Albums Of 2006" -- "[A] celebratory collection of pure pop..."

Kerrang (Magazine) (p.56) - "[T]he songs here are slick and stylishly delivered, highly contagious and express a genuine love and talent for the credible end of recently-retro pop music. Interesting stuff."