Adam Goren (born January 14 1975) is a musician, better known as the sole member of the synth punk band Atom and His Package.
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Adam Goren
Goren was born in the Bronx on January 14 1975, but grew up in the town of Oreland, Pennsylvania. He played in several local bands as a youth. Then, in 1991, Goren joined the punk band Fracture. He played with them until 1995, when the band broke up. At the time, he was in the last year of earning his B.A. in neuroscience at Wesleyan University. While Goren was still in school, a friend introduced him to music sequencers, and he began writing music with one in his spare time. Goren would also go on to earn a Master's degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania, and to become certified to teach high school chemistry and biology. When Goren left Wesleyan, some of his friends were in a band called Franklin, and they were planning to go on tour throughout the East Coast. They asked him to open up a few of their shows, and he agreed. This marked the rise of Goren's identity as Atom and His Package, consisting of himself, a B.C. Rich guitar, and his QY700 music sequencer (not the QY70 as some have reported), also known as "the Package." In 1997 he released his first album, the aptly named The First CD, on Bloodlink Records. He released several more albums and EPs, and has performed on several compilations. At one point, Goren gathered a small band to do actual punk covers of his songs, and he released an EP of a live performance with this band, calling it "Atom and His Rockage." He completed tours in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Japan, Belgium, England, and Australia. In April 2003, Goren found out that his wife was expecting a child. At about the same time, he also was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. These led him to the decision to finally stop touring as Atom and His Package. Goren performed his final show under that name on August 29, 2003 in Philadelphia. After that show, he released his last album, Hair: Debatable, which included a bonus DVD of that final show. Goren currently plays with the band Armalite. He also teaches at the elite William Penn Charter School, located in Philadelphia (East Falls), PA. He teaches Chemistry and Physics, and, along with Robert Gordon, is the Faculty Advisor to the school Comedy Sportz team.
Music
The songs of Atom and His Package generally consist of a short synthesizer-based tune, looped repeatedly. A few songs are purely instrumental. The lyrics of Goren's songs are usually humorous and most often center around observations on mundane annoyances of daily life (some of which are purposely only relevant to Goren himself). Goren sings in a distinctive off-key manner. In his later years both his music and his singing became harder and more distinctly "punk" sounding, while his earlier music is generally more light-hearted and silly. Many songs of Atom and His Package sample or borrow lyrics from various pop singles of the 80's and early 90's, including artists such as Eddie Money and Joni Mitchell. Goren has released numerous covers as well.
Atom and His Package discography
- The First CD (1997) (Bloodlink Records)
- A Society of People Named Elihu (1997) (The Mountain Cooperative)
- Behold, I Shall Do A New Thing EP (1998) (Vital Music Mailorder)
- Gun Court EP (1998)
- Atom And His Rockage EP (1998)
- Making Love (1999) (No Idea Records)
- Shopping Spree EP (2000) (with Har Mar Superstar) (Sub City)
- Redefining Music (2001) (Hopeless Records)
- Hamburgers EP (2002) (File 13)
- Attention! Blah Blah Blah (2003) (Hopeless Records)
- Hair: Debatable (2004) (Hopeless Records)
- Mountain Goats tribute EP (??) limited to 500
Making Love was re-issued in 2005. Adam Goren continues to work with the punk band Armalite, although he maintains a website under the name of Atom.
Compilations
- (2003 Hopeless/Subcity Records)
- "Mustache TV" (from "Attention! Blah Blah Blah")
- "Flogging a Dead Cow: A Tribute to the Dead Milkmen" (2001 Superpickle)
- "Nutrition"
References In popular culture
- During Season One of television show The OC the character Seth Cohen has an Atom and his package poster displayed on the wall behind his bed.
- In the bar on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia many Atom and his Package stickers can be seen on the walls of the bar Paddy's.
References
- Carpenter, Josh. "Atom and His Package: Under Fire!". Retrieved May 18, 2005.
- Rapa, Patrick. "Atom's Last Blast". Retrieved May 18, 2005.
External links
- Atom and His Package Official Site
- Atom and His Package Fanlisting
- Atom and His Package Myspace Site
- Atom and His Package Fan Site
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