The Gold Record is the seventh studio album by American punk rock band the Bouncing Souls and was released on June 6, 2006. The band deemed this release to be 'the release of the beast' in reference to the date (6/6/06) being similar to the number of the beast (666).
The album includes two covers, of "Lean on Sheena" by Avoid One Thing and "Better Things" by The Kinks. "Letter from Iraq" is based on a poem sent to the band by Garett Reppenhagen, a soldier serving in Iraq.
Release
On February 9, 2006, the Bouncing Souls' next album was announced for release in four months' time. In March and April 2005, they went on tours of Japan (with Street Dogs), New Zealand, and Australia.[2][3] The album's track listing was posted online on April 11, 2006, followed by the artwork and album's title nine days later.[4][5] On April 25, 2006, "The Gold Song" was made available for free download through Epitaph Records' website; "The Pizza Song" followed on May 23, 2006.[6][7] On June 2, 2006, The Gold Record was made available for streaming through Warped Tour's website, ahead of its release four days later through Epitaph Records.[8] Leading up to this, the band held a week-long series of shows at the Knitting Factory in New York City.[9] On June 19, 2006, a music video was released for "The Pizza Song".[10] They promoted the album by touring on the entirety of the 2006 Warped Tour; on August 8, 2006, the album was released as a vinyl picture disc on their own label Chunksaah Records.[11]
Between October and December 2006, the band embarked on their headlining US tour, dubbed Gold Tour. They were supported by Street Dogs, Whole Wheat Bread, the World/Inferno Friendship Society, and Left Alone.[12] In January 2007, the Bouncing Souls performed at a special event marking a Warped Tour exhibition at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[13] In February 2007, they went on a tour of the UK with the Draft.[14] On March 30, 2007, the music video for "Lean on Sheena" was posted online.[15] In April and May 2007, the band embarked on a Canadian tour with Strike Anywhere, the Loved Ones, and Static Radio.[16] In May and June 2007, the Bouncing Souls played three shows in Japan, and performed four US East Coast shows, which included an appearance at the School of Rock Festival.[17]