10 years ago, Gatsby released Floods + Fires. A week later, we broke up.

Like many bands before us, we were left with boxes and boxes of CDs. Boxes that continue to clutter closets. CDs that will never ever be sold. An album that too few heard, but one that I’ve recently came to truly appreciate.

We were an impressionable lot. At least I was. Raised on metal with an affinity for punk and new wave, Gatsby stumbled into the Boston music scene of the early aughts and found itself immediately influenced by the many great bands of the day. We were the naive, excitable "happy-to-be-there" guys, and over the course of a few years we soaked it all up. With the sounds of the day clattering around in our heads, we spent the better part of 2004 making Floods + Fires.

While recording I was mostly concerned, too a fault, with how everything measured up to our peers. “What would X band do with this part?” It’s a taxing way to make an album, but I suppose it pushed us a bit (and you can certainly hear nods to Boston bands circa 2003-5 all over the album).

A bit drained by May 2005, we only played a handful of shows after its release before quietly exiting the scene without the typical Boston farewell show fanfare. But I’d listen to the album from time to time. And over the years, with more distance, I became really fond of the music. Impressed even.. in a "how they hell did we pull that off?!?" sort of way. And now, 10 years on, I have a true appreciation of the songwriting and the performances.

To commemorate the 10 year anniversary of its release, I asked our old pal Mike Quinn at Moontower/Q-Division to dig up the old recordings and do a new mix and master, cut out the 4 instrumental interludes, and add back two songs that (stupidly, my bad) didn't make the final cut back in 2004. The result is fast and fresh. Turbo.

And digital only. No damn CDs… ;)

Enough said. On behalf of my mates Alan, Scott, and Jay—please enjoy this fresh take on our humble classic.

Cheers,
brandon