In the autumn of 1999, Kent, Ohio gave rise to the All Golden when Chris Sheehan and Scott Bennett stepped away from their prior indie rock endeavors to launch an experimental project. Bennett had already overseen operations at Waterloo Sound Recording, engineering releases by Harriet the Spy, Gem, and the Revelers. His involvement with the Witch Hazel Sound’s 1998 album It’s All True also brought him into contact with Sheehan. Drawn together by shared admiration for Joy Division, Sonic Youth, and kindred artists, the pair committed their ideas to a 7" titled “Velikovsky.” Spring 2000 brought the “This Guitar’s Gone to Heaven” single on the fledgling Bubblegum Smile label, which drew notice from college radio and indie outlets. BBC Radio 1 host Steve Lamacq further spotlighted the track during his evening session broadcast. Buoyed by international indie acclaim, the duo resumed work at Bennett’s Waterloo Sound in 2001 to capture a full-length album. The Witch Hazel Sound’s Kevin Coral lent production support, with Craig Lisik of the Flying Carpet People on drums and Harriet the Spy’s Dave Neeson on bass. Neeson’s tenure proved brief; Joel McAdams joined shortly before the group’s CMJ Musical Festival showcase in fall 2001. The resulting sessions produced A Long Good Friday (2002), whose crafty pop registered as both fresh and weathered.
