http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.7200928&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rssTo hear the band tell it, World Leader Pretend's competition in New Orleans was, "washboard zydeco bands and men in suits with trombones. There wasn't a scene, let alone a race to make it to the top." But the band, then a trio featuring singer Keith Ferguson, keyboardist Parker Hutchinson and drummer Arthur Mintz, knew that destiny awaited them and muddled on. Shortly after coming together, the trio attempted to record a handful of Keith Ferguson-penned tunes in a run-down hotel in a seedy part of New Orleans. Perhaps it was the band's inexperience or perhaps it was a one of the spirits New Orleans is fabled for, but nothing was sounding the way the band imagined it to sound. A good way through the recording process, the band came to the studio one morning only to find the window unit had crashed and a flock of pigeons had moved in. Clearly, the recording session had, excuse the pun, gone out the window. Desperate for a break, the boys wrote a bogus letter to the local newspaper pretending they were an irate concert promoter from Chicago. Smelling a story, the entertainment editor of the local newspaper interviewed the band, and the next day proclaimed the group the "next big thing." World Leader Pretend finally got the break they were looking for. With a spate of live shows booked and attendance swelling, the members knew they <I>had</I> to record something to sell at shows. They headed up to New York to Marcata Studios and immediately felt at home; the studio was filled with ancient analog equipment, vintage instruments and old microphones. The result was the band's debut album, <I>Punches</I>, which Warner Bros. released in June 2005. With its beautifully written songs, expansive pop arrangements and colorful use of instruments, <I>Punches</I> was deemed an engaging listen. A jangly guitar pop record shaped by soul music -- as well as the likes of Travis and R.E.M. -- <I>Punches</I> is both a stand alone gem as well as a loving nod to its influences. - Linda RyanJangle Popen720Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:57:07 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.7200928&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss To hear the band tell it, World Leader Pretend's competition in New Orleans was, "washboard zydeco bands and men in suits with trombones. There wasn't a scene, let alone a race to make it to the top." But the band, then a trio featuring singer Keith Ferguson, keyboardist Parker Hutchinson and drummer Arthur Mintz, knew that destiny awaited them and muddled on. Shortly after coming together, the trio attempted to record a handful of Keith Ferguson-penned tunes in a run-down hotel in a seedy part of New Orleans. Perhaps it was the band's inexperience or perhaps it was a one of the spirits New Orleans is fabled for, but nothing was sounding the way the band imagined it to sound. A good way through the recording process, the band came to the studio one morning only to find the window unit had crashed and a flock of pigeons had moved in. Clearly, the recording session had, excuse the pun, gone out the window. Desperate for a break, the boys wrote a bogus letter to the local newspaper pretending they were an irate concert promoter from Chicago. Smelling a story, the entertainment editor of the local newspaper interviewed the band, and the next day proclaimed the group the "next big thing." World Leader Pretend finally got the break they were looking for. With a spate of live shows booked and attendance swelling, the members knew they <I>had</I> to record something to sell at shows. They headed up to New York to Marcata Studios and immediately felt at home; the studio was filled with ancient analog equipment, vintage instruments and old microphones. The result was the band's debut album, <I>Punches</I>, which Warner Bros. released in June 2005. With its beautifully written songs, expansive pop arrangements and colorful use of instruments, <I>Punches</I> was deemed an engaging listen. A jangly guitar pop record shaped by soul music -- as well as the likes of Travis and R.E.M. -- <I>Punches</I> is both a stand alone gem as well as a loving nod to its influences. - Linda Ryan http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7201411&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Tue, 29 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7201411 tra.7201411 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Rubble-rousing Misspent Bouts alb.7200961 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/4/9/6/1286943_170x170.jpg 2005-03-29 00:00:00.0 2005-03-29 00:00:00.0 true Tit For Tat tra.7201411 228000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7201411&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7201411&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7201412&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Tue, 29 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7201412 tra.7201412 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Rubble-rousing Misspent Bouts alb.7200961 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/4/9/6/1286943_170x170.jpg 2005-03-29 00:00:00.0 2005-03-29 00:00:00.0 true Into Thin Air tra.7201412 309000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7201412&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7201412&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421233&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Mon, 30 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7421233 tra.7421233 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Punches alb.7420675 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/6/4/8/1288468_170x170.jpg 2005-06-28 00:00:00.0 2005-05-30 00:00:00.0 true Dreamdaddy (Album Version) tra.7421233 267000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421233&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421233&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421234&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Mon, 30 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7421234 tra.7421234 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Punches alb.7420675 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/6/4/8/1288468_170x170.jpg 2005-06-28 00:00:00.0 2005-05-30 00:00:00.0 true New Voices (Album Version) tra.7421234 234000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421234&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421234&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421236&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Mon, 30 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7421236 tra.7421236 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Punches alb.7420675 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/6/4/8/1288468_170x170.jpg 2005-06-28 00:00:00.0 2005-05-30 00:00:00.0 true Lovey Dovey (Album Version) tra.7421236 141000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421236&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421236&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421237&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Mon, 30 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7421237 tra.7421237 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Punches alb.7420675 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/6/4/8/1288468_170x170.jpg 2005-06-28 00:00:00.0 2005-05-30 00:00:00.0 true Harps (Album Version) tra.7421237 43000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421237&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421237&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421238&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Mon, 30 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7421238 tra.7421238 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Punches alb.7420675 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/6/4/8/1288468_170x170.jpg 2005-06-28 00:00:00.0 2005-05-30 00:00:00.0 true The Masses (Album Version) tra.7421238 339000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421238&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421238&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421239&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Mon, 30 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7421239 tra.7421239 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Punches alb.7420675 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/6/4/8/1288468_170x170.jpg 2005-06-28 00:00:00.0 2005-05-30 00:00:00.0 true Tit For Tat (Album Version) tra.7421239 228000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421239&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421239&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421241&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Mon, 30 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7421241 tra.7421241 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Punches alb.7420675 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/6/4/8/1288468_170x170.jpg 2005-06-28 00:00:00.0 2005-05-30 00:00:00.0 true B.A.D.A.B.O.O.M. (Album Version) tra.7421241 154000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421241&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421241&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733011&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Tue, 1 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 8733011 tra.8733011 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Rolling Stone Original alb.8091294 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/1/2/0/1270213_170x170.jpg 2005-11-08 00:00:00.0 2005-11-01 00:00:00.0 true A Grammarian Stuck in A Medical Drama (Live Version) tra.8733011 583000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733011&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733011&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421243&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Mon, 30 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7421243 tra.7421243 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Punches alb.7420675 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/6/4/8/1288468_170x170.jpg 2005-06-28 00:00:00.0 2005-05-30 00:00:00.0 true A Horse Of A Different (Album Version) tra.7421243 208000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421243&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421243&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421244&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Mon, 30 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7421244 tra.7421244 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Punches alb.7420675 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/6/4/8/1288468_170x170.jpg 2005-06-28 00:00:00.0 2005-05-30 00:00:00.0 true A Grammarian Stuck In A Medical Drama (Album Version) tra.7421244 468000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421244&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421244&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421245&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Mon, 30 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7421245 tra.7421245 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Punches alb.7420675 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/6/4/8/1288468_170x170.jpg 2005-06-28 00:00:00.0 2005-05-30 00:00:00.0 true Catch (Album Version) tra.7421245 64000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421245&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421245&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421235&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Mon, 30 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7421235 tra.7421235 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Punches alb.7420675 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/6/4/8/1288468_170x170.jpg 2005-06-28 00:00:00.0 2005-05-30 00:00:00.0 true Punches (Album Version) tra.7421235 229000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421235&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421235&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7201410&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Tue, 29 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7201410 tra.7201410 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Rubble-rousing Misspent Bouts alb.7200961 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/4/9/6/1286943_170x170.jpg 2005-03-29 00:00:00.0 2005-03-29 00:00:00.0 true Punches tra.7201410 229000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7201410&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7201410&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421232&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Mon, 30 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7421232 tra.7421232 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Punches alb.7420675 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/6/4/8/1288468_170x170.jpg 2005-06-28 00:00:00.0 2005-05-30 00:00:00.0 true Bang Theory (Album Version) tra.7421232 279000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421232&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421232&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421240&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Mon, 30 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7421240 tra.7421240 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Punches alb.7420675 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/6/4/8/1288468_170x170.jpg 2005-06-28 00:00:00.0 2005-05-30 00:00:00.0 true Appassionato (Album Version) tra.7421240 99000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421240&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421240&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733007&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Tue, 1 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 8733007 tra.8733007 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Rolling Stone Original alb.8091294 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/1/2/0/1270213_170x170.jpg 2005-11-08 00:00:00.0 2005-11-01 00:00:00.0 true Bang Theory (Live Version) tra.8733007 286000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733007&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733007&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733008&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Tue, 1 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 8733008 tra.8733008 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Rolling Stone Original alb.8091294 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/1/2/0/1270213_170x170.jpg 2005-11-08 00:00:00.0 2005-11-01 00:00:00.0 true Punches (Live Version) tra.8733008 231000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733008&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733008&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733009&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Tue, 1 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 8733009 tra.8733009 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Rolling Stone Original alb.8091294 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/1/2/0/1270213_170x170.jpg 2005-11-08 00:00:00.0 2005-11-01 00:00:00.0 true New Voices (Live Version) tra.8733009 238000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733009&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733009&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733010&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Tue, 1 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 8733010 tra.8733010 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Rolling Stone Original alb.8091294 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/1/2/0/1270213_170x170.jpg 2005-11-08 00:00:00.0 2005-11-01 00:00:00.0 true Tit For Tat (Live Version) tra.8733010 243000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733010&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8733010&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7201409&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Tue, 29 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7201409 tra.7201409 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Rubble-rousing Misspent Bouts alb.7200961 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/3/4/9/6/1286943_170x170.jpg 2005-03-29 00:00:00.0 2005-03-29 00:00:00.0 true Bang Theory tra.7201409 279000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7201409&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7201409&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421242&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss Jangle Pop Mon, 30 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by World Leader Pretend on Rhapsody Online 7421242 tra.7421242 World Leader Pretend art.7200928 0.99 Punches alb.7420675 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/6/4/8/1288468_170x170.jpg 2005-06-28 00:00:00.0 2005-05-30 00:00:00.0 true Into Thin Air (Album Version) tra.7421242 309000 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421242&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7421242&variant=data&rws=%2Fworld-leader-pretend%2Ftop-tracks.rss