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Chococate, butter, sugar, yummies.

Lyrics, credits, high-res photos can be found here.
If you're looking for something to tell you the band in question tours extensively and has enjoyed the good favor of the blogosphere, has pioneered its own micro-genre or commands legions of street-teaming fans, forget it. Rocketship Park is simply a hidden musical diamond in the infinite clutter of the twenty first century. Unless you've been directly involved in the growth of this project, there is only one point of entry for you.

Listen to the record!

Once you've done this, if you need more information, read further. Rocketship Park is masterminded by a musical auteur by the name of Josh Kaufman. Josh spent many years writing and recording hours and hours of fantastic songs beloved and worshiped by his friends but never officially compiled or released, much less promoted. It wasn't until 2006 that he mobilized Rocketship Park, an entity designed as a band but ultimately evolving as his solo vehicle. In 2007, with the help of some incredibly talented friends, Josh and his band made Off and Away, the first Rocketship Park record. NPR described how Kaufman "fleshed out smooth, folky songs about life and loss, family and friendship, while harnessing a simple, seemingly effortless beauty." These songs scored the lives of a loyal and devoted few.

In the intervening years since Off and Away's release Kaufman has become a busy side-man, a working musician and producer whose unique talents have brought him to the studio and/or the stage with the likes of Dawn Landes, Caithlin de Marrais (of Rainer Maria), the National, Josh Ritter, Yellowbirds, Balthrop Alabama, Benji Cossa, Higgins and too many more to list here. These artists play with Josh because nobody can do what he does. He's not just a guitar player, a keyboardist, a bassist, a drummer, a producer, an arranger, a singer, a composer, a song-man, a lyricist, or the greatest guy ever, although he is all of these things exquisitely and without peer; Josh is a force of Josh. Nowhere is this force better embodied than on the eleven pop songs that comprise Cakes and Cookies.

Kaufman's busy touring and recording schedule kept him from finishing the second Rocketship Park record for nearly three years but ultimately allowed him the time to mold an utterly seamless work. Cakes and Cookies resulted from several years of sporadic sessions with Serious Business' Travis Harrison, engineer Halsey Quemere, and an expanding cast of collaborators including Dawn Landes and the National's Bryan Devendorf. Kaufman's pop songs speak multitudes in verse and chorus. To deem his compositions "catchy" would be accurate but would undersell their eloquence and power. He makes beautiful, utterly delightful pop music no one else could ever make.

Listen to the record!
 
ROCKETSHIP PARK: Cakes and Cookies by seriousbusiness



The song IT'S NOT YOU is available as a stand-alone single on iTunes.


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Produced by Josh Kaufman and Travis Harrison with a lot of help from Kevin Fish, Eric Jackson, Mike Phillips, Brian Kantor, Annie Nero, Bryan Devendorf, Halsey Quemere, Steve Salett and Dawn Landes.
All songs by Josh Kaufman (Turtle Tunes ASCAP)
All instruments by Josh Kaufman unless noted below.
All recording, mixing done at Serious Business Music, NYC unless noted below.
Mastered by Jamal Ruhe at West West Side Music, NY
Cover drawing by Kara Smith

1. Swan (2:17)
Trombone, Vocals: Eric Jackson
Recorded in 2006 at Halsey Quemere's old home studio in downtown Brooklyn, NY
Mixed by Halsey Quemere and Travis Harrison
2. Fast Friends (3:36)
Recorded by Kevin Fish at Lyonsville Studios in Kingston, NY and Halsey Quemere at Serious Business Music, NYC
Drums: Travis Harrison
Synth, Singing, Guitar: Kevin Fish
Percussion, Singing, Guitar: Brian Kantor
Mixed by Halsey Quemere and Travis Harrison
3. Stuck With Me (3:06)
Basic tracks recorded by Steve Salett at Saltlands in Brooklyn
Drums(and very high male voice): Bryan Devendorf
Organ, Guitar: Nate Martinez
Backing Vocals, mix wisdom: Dawn Landes
Mixed by Travis Harrison
4. Pistachio (2:10)
Recorded by Halsey Quemere and Travis Harrison at Serious Business Recording Studios, NYC
Percussion: Brian Kantor
Vocals: Eric Jackson
Bass, Vocals: Kevin Fish
Mixed by Halsey Quemere
5. It's Not You (3:04)
Basic tracks recorded by Steve Salett at Saltlands in Brooklyn, NY
Drums: Bryan Devendorf
Backing Vocals: Annie Nero and Eric Jackson
Mixed by Travis Harrison
6. Catherine (0:34)
Recorded and mixed at Josh and Annie's home in Brooklyn
7. Crossing the Street (3:29)
Recorded by Halsey Quemere at Manhattan Center, NYC
Drums, Percussion: Travis Harrison
Drum, Bass, Singing: Annie Nero
Pedal Steel: Mike Phillips
Guitar, Singing: Eric Jackson
Mixed by Halsey Quemere and Travis Harrison
8. Cakes and Cookies (2:28)
Recorded by Kevin Fish at Lyonsville Studios in Kingston, NY
Drum: Jake Lyons
Drum: Jordan Crowell
Bass, Singing: Eric Jackson
Organ, Singing: Kevin Fish
Lady Voice: Dawn Landes
Mixed by Travis Harrison
9. Head (2:52)
Recorded by Halsey Quemere at Serious Business Recording Studios, NYC
Drums, singing: Brian Kantor
Bass, Piano, Singing: Kevin Fish
Missus Singing: Annie Nero
Pedal Steel: Mike Phillips
Mixed by Halsey Quemere and Travis Harrison
10. See You (4:55)
Recorded by Kevin Fish at Lyonsville Studios in Kingston, NY
Pedal Steel: Mike Phillips
Doo and hmm Singing, Recorder: Dawn Landes
Twelva, Wurlitzer: Kevin Fish
Guitar, Trombone: Eric Jackson
Percussion: Travis Harrison
Mixed by Travis Harrison
11. Standing There (3:13)
Recorded by Travis Harrison at Serious Business Recording Studios, NYC
Backing Vocals, Bass and Tambourine: Annie Nero
Drums: Brian Kantor
12 string Guitar, Organ: Kevin Fish
Pedal Steel: Mike Phillips
Mixed by Travis Harrison
"Swan"
how i tried to see him
but he was halfway gone
just a battered bird then
he used to be a strong, strong swan
"Fast Friends"
fast friends by the time of our meeting
old pals by the the time we finished eating
it's just that part of you that brings me in
a message in your glance that reads
i've got your secret safe with me
your heart, it beats a code i read
fast friends by the time of our meeting
a closeness that kinda feels like we're cheating
it's just that part of you that looks like sin
maybe that we're older now we'll know how to begin and skip the chase
a silly game that time erases
stop dead in our tracks like we're hunted
bow snaps and our pulse begins a pumping
we stick out like a flower in a bed of grass
we're hanging on that single stem for times we had that passed too fast
we never let those feelings last, no we never let those feelings last
fast friends
"Stuck With Me"
September by the bridge watching ships dock in
waiting for my friend's friend's friend's
folks walk aboard as i wave to them
we flap our hands in the wind, wind, wind
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
where's that money i spent
when my ship came and went
is it peaches aboard that ride
gliding into a sunset sigh
what am i missing on the other side
am i wasting my time, time, time
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
where's that money i spent
have you ever wanted someone but you were all by yourself
just by the bridge watching ships dock in
see those passengers on board bringing lovers to other shores
clouds open up and i get real soaked
having just missed my boat, boat, boat
a horn blows and the river sings
i watch another ship come in
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
there's only one guarantee that is that i'm stuck with me
"Pistachio"
envy the pistachio
cause she is so sweet inside
protected by her shell she hides
so sublime, just a fine old time in the shade
mother nature has made
sometimes she is much too closed to unfold, to unfold
she isn't crazy, she's just nuts
the fort she's been dealt, protects her from all but patient prey
just a fine old time in the shade
mother nature has made
sometimes she is much too closed to unfold, to unfold
and that's ok, i think it's alright.
"It's not you"
when you're waiting for someone
to pick up on the other side for an answer that sits inside
oh my, oh my, that's just a waste of time
you're giving away a piece of you, you're giving away the thing that's true
baby i don't wanna go to sleep tonight, something in my heart just doesn't seem right
ooo, and it's not you
i've been warned before when i wasn't felling strong to shake and nod yes, just so i belong
takes away the thread that holds me together
like a boy in trouble i'm playing with bubbles
you're giving away a piece of you, you're giving away the thing that's true
baby i don't wanna go to sleep tonight, something in my heart just doesn't seem right
ooo, and it's not you
you're giving away a piece of you, you're giving away the thing that's true
i don't wanna go to sleep tonight, something in my heart just doesn't seem right
ooo, and it's not you
ooo, it's not you
"Crossing the Street"
walking into traffic head on
what a fool am i leaving you behind
on the opposite side of the cross
oh, i never know what i lost
unless i learn to notice the way you hold my hand
and pose so many questions i can hardly understand
oh, i hope you're thinking about me
oh, i don't want to act so mean
is this to love, what i learning of
with every fall
i see your face and hear your call
is this to love, what i learning of
with every fall
i see your face and hear your call
"Cakes and Cookies"
heard ya singing and i felt the power
near the stadium by the sea
with some friends who need me for my laughter
another partner for the summer's scene
something so temporary, out of the ordinary
embraced but feeling more alone
saw you waiting by the cakes and the cookies
and alarmed by the beating in my chest
i don't think it was the sugar rushing through my veins when we lay down to kiss
something so temporary, out of the ordinary
embraced but feeling more alone
ringing phone, a voice i haven't heard for a long, long time
my turn to speak, but how can i compete
when i can't even make up my mind if i've been bad or if i've been fine
something so temporary, out of the ordinary
embraced but feeling more alone
"Head"
i know i shouldn't feel like this, i've a love at home
one who really cares for me and knows where i come from
with every feeling i resist another coin gets tossed
heads means leave and tails is stay
i think i'd better use my head today
oh, playin games with myself, and these games they don't help
things that make us feel real good are floating around us
an idea of love to conjure up
but never to discuss
baby, baby
playin games with myself, and these games they don't help, no they don't help
i'm falling into old habits
not sure where i belong
in between station and song, stuck in static
playin games with myself, and these games they don't help, no they don't help
"See You"
when ya gonna step into the light
when will you peak out to view
when will you make your presence known
baby i just want to see you
will you be the flower that unfolds
will you really open up soon
will you grow strong in the sun
baby, i just want to see you
baby i just want to see you
patiently waiting little man
trying so hard to understand
look at what you've grown into
baby it's so good to meet you
baby it's so good to meet you
baby it's so good to meet you
"Standing There"
there's no apologies
or now i'm feelin scared
there's only standing there
notice in my eyes
all the times that have gone by
and the sun that is so bright
and the sun that is so bright
and the sun that is so bright blocks out tomorrow
tomorrow oh, oh.
and don't forget about Off and Away (SBR16) 2008



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