Golden Smog are a loosely connected group of musicians (arguably a supergro… Read Full Bio ↴Golden Smog are a loosely connected group of musicians (arguably a supergroup) comprising, at various times, members of Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Wilco, The Jayhawks, Run Westy Run, The Honeydogs and Big Star.

The group took their name from the name of a Flintstones character, which, in turn, was a parody of singer Mel Torme's nickname; the Velvet Fog. The group first came together in the Minneapolis area in 1989 as a country-rock reaction to the punk and hardcore music that dominated the Twin Cities' musical scene at the time; eventually Golden Smog became something of a fixture at local clubs, where they would play a handful of shows annually. Golden Smog's lineup has often changed, though Run Westy Run guitarist Kraig Jarret Johnson as well as guitarists Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum) and Gary Louris (the Jayhawks) were relative constants.

The definitive beginning of Golden Smog is hard to pinpoint given the mercurial nature of the band's lineup. Some point back to a show in January of 1987 when a band billed as 'The Take It To The Limit Band' played an all Eagles cover show at the Uptown Bar in Minneapolis. This band consisted of Dan Murphy and Dave Pirner (both of Soul Asylum), Jim Boquist (later of Son Volt), and Martin Zellar (Gear Daddies). The show ended with a cover of then Bangles hit song Walk Like An Egyptian. This same band later played a The Rolling Stones themed show in 1989 under the name "Her Satanic Majesty's Paycheck."

Between these early covers shows, and Golden Smog's first album, it is unclear what happened. It's hard to claim that these early shows were by Golden Smog, but rather in hindsight they were played in the spirit of the early Golden Smog. In 1992, Dan Murphy, Gary Louris, Marc Perlman (bassist for The Jayhawks), Kraig Johnson, and Chris Mars (the Replacements) released Golden Smog's first CD, a covers EP entitled On Golden Smog. This was followed four years later in 1996 by their full-length debut, Down By The Old Mainstream, recorded at Pachyderm Recording Studio with a lineup that included Kraig Johnson, Dan Murphy, Gary Louris, Marc Perlman, Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, and Honeydogs drummer Noah Levy (all of whom recorded under pseudonyms as a result of contractual obligations). A few years later the band reformed with Jody Stephens (of Big Star) taking over for Noah on the drums (Jody had previously played with the band during a New Years Eve show in Chicago in 1996). This new incarnation of Golden Smog released Weird Tales in 1998.

In 2005 a new incarnation of the smog formed and recorded a new album in Spain. The new album is entitled Another Fine Day and was released on July, 18th 2006 on the Lost Highway Records. This album features both Jody Stephens and Linda Pitmon from Zuzu's Petals on drums. This album, like the previous couple is of a more coherent band, although Jeff Tweedy is only featured on a few songs. In the summer of 2006, the Smog played a couple of shows in Minneapolis and New York City. These shows were without Tweedy, as he had previously stated that he was too busy to tour with the band. A six-show mini-tour occured in September of 2006. In 2007 Golden Smog released an EP on Lost Highway called Blood On The Slacks.

Another Fine Day
Golden Smog Lyrics

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To bad you got a chip on your shoulder
Your broken but hey
Its never too late
Try to run
Your just another year older
Still ready to fight
Look who's on your side

Woke up
Can't find your direction
Another fine day
Woke up
Can't find your direction
Another fine day

You put one foot in front of the other
And drift through the maze
Of golden haze
[unknown] birds darting out in anger
[unknown] out across the plains

Woke up
Can't find your direction
Another fine day
Woke up
Can't find your direction
Another fine day

Don't drowned your self in sorrow
You had a fall from grace

Another fine day
Another fine day
Another fine day
Another fine day

Woke up
Can't find your direction

Another fine day
Another fine day

Overall Meaning

The song "Another Fine Day" by Golden Smog is a reflective tune about dealing with life's challenges and persevering through them. The opening verse suggests that the singer is dealing with some deep-seated issues, perhaps some sort of emotional trauma or chip on their shoulder. However, the song takes a positive turn and offers hope by suggesting that it's never too late to turn things around. Even though the singer is feeling lost and directionless, they are encouraged to keep moving forward, as time moves on, and they continue to fight.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Woke up, can't find your direction, another fine day" which seems like a paradoxical statement. On one hand, waking up and not knowing where to go can be frustrating, but the phrase "another fine day" can be interpreted as a silver lining in a dark cloud, reminding the listener that at least they're alive and have another chance to make something happen. The second verse is a little more poetic in its imagery, with references to golden haze and birds darting out in anger, which could be interpreted as fleeting moments of beauty and rage amid the chaos of life. The song ends with a repeated phrase of "another fine day," offering a sense of finality and closure.

Line by Line Meaning

To bad you got a chip on your shoulder
It's unfortunate that you're holding onto a grudge

Your broken but hey
Despite being damaged, there's still hope

Its never too late
There's always a chance to make things right

Try to run
Attempt to move forward

Your just another year older
Time passes, but the fight remains

Still ready to fight
Determined to persevere

Look who's on your side
Recognize and appreciate those who support you

Woke up
Became aware

Can't find your direction
Feeling lost and uncertain

Another fine day
Despite the struggles, the day goes on

You put one foot in front of the other
Take things one step at a time