{{Short description|American indie rock band}} {{redirect|Soft pack|the soft cigarette packaging|cigarette pack#Hard pack and soft pack}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians --> | name = The Soft Pack | background = group_or_band | alias = The Muslims | origin = San Diego, United States | genre = Indie rock, post-punk revival, garage rock | years_active = 2007–2014 | label = Kemado, Heavenly Recordings, Mexican Summer | associated_acts = The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower | website = [http://www.myspace.com/thesoftpack Official MySpace] | past_members = Matt Lamkin<br />Matty McLoughlin<br />David Lantzman<br />Brian Hill }} '''The Soft Pack''' was an indie rock band from San Diego, California, United States.<ref name="nme_name">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-soft-pack-22-1331400|title=The Soft Pack: 'We hated being called the Muslims'|date=2008-12-05|work=NME|publisher=IPC Media|access-date=2009-04-08}}</ref>
== History == The band was originally named the Muslims,<ref name="guardian_name">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2008/dec/03/muslims-soft-pack|title=The Muslims' name shame|last=Wells|first=Stephen|date=2008-12-03|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News and Media|access-date=2009-04-08}}</ref> but changed the name due to "ignorant and racist" comments.<ref name="nme_name" /> Matt Lamkin has stated Soft Pack can describe the band as being well mannered or it can refer to a device that when worn is intended to convince others that the wearer has a penis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spoonfed.co.uk/spooners/jameslspoonfed-7636/interview-the-soft-pack-2213|title=Interview: The Soft Pack|last=Lachno|first=James|date=2010-02-16|access-date=2010-03-10|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919094121/http://www.spoonfed.co.uk/spooners/jameslspoonfed-7636/interview-the-soft-pack-2213|archive-date=2012-09-19|url-status=dead}}</ref> The band formed in San Diego but are now based in Los Angeles.<ref name="nme_album">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/the-soft-pack/42249|title=The Soft Pack begin work on debut album|date=2009-01-22|work=NME|publisher=IPC Media|access-date=2009-04-08}}</ref>
Having released records through labels such as 1928 Recordings, Sweet Tooth Records, Caspian Records and I Hate Rock n' Roll, the band is currently signed to Kemado Records.
The band has signed a deal with Heavenly Recordings/Cooperative Music. The band released their debut full-length album, ''The Soft Pack'', on Kemado Records on February 26, 2010. It was produced by Eli Janney and recorded in Brooklyn, New York, at Saltlands Studio.
The band's single "Answer to Yourself" was the final song streamed on WOXY.com before its sudden shutdown on March 23, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.crawdaddy.com/index.php/2010/03/24/can-woxy-be-brought-back-to-life/ |title=Can WOXY be Brought Back to Life? | Crawdaddy! |access-date=2010-04-07 |archive-date=2010-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329215019/http://www.crawdaddy.com/index.php/2010/03/24/can-woxy-be-brought-back-to-life/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The song is also included in the video game ''Grand Theft Auto V'' on the in-game radio station ''Vinewood Boulevard Radio''. Since August 2010 it is also used for the commercial of the Dutch beer brand Grolsch.
On June 8, 2010, the indie rock band Nada Surf released a cover of the Soft Pack's "Bright Side" on their all-covers album ''If I Had a Hi-Fi''.
The band's second album, ''Strapped'', was released on Mexican Summer on August 17, 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/13844-saratoga/ |title=The Soft Pack: "Saratoga" | Tracks | Pitchfork |website=Pitchfork |access-date=2012-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712073214/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/13844-saratoga/ |archive-date=2012-07-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The band performed "Answer to Yourself" on The Late Show with David Letterman,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1599666/|title = Episode #17.90|website = IMDb|date = 12 February 2010}}</ref> dedicating their performance to the late Warren Zevon.
On August 26, 2016, the band's frontman Matt Lamkin released his solo album on BigMono Rekords, titled ''Where I'm Matt''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mattlamkin.bandcamp.com/ |title=Matt Lamkin |publisher=Mattlamkin.bandcamp.com |date= |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> Matty McLoughlin, guitarist for the band, releases material under the name ''US Underground''.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://soundcloud.com/matty-mcloughlin-716297900| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170425031929/https://soundcloud.com/matty-mcloughlin-716297900| archive-date = 2017-04-25| title = US Underground {{!}} Free Listening on SoundCloud}}</ref> It is currently unclear whether or not the Soft Pack will continue making music together, however, the band is occasionally active through its social media accounts.
== Band members == *Matt Lamkin - vocals, guitar *Matty McLoughlin - guitar *David Lantzman - bass guitar *Brian Hill - drums
===Albums=== * ''The Soft Pack'' (February 2, 2010, Kemado) * ''Strapped'' (September 25, 2012, Mexican Summer)
===Singles=== * "Parasites"/"Walking With Jesus" (2008, I Hate Rock n' Roll) as the Muslims * "Extinction" (2008, Sweet Tooth) as the Muslims * "Nightlife" (2008, Caspian) * "Answer to Yourself" (2009, Kemado) * "Gagdad" (2010, Mexican Summer) * "Saratoga" (2012, Mexican Summer)
===EPs=== * ''The Muslims'' (2008, 1928 Recordings) as the Muslims * ''Extinction'' (2009, Merok)
== External links == *[http://www.myspace.com/thesoftpack Official MySpace] *[http://www.talkrocktome.com/the-soft-pack-fuck-then-this-is-now/ An interview with Matty of the Soft Pack: Fuck then, this is now] September 28, 2012
== References == {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Soft Pack, The}} Category:Indie rock musical groups from California Category:Mexican Summer artists Category:Musical groups established in 2007 Category:Musical groups from San Diego