# The Soft Pack

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{{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](/source/San_Diego), United States
| genre               = [Indie rock](/source/Indie_rock), [post-punk revival](/source/post-punk_revival), [garage rock](/source/garage_rock)
| years_active        = 2007–2014
| label               = [Kemado](/source/Kemado_Records), [Heavenly Recordings](/source/Heavenly_Recordings), [Mexican Summer](/source/Mexican_Summer)
| associated_acts     = [The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower](/source/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](/source/indie_rock) band from [San Diego](/source/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](/source/NME)|publisher=[IPC Media](/source/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](/source/The_Guardian)|publisher=[Guardian News and Media](/source/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](/source/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](/source/NME)|publisher=[IPC Media](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Eli_Janney_(musician)) and recorded in Brooklyn, New York, at [Saltlands Studio](/source/Saltlands_Studio).

The band's single "Answer to Yourself" was the final song streamed on [WOXY.com](/source/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? &#124; 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](/source/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](/source/Nada_Surf) released a cover of the Soft Pack's "Bright Side" on their all-covers album ''[If I Had a Hi-Fi](/source/If_I_Had_a_Hi-Fi)''.

The band's second album, ''Strapped'', was released on [Mexican Summer](/source/Mexican_Summer) on August 17, 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/13844-saratoga/ |title=The Soft Pack: "Saratoga" &#124; Tracks &#124; Pitchfork |website=[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website)) |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](/source/David_Letterman),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1599666/|title = Episode #17.90|website = [IMDb](/source/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](/source/Singing), [guitar](/source/guitar)
*Matty McLoughlin - guitar
*David Lantzman - [bass guitar](/source/bass_guitar)
*Brian Hill - [drums](/source/Drum_kit)

===Albums===
* ''[The Soft Pack](/source/The_Soft_Pack_(album))'' (February 2, 2010, Kemado)
* ''[Strapped](/source/Strapped_(album))'' (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}}

{{Authority control}}

{{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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Soft Pack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Soft_Pack) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Soft_Pack?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.