Rating: 
Sometimes things just feel right, and that’s precisely the feeling I get whenever I play the self-titled album from Golden Grrrls. With warm weather hitting my city, I needed something that would be both energetic and creative, and this album fits neatly into that box. Bring on the Spring, and bring on more spins of this record.
“New Pop” opens up the album for this Glaswegian trio, and there’s not a better way to start things off than by combining multi-part vocal (male and female) harmonies. The distorted guitar, the cymbal play and the frenetic pace of the vocal delivery provides a perfect beginning for one of the brightest records of the year. And it doesn’t stop when Golden Grrrls move into “Past Tense.” There’s definitely a bit of a more folk feeling bubbling underneath this track, with less distortion being pushed to the front of the mix; it’s probably one of the tracks that wears the badge of Flying Nun Records influences. Ruari’s vocal appearance during the chorus might actually steal the show a bit, but the whole tune’s simply splendid.
Almost every track provides listeners with something to tap their toes to, even when they choose to go in a softer direction. “Wrld Peace,” for instance, maintains the warm aesthetic of the multi-part harmonies, but the rolling movement of the drums on this song really stands out to me. After going back over the record again, I realized that the drums standout on almost every track, at least in some regard, but there’s some many layers of sound going on in each track, that occasionally your attention drifts elsewhere…just be sure to give the drumming some props! Sometimes, all three members join in to offer counterattacking vocal parts, like on “Date It,” which might have been why I drifted away from the superb percussion. You’ve got to have a careful ear to catch everything going on, which I think is one of the many successes within Golden Grrrls; the formula might appear simple at first, but the subtleties of the craftsmanship really is what allows for repeated listens. You’ll find that same approach on almost every song.
But, that might be a drawback for some, as many of the songs can bleed together just a bit. Still, it’s a slight blemish on an otherwise marvelous listen. You’re not going to find a bad track on this record; it’s simply not possible. There’s casual tracks of summery pop like “We’ve Got” or there are songs that grab you energetically from the get go such as “Take Your Time,” and they all give you a sense of inner joy. For my two cents, the record is refreshing, taking a popular format, adding more harmonies and a little bit more focus. It makes Golden Grrrls one of my favorite acts of the moment, and I’m sure it’ll be yours too.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/02-Past-Tense.mp3]
Golden Grrrls is out now on Slumberland Records.
While reading the press release for Cool Ghouls the name Tim Cohen was mentioned; that sold me from the get-go, but the song itself pushed my fandom even further. On their new single, the band combines psychedelia elements with true country tunes, all the while piling up some great musical accompaniment to fill out their sound. It’s a song with soul and swagger all in one, keeping things interesting for all of those taking the time to enjoy great music. On April 23rd, the band will release their self-titled record via Empty Cellar Records, so keep that on your radar if you know what’s good for you.
