 Golden
Bear
Golden Bear
( C-side
) 2006
FACT:
"[Golden Bear's] songs are some of the best you'll hear in your
whole cotton pickin' life. Their shows are truly a sight and sound to
behold". I didn't say that - I read it. And all I can
be expected to do is agree and forward the facts to whoever cares to
read them. Golden Bear are rock and celebration
- a single spark that followed a blessed fuse all the way back to a
gigantic barrel labeled "once in a lifetime".
Excitement
feeds my body - this Golden Bear album has done her job. Here
is an album that is just 2 philips head turns shy of being air tight,
but it's that minimal space in the entire production that gives Golden
Bear her human nature. Golden Bear is an album made
by able beings, beasts and best friends. What I have experienced here
is a collaboration of musical talent by which the love of songwriting
& performing has carried an extraordinary album into a place beyond
the unknown. I have heard the call for "Ten Thousand Orchestras",
and I gave no fight when prompted to sing along - at peak volume - driving
alone in my car. On this track alone, there is a distant sound of an
arcade game as drums & guitar lure you inside. Once inside, the
festivities begin - and you are surrounded by all of your best friends
whom you've never met. Exactly 3 and one half minutes of your life have
been documented, sealed and fulfilled as a chorus of gentle doves repeat
"Ten Thousand
Orchestras" atop a fanfare of drums, guitars, horns, kazoo,
synths, keys and a fitting guitar solo. "It'd be nice to go
to heaven, but first I'd like some songs" - charming, brilliant
and so much fun. "Santa Rosa" follows a couple
of songs later and dares the listener to keep up, leaving a trail riddled
with percussion and layers of keys hoping we can make it to the end.
I mean
- who the hell are Golden Bear and where have I
been? The documentation that is given with such an album states "There's
no hype; there's no buzz; there damn sure ain't no popularity".
How the hell is such a thing possible? Golden Bear have just given me
every reason a band could give for tracking them down and screaming
"thanks so VERY much!" right in their pretty
little faces. So - go right ahead and put these sounds on and allow
the temptation to pick up any kitchen utensil, stray trash can lid or
half jar'o'nuts and join right in to take over your worries - it's worth
every drop of sweat that escapes your filthy pores. "A Reason to
be Proud". Yes.
k!
:: (July.of.06) 
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