American Music Club – The Golden Age
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Posted On March 1, 2008
It’s rare enough that a great band reunites to release a great comeback album; carrying the momentum into the record after that is even trickier. It’s like facing the sophomore slump all over again, only this time there’s a beloved body of work for fans to measure against the newest songs.
American Music Club measures up on its second record back. The first, 2004’s Love Songs For Patriots, was a reminder of just how good the group was during its original run from 1983-1995, when singer Mark Eitzel established himself as one of the most soulful (if commercially overlooked) songwriters around. The Golden Age only enhances that reputation, on mostly downbeat songs that nevertheless display sparks: of wit, of beauty and sometimes of quiet anguish.
The music is warm and organic, with somber acoustic guitars and piano, and earthy accents from electric guitar building into the occasional squall. Guitarist Vudi returns; bassist Sean Hoffman and drummer Steve Didelot succeed longtime members Dan Pearson and Tim Mooney, respectively.
Eitzel murmurs rueful self-recriminations on “The Sleeping Beauty” and turns on his droll charm for “The Victory Choir”, a rootsy waltz with tight vocal harmonies. He recites a wry tourist’s travelogue in “Windows On The World”, and sings a deceptively lovely floating melody on “The Dance”, a dark song that ends with a drunken shooting. American Music Club is no stranger to dark themes, of course, but the band’s singular ability to make the gloom so alluring is one of its biggest strengths.
