Music Review // T. Gold "Life is a Wonder and it's Cruel" (Sleepy Cat Records)

https://tgold.bandcamp.com/album/life-is-a-wonder-and-its-cruel 

I really feel like one of the first things which drew me into this album was the title because it feels like it's about taking the good with the bad, you know, just that sense that if bad things didn't happen in life we wouldn't recognize the good when it happens.  Musically this comes out right away with these big organ keys, which make it feel like this upbeat, quirky indie rock.  Vocals can be layered at times and when we hit the end of the first song it just seems to abruptly cut off to get into the second song.

T. Gold has this acoustic rock sound which makes me think of Spoon, but also Neon Trees if they were acoustic.  Horns come out near the end of "Jewel" while slower and more ominous bass drums beat on "Another Time".  There is a little bit of that Buddy Holly rock n roll on here as well, just slowed down (twee?) and then I hear what sounds like an oboe coming in.  

My favorite song on this album is "Speak With Spirits" as it has more of these isolated electronics going into the dreamy rock with a steady pace.  I also enjoy that it has the lyrics: "Did you ever really value human life?  Did you put one before your own?  Did you put one before mine?"  This sets the tone in ways for this album, as the mood can be somewhat mean spirited or just singing songs about being upset with someone else.

"Assholes Only Take" has a nice groove, sort of like an anti-lyrical themed song for TMBG.   Dreamy notes flow into the bass on "Gone All Night" and "Instrumental" is just lovely.   The vocals switch up and sound robotic at one point on "Spaceman", which is also a favorite song of mine on here.  On "305 'til I Die" The Casualties are name dropped and I like when things like this happen because it shows the person is into this genre of punk rock but these songs don't have that same raw, punk way about them as they're better contained.

At times T. Gold can remind me of Matthew Danger Lipman.  Sort of synth electronics which feel complex but are more simple in the delivery charge "Love is a Dice Roll".  This whole album ends on a song called "Wagoner's Lad", which is sort of that country twang and even says "Fare thee well, darling", which is a nice way to end the album.  There are electronics right up until the end and I enjoy how T. Gold seems to explore genres as deeply as these lyrics explore thoughts and feelings.