Goldfinger Hang-Ups (Gold) - Vinyl

Goldfinger: John Feldmann, Simon Williams, Darrin Pfeiffer, Charlie Paulson. Additional personnel: Chris Johnson, Paul Hampton (keyboards); Angelo Moore, Scott Klopfenstein, Dan Regan, Gabriel McNair, Jonas Cabrera, Garth Schultz, Kip Wirtzfeld, Mike Menchaca (horns); Chris Thompson (background vocals). Engineers: Chris Johnson, Kevin Globerman, Slamm Andrews. Goldfinger return with a sophomore album that takes a tight, cohesive sound and adds a drop more ska to the ska-punk-metal-pop mix that won them interest and acclaim after the release of their self-titled 1996 debut. Amid crashing guitars and occasionally cacophonous vocals by John Feldmann, HANG-UPS offers wonderfully engaging surprises like a sweetly unexpected sense of melody, an unshakable twisted wit, and a newly expanded horn section which contributes to the album's full, vivid sound. "If Only" stands out both for its typical Goldfinger humor ("If only I was eighteen/And had the courage of the A-Team/Maybe then you'd be with me") and its gentle, melancholy lyrics and vocals. Feldmann's ability to let his voice go from punk-sinister to soft and pretty is one of the many strengths of this engaging band.

• RSD Date: DDD
• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Pop