Inside MusiCast 'Pick Of The Day': "Golden Days", by Mamas Gun
Inside MusiCast 'Pick Of The Day': "Golden Days", by Mamas Gun. Reviewed by Eddy Cabello.
It was 2014 when Andy Platts’ Mamas Gun gave us “Cheap Hotel”. It was a solid album. Five years later, Mamas Gun gives us another groovy gift – “Golden Days” – and it’s another solid album. The five-piece band has a way of delivering pure West Coast AOR music that isn’t “trying too hard” to sound like West Coast AOR music. Four albums in, Mamas Gun is just doing what they do. They create great sounding, understated “Pacific highway” tunes that you can put on rotation and forget about it.
The title of the album is a sure give-away that this will be good. “Golden Days”. That’s old school. But they’re NOT old school, they merely appreciate this vibe.
Tunes like “On The Wire”, “I Need a Win” and “Diamond in the Bell Jar” are catchy tunes that reach into the back seat to pull out interesting instrumental hooks that work throughout. Whether guitar licks, or neatly pressed trumpet and flute parts, these tunes move you to put your sunglasses on as you drive down the coast.
“London Girls”, drives a little harder with an acoustic creating the rhythm back beat that preps the foundation for gritty guitars and vocals. This track has punch. Play this loud if you can.
Andy and the band slow things down a little with a delicate ballad called “The Spooks”. This is one of my favorite tracks on the album. The lyrics are wonderful and imaginative. Platts knows how to tell a story that is personal, emotional and evocative. Midway, the lead vocals double in octaves. This track will push your buttons. So just sit back, close your eyes and submit to the senses of “The Spooks”. Tied to the hip of “The Spooks” is the well-crafted “We”. It’s another tune to spin over and over. I love the line “it’s better when it’s we”. Check out the progressions on this tune. I counted two or three key transitions that blend nicely.
I appreciate the subtle string arrangements and vocal harmonies that back Andy’s vocals. They work as a nice foundation that is almost 6:00 minutes long. And it ends with the music dissolving into an a capella ending. Oh, did I mention the little doggie that howls at the end? Cute.
The title track, “Golden Days”, begins with a strong horn strike that dies as quickly as it started. At 1:15 the bass line really takes off into a driving crescendo that adds horns to help make a point. The guitar solo mimics the sounds of legendary guitarist Eric Gale. “Golden Days” works.
Soul. That’s what you get when you play “Strangers on a Street”. It’s an honest track that gives you a taste of AOR days of past. It’s a comfy tune that is smooth-groove-woven.
The end to “Golden Days” is soft and pensive. Andy’s vocals are carried merely by the sound of an old upright piano sound, similar to the untuned piano located in your grandmother’s house. That’s the sound. Platts wants you to feel as if you’re in the room with him as he plays and sings. A very nice ending for the listener.
As the album culminates, I felt satisfied with the album. It pushed my buttons and held true to the Mamas Gun sound. Can’t wait for the next album. Nice job, Andy and guys.
Enjoy “Golden Days”.
– Eddy Cabello, IMC Co-host