Post by jptheprofessor on Feb 26, 2006 23:46:26 GMT -5
RIK GOLDEN – RIK GOLDEN (no label) After playing guitar in several area punk and rock’n’roll bands over the past few years, Hollidaysburg’s Rik Golden has released his own album. The self-titled Rik Golden album introduces us to this musician’s world, as he dabbles in garage rock, punk, rockabilly, surf, and even country/bluegrass sounds. Through the album’s dozen tracks, Rik sings and plays several instruments, including guitar, bass, drums, kazoo, banjo and more; assisted along the way by a variety of area musicians, including The Marauders, Rick Ramsey (who recorded the album), Silver Sunday drummer Todd Harshbarger and more. The prominent flavor on this album is rowdy, reckless, driving rock’n’roll rooted in Social Distortion and the Rolling Stones; demonstrated on the album-opening salvo of “Alone,” “Something Else (In Mind),” and “The Gig Is Up,” also “Brown Eye Mary” and “Still Sittin Home.” Rik’s former bandmates, The Marauders, back him up on the 50’s-flavored “Ain’t Gonna Change” and the drunk and rowdy ode to another former bandmate, “Jonny Leather Jacket.” Rik taps into the rural side of his musical personality on several numbers; including a rockabilly-flavored update of “Don’t Bother Me,” first done by former area punk rockers the Full Time Kings; and on the country-flavored folk rock “Trouble Song.” Rik digs even further into Americana with the bluegrass instrumental “Station Inn Song,” helped by Rick Ramsey on banjo, Jen Harnett on fiddle and Matt Harnett on spoons and jaw harp. The album also features a surf-rock barnburner, “Cresson Gutter Bums,” before ending on a lighthearted note with the playful “Nobody Cares.” Recorded in locations in Bakerton, Ebensburg and New Germany, Rik Golden is a lo-fi affair that won’t score many points with audiophiles. The mix is rough and at times uneven; but this ultimately serves to complement the reckless and punky spirit of the album, and also works well with Rik’s rough-edged, gritty vocals. Through its varying flavors and unpolished, carefree approach, Rik Golden is a jewel in the rough that works well. It’s ultimately a fun, lively album that captures the various mood swings of Rik Golden’s musical personality. If you can get past the lack of gloss and polish here, this album contains style, grit and character. (To obtain this album, log on to www.rockpage.net and send a private message to “riksylvania.”)