Rating: NNNN
Gold Brick bears the subtitles Lies Of The Great Explorers and Columbus At Guantanamo Bay, and its cover features the pyramid found on the U.S. dollar, so it’s no surprise that its lyrical themes are ones Langford has mined for years: dirty U.S. politics, exploitation, globalization, love and despair. But Langford has shifted musical gears. Possibly inspired by being reunited with Neil Cooper of Reach Out International Records, who released the Mekons’ New York album in 87, Gold Brick features what is perhaps Langford’s most accomplished set of tracks to date. There’s not a wasted moment or a half-baked idea to be found among these fully formed songs, expansive, lush arrangements, driving rhythms and radio-friendly melodies. Langford seems bright-eyed and full of enthusiasm folks half his age would be lucky to muster. Older, wiser and hipper than you or I will ever be.
