New Artist: Black Gold

Multi-instrumentalists Eric Ronick and Than Luu have spent years lending their skills to a variety of big names (Panic at the Disco, M. Ward, Rachael Yamagata, to name a few) and are now stepping into the spotlight with Black Gold. The duo formed the band in 2006 and worked on writing material for their debut album, Rush, between their stage musician gigs. The record is already available digitally now and will be getting a proper physical release next week.

Rush is a diverse alternative rock album that finds the two musicians dabbling in a variety of genres yet keeping a distinctive feeling throughout the 11 tracks. Ronick handles the majority of the vocal duties along with keyboards and synths while Luu takes on drums, guitar, and programming. Along with a few friends, the duo make quite a bit of noise and cover some serious territory, from the electro-funk of "Breakdown," to the piano ballad closer "After The Flood." Most of the group's experiments work well, though Black Gold sound best when the energy is high and the beats are coming fast. Highlights include rocker "Plans & Reveries," the groovy, slinky "The Comedown," and the harmony-heavy opener "Detroit."

The eclecticism of Rush gives the duo a chance to show off their musical chops, but it also bodes well for any future albums the two might create together. With this solid foundation, whatever direction they decide to venture in for the next go 'round should yield some impressive results.

Check out Black Gold on MySpace for songs, videos, etc., or sign up for the group's mailing list and get a free remix EP of "Detroit."


Tour Dates:

February
5 New York, NY - East River Park #
19 Albuquerque, NM - The Launchpad *
20 Colorado Springs, CO - The Loft *
21 Denver, CO - The Loft *
24 Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room *
25 Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews *
26 St. Paul, MN - Station 4 *
27 Madison, WI - The Annex *
28 Chicago, IL - AV-Aerie *
March
1 West Lafayette, IN - Purdue University *
2 Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop *
3 Philadelphia, PA - The Barbary *
4 Cambridge, MA - Middle East *
5 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge *
6 Hoboken, NJ - Maxwells *
7 Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel *
8 Richmond, VA - Canal Club *
10 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 *
11 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn *
12 Oxford, MS - Proud Larry's *
13 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks *
14 Dallas, TX - Club Dada *
15 Denton, TX - Rubber Gloves *
17 San Antonio, TX - White Rabbit *
18 Austin, TX - SXSW
21 Tempe, AZ - The Clubhouse *
24 Las Vegas, NV - Wasted Space / Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

* w/ Lydia

Reviews: The Panics, Black Gold, The Little Ones

So many albums...so little time. I'm doing another trio of reviews here in the shorter format again in order to cover everything I'd like to get done this week. I still have a review of the Annuals new album Such Fun coming soon (hopefully).


The Panics - Cruel Guards (* * * *)
The Panics make their U.S. debut with Cruel Guards, released yesterday. These guys have been big in their native Australia for a while now, though I imagine you, like me, have never heard a thing about them before now. Their soulful take on adult alternative rock should have no trouble finding its place in the American music scene.

Sounding like something of a mix between Destroyer and the Wallflowers, The Panics seem at once familiar and unique, always slightly restrained but never dull. The highlight of the album is the lead single, "Don't Fight It," a delicate anthem with a sticks-in-your-head chorus and beautiful piano and horn arrangements. The production on Cruel Guards shines throughout, with eerie background vocals (Something In The Garden) and brilliant strings (Get Us Home, Ruins) among other tasteful flourishes. It's an album made by a band who understand how to play to their strengths and avoid their weaknesses.

Cruel Guards takes a couple spins to truly appreciate. While my initial impression of the album was certainly positive, subsequent listens have revealed a thoroughly interesting and enjoyable record that deserves our attention here in the States.

Favorite Tracks: "Don't Fight It," "Cruel Guards," "Something In The Garden"


Check out their MySpace page for a listen.


Black Gold - Tragedy & Legacy (* * * 1/2)
I've never actually reviewed an EP before, but I am impressed by this new band, Black Gold. I mentioned it last week as a project between Eric Ronick (touring member of Panic At The Disco) and Than Luu (tours with M. Ward and others) who wrote and recorded their upcoming debut, Rush between other commitments.

The sound is tough to categorize in the three songs (and one remix) because the duo incorporate a little bit of everything into their music. It's rock music with a sizable portion of electronica, a dash of funk, a bit of soul, all led by Ronick's smooth tenor voice. "Idols" has a much more organic sound, while "Detroit" and "Breakdown" incorporate synthesizers and dance beats.

Everything works well and feels fresh, though it's hard to say if the band will be able to reign in their wealth of ideas into a cohesive LP. Tragedy & Legacy is a promising start for this ambitious new group.


Check out RCRD LBL for a band bio.


The Little Ones - Morning Tide (* * * 1/2)
Morning Tide is the debut album for the Los Angeles-based five-piece The Little Ones. After releasing two well-received EPs, the group faced a fair amount of hype accompanying their new record which dropped yesterday.

Though it seems as though many of the early reviewers of Morning Tide have been less than impressed, I found the album to be a fun blast of 60s-style indie pop. It's consistently bright and sunny, with catchy melodies and sweet harmonies at every turn. Lead single and title track "Morning Tide" sounds like Oasis meets The Shins, while tunes like "Rise and Shine" and "Like A Spoke On A Wheel" seem imported almost directly off the oldies station.

Though Morning Tide is rarely great, it's frequently good and occasionally remarkable. "Gregory's Chant" is a beautifully composed and produced pop song, and "Boracay" is an example of The Little One's ability to make something so splendidly joyful it's almost impossible to hate. Through the 11 tracks and 40 minute running time, the album doesn't ask for much, just sit back and let it put a smile on your face.

Favorite Tracks: "Gregory's Chant," "Boracay," "Like A Spoke On A Wheel"


Listen to the album the rest of this week on Spinner.