Apollo Stars

Album Review

Featuring members of Trans Am, Royal Trux, and Six Finger Satellite, Chicago semi-supergroup Golden always tends to come up with something interesting. On their third disc, it's manifested as a cross-the-board mix of styles and sounds, from the proto-funk of the opening "Feel This Flow" to the slow but soothing and technically intricate "Henry Earl Ansell," and even the wah-wah grooves and speedy lyric work in "Goldenization." And that's all on side one! The eight-track disc is almost impossible to pin down outside of the fact that all the tracks have especially well-played guitar sections, and they all tend to take major chances with the vocals...from straight rock presentations to Spanish-inflected choruses. Most of the members of the quartet have already proven their chops in their other bands, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that they really seem to be having fun with this project. It doesn't necessarily stick with a single mood, but the stylistic changes from song to song are part of Golden's style, and anyone who dug their earlier efforts will not only enjoy Apollo Stars, but should also recognize how much more successful the band is becoming in each of its endeavors. ~ Peter J. D'Angelo, Rovi