Grace Hotel
  Overall rating:  +++-

Album Reviews

This is the first Starflyer album i ever heard. I already knew a lot of SF songs from all the T&N samplers, but a complete album is, of course, the ‘real thing’. I must say, the first song on this album, “A Housewife Love Song”, is my all-time favorite SF59 song – yes, in the mean while i know 3 SF59 albums. Great, the way Jason Martin sings, softly, gently, when, all of a sudden, these mighty guitars kick in… i could drown forever in this song! This is what I like best about Starflyer 59: the soft singing, almost whispering voice of Jason Martin, combined with these fantastic walls of guitars. Check out “Duel Overhead Cam”, When You Feel Miserable” and “Stop Wasting Your Whole Life / Messed Up And Down”. The songs on this album are not fast or anything, this is great music for in your car or something. And the songs are all quite original.

Actually, this album doesn’t have a title, but since their first full-length didn’t have a title either, this album has the nickname “Gold”, so you can tell them apart – the art work is all in gold. Starflyer 59’s debut album therefor has the nickname “Silver”.

This album also has some really laid-back songs, that are great when you’re dozing in your bed. These songs don’t have the walls of guitar, but are more dreamy. E.g. “Messed Up Over You”, “When You Feel The Mess” and “Do You Ever Feel That Way”.

The other songs on this album are in between the softer songs and the walls of guitar. All songs on this album are good, although the ‘dreamy’ song “One Shot Juanita” gets kinda annoying when you’re full of energy and you listen to it, cause it lasts on and on and on. Well, i think you should listen to this album yourself to make your own judgement. One thing i know for sure: this album is a ‘classic’ Tooth & Nail album, every T&N fan should have it!

Considering the original style of music this band makes, i give “Gold” 9.0 points out of 10

  ~ Martijn Douma

it's beautiful, beautiful. the moments when it bludgeons you with sheer choking granite noise are softened by jason's sleepy, floating voice, hovering over it, lightly touching but staying just above. and God, "dual overhead cam" was like a lover to me. i couldn't get enough of it. it will always be my favorite and possibly the best on the album. the time-bomb ticking of the guitars, the long, lazy soloing, and the buildup at the end with the shrieking feedback stretching one's nerves to the breaking point...and then it explodes, and continues to explode until it fades, leaving you exhauted and flying. "when you feel miserable" has the same soaring feeling. and i can't describe "indiana" in words.