Album Review
While some have stopped at saying that the Solid Goldsteins were a Replacements-influenced band, a brief listen to their one and only full-length release will reveal them to be significantly more. While those comparisons certainly can be drawn, with tracks like "Have Another Fight" showing a remarkable similarity, the band incorporates a nicely varied sound that goes beyond that categorizing. Although they do provide a similarly high-energy attack, the twangy guitar and nice harmonies of "Jewelry Box" show a definite country-rock influence, as many of the tracks are even somewhat laid-back, incorporating the occasional country guitar lick. "Throwaway Rocker" has a definite Rolling Stones vibe, while "Happiness" rolls along like a light-hearted George Harrison solo track; this is a band that was obviously capable of wearing a variety of hats. The raucous anthem for struggling bar bands in "Empty Bars" is bound to find sympathizers among those who've traversed similar routes. It was also on this release that principle songwriter Brady Harris showed the songwriting chops that would show up on his solo work following the Solid Goldsteins breakup, with the sparkling "While She's Away" being reprised on his debut solo album. So, in the end, the rough around the edges approach and solid hooks made the Solid Goldsteins a band whose demise should rightfully be mourned.
