I pay attention to song titles, and AM Gold’s Bongs Not Bombs has some doozies -- and I’m not just talking about the opening title track, which (surprise!) is a stone-cold doom anthem. Its (mostly) instrumental companion is the album’s penultimate track titled “Bombs Not Bongs” and picks up where its predecessor left off.
In between those two heavy songs is plenty of fun-titled lighter fare. We’ve got the computerized retro-pop of “How Does It Feel (From a Sexual Automaton),” the sweaty Texas-fried nonsense boogie of the ZZ Top tribute “(Suckin’ On) Billy G’s Beard,” and the loungey chill vibes of “Influencer Influenza.” And “Yr Kind” rails against the religious right and sounds straight from a mid-Nineties alt-rock record -- at least until it morphs into an acoustic coda that could have been salvaged from an early Eagles album.
It’s hard to believe all of this is made by only two people: Aaron Magram on guitars, bass, keys and vocals, and Dana Fasano on drums, percussion and additional vocals. As on 2024’s self-titled album, AM Gold never settles on one musical style throughout this 10-song, 42-minute record, which makes for a listening experience that keeps your ears on their toes. Magram can rage on one song and then do his best Jon Anderson impression on another one, and Fasano hangs on for dear life all while keeping his partner on beat.
This is an enjoyable record from a duo that seemingly refuses to stand still. While it might be a tad too schizophrenic from some listeners, it also will yield more surprises on additional spins.
Track Listing:
1. Bongs Not Bombs
2. Yr Kind
3. Noose
4. How Does It Feel (From a Sexual Automaton)
5. (Suckin’ on) Billy G’s Beard
6. Influencer Influenza
7. Ad Nauseum
8. I’m Letting Go
9. Bombs Not Bongs
10. Eggs
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