Golden Age

American Music Club | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 19, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Merge Records
• ASIN: B0011HF68M
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,112 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Turns out that 2004’s Love Songs for Patriots wasn’t just a one-off reunion record for San Francisco’s now quarter-century-old American Music Club. With original members Mark Eitzel and Mark "Vudi" Pankler still joined at the hip--at least when it comes to recapturing the lovely studio sound that carved out the band’s niche--AMC’s second second-life album (recorded with L.A. musicians on bass and drums) is as gorgeous and disorderly as any in its nine-album catalog. Eitzel’s panoramic songwriting ranges from a crush ("All My Love") and a hometown vignette ("All the Lost Souls Welcome You to San Francisco"), to a World Trade Center memory ("The Windows on the World") and a call-out to the 18th-century patron of altar boys ("The Victory Choir"). His emotionally unaffected vocals and Vudi’s jagged guitar work weave those ideas into a melodic and atmospheric formula that sounds as fresh and influential today as it did in the early 1990s. --Scott Holter

Product Description

This record by the band American Music Club is an effort to experiment and extend the range of their expression. The Golden Age is no exception: from the Mariachi horns to the breezy Beach Boys harmonies to the unfolding layers of feedback, this album is full of varied, joyous, and generous pop music. AMC is a San Francisco-based band led by singer-songwriter Mark Eitzel. AMC is better known for mastering the disparate strands of American music into a wholly unique synthesis all their own. On June 20, 2007, AMC announced a new lineup connected to the band's base of operations moving to Los Angeles. Eitzel and Vudi remain, while Mooney and Pearson stayed behind in San Francisco. They are replaced by bassist Sean Hoffman and drummer Steve Didelot. 13 tracks. Merge Records. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Laid-back, smooth, with a beautiful, bittersweet lyricism., February 26, 2008

By 

jazz4thenight (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Golden Age (Audio CD)

To those in the know, Mark Eitzel's AMC have made some of the most marvellous but melancholy music known to man.
American Music Club were the forerunners of thought provoking/anguished alternative American rock during the '80s and early '90s.
But after a 10-year hiatus, the band reformed in 2004 for a triumphant reunion tour and subsequent album Love Songs for Patriots.
Although the lead singer and songwriter Mark Eitzel has always remained productive in his solo capacity, he really appears to be finding his form again with AMC.
The line up boasts a new rhythm section with bassist Sean Hoffman and drummer Steve Didelot replacing Danny Pearson and Tim Mooney who stayed up in San Francisco working on their own individual projects while Eitzel decamped down to LA to work more closely with long time guitarist Vudi.
"The Golden Age" is exactly what you'd expect - the finest lyricism with dreamy Seventies pop settings.
But there is a lively spring to their step, helped no doubt by the new rhythm section.
The marching-band lilt of "I Know That's Not Really You" injects some well placed, positive upbeat relief with pumping accordion and mariachi horns before closing down the record with more contemplations of fallen beauty.
The opener "All My Love", is a serene, understated beauty of a track that washes over you in effortless fashion: it begins with acoustic arpeggios and brushed drums before Eitzel immediately engages with his earnest and poetic lyrics. "I wish we were always high, I wish we could swim in the sky", he sings with intimate emotion - Eitzel's dusky vocals working well in tandem with the lovely acoustic guitar licks.
Typically colourful and provocative in his storytelling, "The John Berchman Victory Choir" introduces a somewhat brighter pop sensibility before Vudi's articulate guitar personality begins to shine on "Decibels And The Little Pills".
With drums locked in country shuffle it recalls a sedated Glen Campbell as Eitzel contemplates futile efforts to find salvation in a rock crowd.
"The Sleeping Beauty" is one of the most beautiful offerings here, alongside "The Stars" with a blanket of harmony vocals and guitar work that does provide some indication of why Coldplay found such inspiration at Vudi's fingertips.
"All The Lost Souls Welcome You To San Francisco" is an instant highlight as Eitzel generates that sullen drama and soul searching and strangely recalls the melodic style of '80s favourites Prefab Sprout without really sounding '80s.
"The Golden Age" is filled with Eitzel's self deprecating, resolute, unrestrained and defiantly hopeful lyrical prowess - enough to justify his reputation as one of America's finest lyricists.
The result is that "The Golden Age" contains his finest songs for some time.
An album that once again should make American Music Club more than a best-kept secret. The only trouble is that there have been plenty more like this in the past!
Standout Tracks: "Sleeping Beauty", "All The Lost Souls", "Windows On The World", "All My Love" and "Decibels And The Little Pills".

The Collection
Songs of Love
Kings of Rock 'n' Roll: the Best of

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Golden, February 21, 2008

By 

K. H. Orton (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Golden Age (Audio CD)

If Love Songs For Patriots sounded like a tenative reunion to some, The Golden Age rolls up its sleeves and gets down to business. Though Eitzel still treads the dark waters, there is indeed a silver lining lurking behind the gathering storm clouds. Those looking for the angst of Mercury or Everclear are likely to say they've mellowed but there's still enough self-doubt to cling to.

"All My Love" starts things off with a gentle, dreamlike atmosphere & pretty much sets the tone for the whole album. That's not to say Eitzel's world weary cynicism has been abandoned in the least. "Victory Choir" is a fairly sarcastic swipe at the high & mighty religious right. Despite any upbeat smoothness, "Decibels & Pills" takes an all too familiar seat at the bar where "names are only good for gravestones".

In "Lost Souls" Eitzel seems to have written an all too ironic little anthem to the city that has long since harbored him. Without a doubt, "The Sleeping Beauty" is the album's standout ballad. Elsewhere, there's "The Stars" & "Who Are You" to keep fans coming back for more. While catchy, "The Dance" is by far the most unsettling track---around & around they go till his gun "paints her face all red". The angst ridden Eitzel of old, rears his head on the demented accordion waltz of "I Know That's Not Really You".

Any claim that AMC were just a glorified backing band has hopefully been laid to rest by Eitzel's somewhat erratic solo career. Truth is, no guest or session guitarist can quite bring what Vudi does to the proceedings. The man knows his Eitzel having been there from the start, & throughout they're in brooding simpatico. Despite a new rhythm section, there's a chemistry here that makes it clear they're far more than temporary replacements.

While Love Songs For Patriots was a promising reunion, Golden moves on with confidence. If you consider Everclear, Mercury & the crimminally out of print, California among their best, time to add another to the list.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Eitzel at home, February 29, 2008

By 

Gaylen Halbert (Weimar, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Golden Age (Audio CD)

Mark Eitzel is at his best when he is at home with American Music Club. I own and treasure several of Mark's solo albums, but with Sean Hoffman, Steve Didelot and Vudi Mark makes AMC a band that is very special. The songwriting on The Golden Age is particularly outstanding. No credits are given so apparently all the songs were written by Mark [?]. I know I will be listening to this album many times, now and in the future.