Goldfly

Guster | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 4, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Aware Records
• ASIN: B000001U7D
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #259,977 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Great Escape

2. Demons

3. Perfect

4. Airport Song

5. Medicine

6. X-Ray Eyes

7. Grin

8. Getting Even

9. Bury Me

10. Rocket Ship

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Sonic Treat, November 29, 2001

By 

Martin P. McCarthy (North Chili, New York) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Goldfly (Audio CD)

One day I was driving with a friend of mine listening to this CD when "Airport Song" came on. My friend shrieked "Oh My Gawd! I love this song!" She turned up the radio as loud as it would go. After she sang her fool head off I asked her, "Why do you love that song?" She said, there were two reasons. The first was the line "Whose your daddy/I'm your daddy now." The second was the use of the ping pong ball at the end of the song.

What you get from a band like Guster is a willingness to explore what seems to be the lost art of sound. Harmonizing lyrics, layered instrumentation and a ping pong ball.

On this CD there are a few standout songs (in addition to the aforementioned "Airport Song.")

"Demons" - A nicely balanced song with both Ryan Miller and Adam Garder singing coupled with haunting melodies. Standout lyric: "Honest is easy/Fiction is where genius lies/Cause it's easier sometimes not to be involved/somehow I make you believe.

"X-Ray Eyes" - A slower more melodic piece than the one that follows ('Grin") it is also a nice arrangements of sounds.

"Grin" - A nicely layered guitar piece with great lyrics based upon an inetersting premise. Standout lyric: "And in all the iditots I see/ Thoughtless men casting doubts on me/ Enlightening."

"Getting Even" - This is my favorite song on "Goldfly." In "Getting Even" the listener is treated to a melody that seems to belie the tenor of the songs lyrics. Standout lyric: "They haven't heard a word we've said/ They Make mistakes they doubt his calling/ To Taste revenge will be so sweet/ When we have left them this place/ And as we leave our sacrifice/ One final step outside/ No longer feel these things around/ Soon we'll be happy in the place we are."

All in all, "Goldfly" is a great album and Guster is an awesome band. For those who like "Goldfly" you should try Guster's other albums or, if at all possible, SEE THEM LIVE! If you are seeking a similar band, you should try Toad the Wet Sprocket.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Guster is Great, but the Production is Lacking, July 27, 2002

By 

"e-will" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Goldfly (Audio CD)

I am a huge fan of Guster, as their third album "Lost and Gone Forever" is my favorite album of the last 10 years. This is good as well, although not up to the level of "Lost and Gone Forever".

The songwriting on this album is more inconsistent and doesn't have as many instantly likeable songs. It has more of an indie type sound and feel to it. I feel like the production is the biggest detractor to this album. The band has said that this album doesn't have the live energy of its third album.

On the bright side, it's still Guster and there are still great songs. "Demons" and "Grin" are probably the two best-sounding songs on the CD, both very catchy and memorable at first listen. "Demons" is one of their most acclaimed songs, in the same vein as "So Long" from LAGF. "Bury Me" is a concert staple, uptempo with some great bongo work from Brian Rosenworcel. "Medicine" is another great song, unusual for Guster in that it uses a real drum set and has a funky, bluesy feel to it. Some of the songs I initially didn't like but have really grown on me are "Airport Song" and "Getting Even". These two are darker than the majority of Guster's songs but very interesting.

Some may feel this is their best album if you are more into the college/indie scene. But like I mentioned, the songwriting is good but not really compareable to the genius of "Lost and Gone Forever". Still, that's a classic album and this is a very good album. The production on that album is 10 times better. You would barely be able to tell it's the same band judging by the sound from these two CD's. But each has its individual merits and some may prefer the more raw/indie sound of "Goldfly".

If you're a new Guster fan, I would start with "Lost and Gone Forever". Then get this one.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Make 'em a part of your CD collection, August 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Goldfly (Audio CD)

I stumbled onto Guster on a whim. While perusing the local music store, I spotted this unique CD cover (the fly/head) and asked the clerk if I could listen to it before buying. No problem. She popped it in. Instant pleasure. Vocal harmonies, catchy tunes, great percussion. Flat out amazing at times. It made such an impression at the store that no fewer than 3(!) other people asked who it was and 2 of them bought it. Check it out. You'll like it.