It's been a long, long time since the last Goldenboy record; four years in fact. Way back in 2006 the band's second album, Underneath the Radio, was warmly received just about everywhere and after about an eternity on the road, the band kind of took a break. What started out as a solo project for it's founder in 2003, Shon Sullivan while he played with Elliott Smith, ended up becoming something far more than something one person could handle. Flash forward eight years, and here's Goldenboy now as a full fledged five piece band complete with a brother/sister team up.
The band's new album, Sleepwalker, picks up the pieces left by the band's debut and reassembles them into something gorgeous, dreamy, and fantastic. With lush guitar work, hazy vocals, and a laid back slow motion approach the band created a lazy pop record that's perfect for early mornings and walks in the park. This is a subtle record whose charms lazily reveal themselves and whose melodies gradually work their way into your subconscious without you knowing. By the time Sleepwalker winds up twelve songs later, the band have made an impression that's hard to forget.
Sleepwalker is lazy goodness that's soaked in harmonic bliss and songs like, "Anna Said," and "He Liked Cloudy Weather," hint at this. Goldenboy have created a gentle pop record that whispers in your ear and keeps to itself in the background. Its subtlety and unobtrusiveness makes you pay attention because if you're not careful you might just miss something that you shouldn't have. This is shy, dreamy pop the way they don't make it anymore and while that's a depressing thought, the fact that Goldenboy carry the torch here is reassuring; the sound is in good hands.
Sleepwalker isn't a pop record that clubs you over the head. Instead Goldenboy, much like Cinerama, relies on its intellect, demureness, and insecurity to win you over and by the time "Holiday," rolls along you'll want to give this record a hug simply for existing. Sleepwalker is great stuff.
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