I was thoroughly excited when Leon Bridges announced the release of his new album, Gold-Diggers Sound, and with its release at the end of July, I couldn't help but give myself time to listen and digest. Here are my thoughts:
Album Review:
Gold-Diggers Sound is a strong return for Leon Bridges and a diverting from his previous projects. The best way to describe it is a nautical evolution in sound, confidence, lyric, and direction.
I use "nautical" because this album is heavy with low end frequencies and bass riffs, providing the listener with a submerged, deep water sonic experience. It felt like I was swimming and I didn't want to do anything else.
This entire album is honey with pockets of fresh air. Coming Home unleashed Leon's vintage, out-of-time sound into a contemporary music scene. Good Thing saw Leon experiment with higher energy tracks and more complicated vocals, almost as if the vintage television screen had switched to higher definition. And Gold-Digger Sounds brings Leon into more solidified rnb context that melds strongly with his vintage personality and southern origin.
Track List:
There are no bad tracks on this album. Yes. I said it. Each track has its own personality ranging from skater rink, groovy date feels and midnight drive songs, to face-to-face, candlight music, and southern, spaghetti western, wandering cowboy sounds.
Tracks 'Motorbike', 'Magnolias', 'Details', and 'Sho Nuff' definitively showcase Leon's sound evolution, while 'Steam', 'Why Don't You Touch Me', and 'Sweeter' take similar tones from Good Thing and recontextualize them.
Personally, 'Magnolias', 'Sho Nuff', and 'Blue Mesas' are my favorite tracks. Each wielding the excitement of new sounds and direction for the Texas native. Gold-Digger Sounds is certainly a strong project that will find itself in my 'frequently played' list.
Gold-Digger Sounds can be streamed on all platforms now. Go listen to it. You do not want to miss this wonderful body of work.
