When you've got almost a 10-year legacy of politically charged, reggae-infused ska/punk behind you, sending listeners on a genre roller coaster is a dangerous move.
In Goldfinger's latest release, "Disconnection Notice," the band does just that.
Goldfinger has experimented with its traditional sound, blurring the lines between punk, ska, alternative rock and emo.
But digressing from its roots isn't all bad. The band's shift from horns to guitars gives "Disconnection Notice" more of a driving feel as opposed to laid-back ska.
The album's standout track, "Too Many Nights," is a tribute to the touring life of a rock star.
The intro features a cowbell over simple rhythm guitar, and the lyrics are as follows: "Drive into the lights/The streets are like rain clouds, dripping into the night/Wheels keep on turning/The sky is still burning/Thunderclouds start a fight."
Since Goldfinger is fronted by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - or PETA - poster boy John Feldman, there are a few tracks that might turn off the politically disenfranchised. "Behind the Mask" features a return to ska horns and an unsettling speech from what sounds like a turn-of-the-century animal activist.
Feldman disowns a former friend with his lyrics, "Now that I know that you work for them/Now that I know your life is based around such lies and corporate greed/You only believe what you are told/You only defend laws that are old."
The album's final track, "Stalker," shows that Feldman certainly hasn't lost his sense of humor in the decade since he wrote "My Girlfriend's Shower Sucks." "Stalker" is a catchy little number about the antics of an obsessed fan.
And partyers everywhere will rejoice at the first single, "Wasted."
The track probably is one of the worst on the album, due to cliché lyrics and uninteresting instrumentals; it lacks the force that makes other tracks on the album so irresistible. Despite this, "Wasted" will most likely go into heavy rotation on rock stations this summer.
"Disconnection Notice" is proof positive that not doing what is expected, although risky, can sometimes produce the best results and, just because a band's been around forever, doesn't mean it can't still make good music.
