Let My Burden Be

Bands who come out of nowhere and knock you off your feet are some of the best things about music. Add Golden Shoulders to that list. Sure, some of the members of the group were in bands like Cake, Deathray, and Jackpot, but Golden Shoulders are a totally unknown group. When dealing with an unknown, sometimes comparisons can help with context, so here it goes: Kind of like Grandaddy with a radio-ready sense of melody, or Mercury Rev if they had turned to the Archies instead of the Band for mentoring, Golden Shoulders play indie rock that is rooted in guitars, both acoustic and electric, but sounds like the future. Through it all is Adam Kline. He wrote all the songs and sings them in a nasal, instantly memorable style. Album-opener "Do You Know Who You Are" kicks you right in the gut with drums that sound like refugees from a Sweet record and a killer hook that would make Kareem proud. Following up a song this good should be impossible, but "Let My Burden Be" never lets you down. The songs are a blend of folky ballads ("The Honey, the Power, the Light," "Spirit of '78," "Goodbye Hummingbird"), mid-tempo tracks ("Finding Out," "One to Be For), and strutting rockers ("Time We Took Away," "Bring You Down"). These are songs that will stick in your head and make you want to hear the record again and again; this record has staying power. If you want to be knocked off your feet, make sure to check out Golden Shoulders.