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By
The Pop Mechanic
Like a skillful stripper, "Gold Lion" selectively uncovers its assets, displays them to their best effect, and tucks them away again before anyone yawns. Even though 85% of the song is erected upon the same hammer-headed F#-A-E-A progression, new details emerge every few bars.
It's all about exits and entrances here. The gradual buildup from the intro's thudding acoustic guitar and Joan Jett drums through the chorus's crashing cymbals and layered guitars works perfectly — how could it not? But just take a listen, focusing on what gets subtracted.
Examples: When the dynamics come down for the second verse, the non-acoustic guitars vanish, as do most of the mix's ambient and delay effects. The drums hibernate, and there's a bar of near-silence before the second pre-chorus. Your ears get flushed clean before the onslaught of outro overdubs.
And dig the contrasts throughout: The dry presence of the doubled verse vocals vs. the weird, wobbly processing of the chorus vocals. The freaky warbling modulation of the descending guitar riff vs. the glistening, Def Leppard-approved tones of the ascending line in the final bars. And take note, synth-abusers: The keyboard lines work precisely because the tones are so simple and artless. Anything subtler would get stomped flat by the guitars.
The song clocks in at 3:09. I refused to believe it till I timed it myself — it feels more like 2:20. Time flies when you're getting stunned.
Posted June 2006
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