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Goldenboy
Underneath the Radio
(Eeenie Meenie)
First Appeared in The Music Box, June 2007, Volume 14, #6
Written by Melissa Stroh
Imagine driving cross-country and hearing the same song playing repeatedly on
the radio, ad nauseam. This is an apt depiction of Goldenboy’s sophomore effort
Underneath the Radio. Admittedly, with a name like Goldenboy,
expectations are relatively high. Unfortunately, within the first 10 minutes of
the endeavor, the disappointment becomes inescapable.
The letdown isn’t just in the name either; it stems from the music itself. It
seems as if Goldenboy was trying to turn the entirety of Underneath the Radio
into one or two long, drawn out songs. The dull drums on most, if not all, of
the tracks would be enough to lull anyone to sleep. Nevertheless, the problems
all boil down to one simple, plain fact: There isn’t enough contradiction
between the voice of lead singer Shon Sullivan and the drearily ho-hum guitar
accompaniments that are featured on most of the album’s cuts. At one point
during Summer of the Evening, for example, Sullivan calls for a guitar
solo. The jangly sound of an electric guitar briefly graces the listener’s ears
and then retracts. This too-shy moment is just one of the many less than stellar
performances found on the disc.
Usually, if the music is horrid, there is some kind of lyrical redemption.
Here, too, Goldenboy falters. Sullivan’s lyrics are weak, at best, and his
elementary rhyming schemes are so poorly conceived that they serve as a
distraction from whatever musical credit the band otherwise might have salvaged.
Lines like "the afternoon is soft and gray/it’s been so long since I’ve felt
this way" are like the final nail in the coffin to anyone still holding on for
anything substantial from this band.
Now, with the count at no balls and two strikes, the listener can only hope
that at least the lead singer will have a strong voice. Once again, Goldenboy
fails to land a hit. Sullivan wants to revel in a soft, soothing whisper, but
this does not work. He coos the broken storylines in a fashion that is so
cowardly and weak that, when all is said and done, the urge to punch him in the
face becomes irresistible.
After Underneath the Radio ends, the ringing of Goldenboy’s horrid
attempts at originality still can be heard. In fact, it’s nearly impossible to
tell when the disc is over, because it all sounds the same. Goldenboy has two
choices: hibernate a bit and do something original, or give up. Here’s to hoping
that it’s the latter. 
Underneath the Radio is available from Amazon.com.
To order, Click Here!
For Canadian orders, please
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For UK orders, please
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Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2007 The Music Box
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