Golden Rough - This Sad Paradise
by Darrell Angus
published: 17 / 12 / 2001

Label:
Drive In
Format: CD
intro
What does it take to make a great record? For me its easy. The answer is good songs. I love it when a song wraps itself around your head. Golden Rough's second album, "This Sad Paradise", does exactly
What does it take to make a great record? For me its easy. The answer is good songs. I love it when a song wraps itself around your head. Golden Rough's second album, "This Sad Paradise", does exactly that. The Aussie band' s first record is a solid collection of country rock gems reminiscent of bands like Wilco and Big Star. With their second, they have made the transition to a more pop sounding effort. With fantastic results I might add. Singer/songwriter, David Orwell, sings about what he notices around him and with a strikingly weary voice translates it into subtle pop exploration. The melodies are rich with ringing guitars and Hammond organ as well as lovely harmonies from bass player Helen Meany. The songs aren't complicated. They are soft and floating and have enough power to make for a memorable listen. "This Sad Paradise" has been compared to recent Joe Pernice projects and while that point is valid, this record definitely stands out on its own. Another one for the "best of 2000" list.
Track Listing:-
1 April wind2 Novotel
3 Unity grey
4 Don't overlook me
5 Fisherman
6 Johnson's wax
7 Swallows
8 Green room
9 Sad paradise
10 Already apart
11 Lovers rock
reviews |
Provenance (2002) |
![]() |
Well crafted third album from Australia's Golden Rough which finds them "moving away from the country-rock twang of their first two albums,replacing it with layered keyboards, vocals, strings and horns" |
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Sukie Smith - Interview
Clive Langer - Interview
Kim Wilde - Photoscapes
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart