Forever Goldrush - Halo In My Backpack

  by Geraint Jones

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

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Review

Based in Sacramento, California, Forever Goldrush take their name from the events that occurred so famously in that region some century and a half ago. Although together for little more than 3 years, the band actually grew up in the rural area of Amador County, not that far from Sacramento and played in a band together whilst at high school. Following the dissolution of that band, precipitated by the sudden death in a car crash of Bill DeMusey, brother of bass player, Mason DeMusey, the friends all moved away before fate intervened and they once again found themselves in the same place, keen again to play music together. ‘Halo In My Backpack’ is the band’s second album following their 1999 debut ‘Unknown Territory’. Singer-songwriter-guitarist Damon Wyckoff who writes all the bands material has an appealing husky warble of a voice, akin to a hybrid of Eddie Vedder and John Fogerty. The album itself though unfortunately suffers from being frontloaded with his best material. Opener 'Vicious Ways', the album’s stand out cut, is a rollicking country belter with some great edgy guitar riffs and a catchy chorus. The second track, 'In My Rebuilding' is also very good; a well arranged blues inflected track, which probably goes down a storm at the bands' gigs. Much of the rest of the album though suffers in comparison and whilst Forever Goldrush’ sound is predominantly loose, rough-hewn and spontaneous, an asset when the material is strong, many of the songs sound unfinished and as if more time should have been spent on them. Closing track 'Bitter End', however, does recapture some of the albums initial promise and hints that the flawed charms of Forever Goldrush may deliver a more lucrative pan of nuggets next time out.

Track Listing:-

1 Vicious Ways
2 In My Rebuilding
3 Sweet 65
4 Crazy Anyway
5 Halo In My Backpack
6 Small Town King
7 In The Graveyard
8 Brothers Give Me Arms
9 Paint This Town Dry
10 Bitter End