Apollo Stars

VINYL FORMAT! Forget about music for a minute and consider the backgrounds of Golden's members, who formed way back in 1993: guitarist/vocalist Alex Minoff was a member of Six Finger Satellite, the Make Up, and is part of that band's new incarnation, Scene Creamers; bassist Philip Manley is a member of Trans Am and the head engineer at the National Record Label; drummer Jon Theodore has an extensive indie rock pedigree, including Royal Trux, Palace and his current "day job," Mars Volta; and guitarist / vocalist Ian Eagleson is closing in fast on his Ph.D. in ethnomusicology. Now consider Apollo Stars, the fourth release from Golden. Though it contains only a mere eight tracks, this record is packed with Golden goodness, typified by a hearty amount of rock groove that, when combined with layered and carefully entwined rhythm and melody, creates a visceral, serendipitous vibe - rock in "the zone," if you will. It's a rare and wondrous thing.