Golden Shoals

represents a fresh start for Alvey and “I’ll Fall In Love Kilianski; one that is more inclusive of the Again”; a gentle inspirations they’ve taken in since beginning lament about their musical journey. Out now, Golden wanting to be more Shoals contains twelve new songs which than friends, to no examine love and loss, personal growth, and avail. “Rather than political strife; all through an inward-facing cutting off our lens and void of pretense or preachiness. In friendship, we their album review, Folk Radio said Golden worked through Shoals is “consistently musically infectious those difficult and emotionally weightier than it seems at feelings, became first hearing” and No Depression called it “an better friends for it, album of this summer, and every summer and I moved on to after.” new loves,” says Engineered and mixed by Matt Lohan Kilianski. “A couple and produced by Lohan, Alvey, and Kilianski, of years after its Golden Shoals features only one additional inception, the song musician; Landon George’s upright bass and adopted a twist drums. Together, the aforementioned ending, turning the musicians wove a bright and intricate tapestry cliche country song from only four threads. Golden Shoals opens trope of unrequited with “Everybody’s Singing,” a straightforlove on its head.” ward country swing tune about some not so The album closes straightforward personalities. Alvey and with “Sittin’ Pretty,” Kilianski proclaim the song “celebrates and an incredibly self76 Rock and Blues International • September 2020 aware take on the guilt and anxiety that bubble up when coming to grips with one’s born-with-it privilege. “The song ‘Sittin’ Pretty’ speaks to the powerlessness I feel when reading the news about the troubling issues in our society like wealth inequality, climate change, and school shootings,” says Alvey. “When touring full time, the thought of joining a protest march or becoming active in local politics feels impossible when most days you’re figuring out where you’re going to sleep that night after the show.”

The clever touch Golden Shoals leave on their songs is what sticks

Golden Shoals Release with listeners; a twist at the end, a smart rehashing Self-Titled Full-Length Album of radio-hit lyrics, the upbeat but heavy introspective looks into The road to Golden Shoals has been a rolls eyes at the wacky people and places we journey seems to have hit its stride, especially long, fruitful journey for Amy Alvey and encounter as touring folk musicians—friends as Alvey and Kilianski dig in, unpack, and Mark Kilianski. The duo has toured on foot— and contemporaries in cowboys costumes, reevaluate their own stories, observations, gig to gig with backpacks and instrument white jumpsuits, and punk rock mullets; trials, and successes. Their compassionate cases—for weeks at a time; called Asheville, house parties, hotel conferences, and and thoughtful songwriting takes center stage Boston, California, and New Jersey home; bluegrass bands playing ‘80’s songs.” in this new chapter of the band, while their and lived in various moving vehicles on the undeniable musicianship continues to uplift road for the past seven years under different The album ebbs and flows from the and inspire the project. For this patient, names and incarnations. After all of that, their joyfully ironic opening track all the way to tenacious band, the Shoals are indeed Golden, new self-titled record, Golden Shoals, more emotional and understated tunes like and ripe for more great music to come. the mirror. Their musical