Gold-Diggers Sound

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Gold-Diggers Sound
Studio album by
Leon Bridges
ReleasedJuly 23, 2021 (2021-07-23)
Studio
Genre
Length36:41
LabelColumbia
Producer
Leon Bridges chronology
Good Thing
(2018) 		Gold-Diggers Sound
(2021)
Singles from Gold-Diggers Sound
  1. "Sweeter"
    Released: June 8, 2020
  2. "Motorbike"
    Released: May 14, 2021
  3. "Why Don't You Touch Me"
    Released: June 17, 2021

Gold-Diggers Sound is the third studio album by American singer Leon Bridges. It was released on July 23, 2021, by Columbia Records. The album features guest appearances from Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin, and Atia "Ink" Boggs.

The album received widespread acclaim from critics and debuted at number 17 on the US Billboard 200. It was supported by three singles: "Sweeter", "Motorbike", and "Why Don't You Touch Me". The album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 2022 Grammy Awards.

Background and release[edit]

The album's title is derived from the "studio, hotel and bar/speakeasy" of the same name located in East Hollywood, where Bridges lived while writing and recording the songs on the album.[1][2] Bridges held a Grammys party at Gold-Diggers in 2019 and later started a residency at the hotel, bringing in musicians to collaborate with. He started by writing melodies and lyrics over their improvisations. He did not have a planned concept for most of the album's songs, but a few of the tracks did. For example, "Magnolias" is inspired by the music of Sade. However, Bridges made the conscious decision to distance himself from the sound of his debut album, Coming Home (2015), and his second album, Good Thing (2018), instead opting for an "unpredictable" approach.[3]

On June 8, 2020, Bridges and Terrace Martin released a single titled "Sweeter" in response to the May 25 murder of George Floyd.[4] The narrator of the song is a dead man whose mother and siblings weep over him.[5] Gold-Diggers Sound was announced May 14, 2021, alongside the album's lead single, "Motorbike".[6] A music video for "Motorbike", directed by Anderson .Paak, was released the same day.[7] The album's second single, "Why Don't You Touch Me", was released on June 17, 2021.[8] The first part of a music video for "Why Don't You Touch Me" premiered the following day on June 18, 2021; the second part was released on June 24, 2021.[9]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.5/10[10]
Metacritic81/100[11]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Clash9/10[13]
DIY[14]
Exclaim!7/10[15]
The Independent[16]
NME[17]
The Observer[18]
Pitchfork7.0/10[19]
Rolling Stone[20]
Uncut7/10[21]

Gold-Diggers Sound was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 81, based on 12 reviews.[11] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.5 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[10]

Writing for The Guardian, Max Bell hailed Gold-Diggers Sound as "a remarkable and progressive R&B album" and observed "the most eclectic compositions of Bridges' career, as well as his most emotionally transparent songwriting".[22] Lucy Wynne from Gigwise applauded Bridges' transition from the "swinging sixties" style of his first album to this album's "progressive R&B", noting its "modern alternative R&B jams with a pop twist".[23] Will Lavin of NME wrote that the album "maintains the traditional elements of old-school soul heard on his previous work but introduces a new, vibrant, almost luminous aesthetic, comparable to the likes of Snoh Aalegra and Brent Faiyaz."[17] Emma Harrison of Clash praised the album's production and the strength of Bridges's songwriting.[13] Julyssa Lopez of The New Yorker wrote that the album's songs "show that Bridges is versatile enough to stretch his skills across multiple eras, even if they never approach the future."[24] Similarly, Pitchfork journalist Jonah Bromwich deemed it "a smooth, risk-averse R&B album whose nostalgic trappings aim for timelessness".[19] Will Strickson from DIY enjoyed the album, saying, "While more of a slow burn than his previous efforts, Gold-Diggers Sound sees Leon Bridges shine brighter as a songwriter, as an artist and as a man than ever".[14]

Reviewing the album for The Independent, Annabel Nugent stated, "The record is a confident immersion into a genre he's only toyed with before. And just as Good Thing never fully sacrificed Bridges' style, neither does Gold-Digger forget his roots".[16] AllMusic critic Andy Kellman said, "Only on a couple occasions does Bridges let loose a touch while in the moment. ... Even in those moments, there is never an indication that Bridges could possibly lose his composure. The unswerving self-control he has demonstrated across three albums both impresses and mystifies".[12] In a lukewarm review, Exclaim!'s Luke Fox wrote, "Bridges loves a good love song, and nails a few here".[15]

Industry awards[edit]

Awards and nominations for Gold-Diggers Sound
Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2022 Grammy Awards Best R&B Album Nominated
[25]

Track listing[edit]

Gold-Diggers Sound track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Born Again" (featuring Robert Glasper)
3:43
2."Motorbike"
  • Bridges
  • Frederic
  • Paris Strother
  • Dan Wilson
  • Nate Mercereau
  • Reed
  • Mercereau
3:08
3."Steam"
  • Reed
  • Mercereau
  • Steve Wyreman[a]
3:23
4."Why Don't You Touch Me"
  • Reed
  • Mercereau
  • 9AM
  • King Garbage[b]
  • Mike Blankenship[b]
  • Josh Block[a]
3:17
5."Magnolias"
  • Bridges
  • Frederic
  • Mercereau
  • Steven Cheung
  • Rome Castille
  • Michael Neil
  • Steve Wyreman
  • Boggs
  • Reed
  • Mercereau
  • Wyreman[a]
3:22
6."Gold-Diggers (Junior's Fanfare)"Lemar Guillary
  • Reed
  • Mercereau
  • Lemar Guillary[a]
0:41
7."Details"
  • Bridges
  • Frederic
  • Mercereau
  • Amber Strother
  • Reed
  • Mercereau
  • King Garbage
  • Wyreman[a]
3:16
8."Sho Nuff"
  • Reed
  • Mercereau
  • Wyreman[a]
3:07
9."Sweeter" (featuring Terrace Martin)
  • Bridges
  • Terrace Martin
  • Frederic
  • Wilson
  • Castille
  • Mercereau
  • Zach Cooper
  • Vic Dimotsis
  • Reed
  • Mercereau
2:48
10."Don't Worry" (featuring Ink)
  • Bridges
  • Frederic
  • Mercereau
  • Wyreman
  • Boggs
  • Josh Crumbly
  • Amber Strother
  • Reed
  • Mercereau
  • Wyreman[a]
6:41
11."Blue Mesas"
  • Reed
  • Mercereau
  • DJ Stanfill
3:15
Total length:36:41

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Gold-Diggers Sound.[26]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Gold-Diggers Sound
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[27] 25
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[28] 22
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[29] 115
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[30] 51
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[31] 17
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[32] 81
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[33] 31
Scottish Albums (OCC)[34] 57
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 51
UK Albums (OCC)[36] 93
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[37] 4
US Billboard 200[38] 17

References[edit]

  1. ^ Aswad, Jem (July 22, 2021). "Leon Bridges Talks 'Gold-Diggers Sound,' Performing for Obama, and His Odd Circle of Collaborators". Variety. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  2. ^ Kendall, Brian (July 8, 2021). "Leon Bridges Talks New Record, 'Gold-Diggers Sound'". Fort Worth Magazine. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  3. ^ Clark, Ragan (July 23, 2021). "Leon Bridges shares his evolution to 'Gold-Digger Sounds'". Associated Press. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  4. ^ Shaffer, Claire (June 8, 2020). "Leon Bridges, Terrace Martin Offer a Meditation on Racism in 'Sweeter'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  5. ^ Pareles, Jon (July 22, 2021). "Leon Bridges Brings Southern Soul into the 21st Century". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  6. ^ Strauss, Matthew (May 14, 2021). "Leon Bridges announces album, shares new video directed by Anderson .Paak". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  7. ^ Martoccio, Angie (May 14, 2021). "Leon Bridges Previews New LP With Anderson .Paak-Directed Video for 'Motorbike'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  8. ^ "Why Don't You Touch Me / Leon Bridges". Tidal. June 17, 2021.
  9. ^ Zemler, Emily (June 18, 2021). "Hear Leon Bridges's Wistful New Single 'Why Don't You Touch Me'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Gold-Diggers Sound by Leon Bridges reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Gold-Diggers Sound by Leon Bridges Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  12. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "Gold-Diggers Sound – Leon Bridges". AllMusic. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  13. ^ a b Harrison, Emma (July 22, 2021). "Leon Bridges – Gold-Diggers Sound". Clash. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Strickson, Will (July 22, 2021). "Leon Bridges – Gold-Diggers Sound". DIY. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Fox, Luke (July 23, 2021). "Leon Bridges' 'Gold-Diggers Sound' Is Informed by the Past but Styled for the Now". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  16. ^ a b Perry, Kevin E G; Nugent, Annabel (July 22, 2021). "Album reviews: Jackson Browne – Downhill from Everywhere and Leon Bridges – Gold-Diggers Sound". The Independent. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  17. ^ a b Lavin, Will (July 22, 2021). "Leon Bridges – 'Gold-Diggers Sound' review: R&B journeyman retools the blues". NME. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  18. ^ Morris, Damien (July 25, 2021). "Leon Bridges: Gold-Diggers Sound review – unashamedly grown-up songs for the soul". The Observer. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  19. ^ a b Bromwich, Jonah (July 23, 2021). "Leon Bridges: Gold-Diggers Sound Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  20. ^ Dolan, Jon (July–August 2021). "Leon Bridges Goes Deeper". Rolling Stone. No. 1353/1354. p. 132.
  21. ^ O'Connell, Sharon (August 2021). "Leon Bridges – Gold-Diggers Sound: Seductive update for Grammy-winning Texan's third". Uncut. No. 291. p. 25.
  22. ^ Bell, Max (July 23, 2021). "Leon Bridges: 'My transition was dishwasher one day, star the next'". The Guardian. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  23. ^ Wynne, Lucy (July 19, 2021). "Album review: Leon Bridges – Gold-Diggers Sound". Gigwise. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  24. ^ Lopez, Julyssa. "Leon Bridges: "Gold-Digger Sound"". The New Yorker. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  25. ^ "2022 Grammy Awards: The full list of nominees and winners". NPR Music. April 3, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  26. ^ Gold-Diggers Sound (liner notes). Leon Bridges. Columbia. 2021. 19439886982.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. August 2, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  28. ^ "Ultratop.be – Leon Bridges – Gold-Diggers Sound" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  29. ^ "Ultratop.be – Leon Bridges – Gold-Diggers Sound" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  30. ^ "Leon Bridges Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  31. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Leon Bridges – Gold-Diggers Sound" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  32. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Leon Bridges – Gold-Diggers Sound" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  33. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 2, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  34. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  35. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Leon Bridges – Gold-Diggers Sound". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  36. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  37. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  38. ^ "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (1/2)..." Billboard on Twitter. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
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