Bars of Gold

The debut album from Bars of Gold kicks off with a small string arrangement backed by a pulsing drumbeat that's quickly overtaken by a speed-laced, funk organ riff. The disparate and energetic nature on Of Gold is summed up in those few minutes, but it certainly isn't inclusive. Notably featuring ex-Bear vs. Shark frontman Mark Paffi, Bars of Gold confidently tear through eight songs of intriguing, exuberant post-hardcore and Kick Out the Jams-laced punk, plucking inspiration from indie rock ("Heaven Has A Heater") and roots-y Americana along the way. "The Hustle," which is commanding and addictive, sounds like Modest Mouse with a banjo, while "Birds" is as crazy as David Byrne never got in song. It's a boundary-pushing mountain of material that somehow all sounds good together, even if you can't necessarily figure out why at any given moment. But Of Gold is definitely a force with a singular, yet scattered, vision, driven by big confidence and feverous dynamics.