A1 I Don't Wanna Know (If You Don't Want Me)
A2 Friends Like Mine
A3 Don't Break Me Down
A4 Fall Behind Me
A5 Is That All You've Got For Me
B1 It's So Hard
B2 The Gold Medal
B3 Out Of My Hands
B4 It Takes One To Know One
B5 Revolver
B6 Have You No Pride
Famously formed in 8th grade for a school talent show, The Donnas began as a self-styled co-ed
answer to The Ramones, each taking the first name of Donna (as opposed to the last name of
Ramone), and playing gleefully unapologetic, pop-punk paeans to adolescent alienation and
hedonism from a decidedly female perspective. But by the time of 2004’s Gold Medal, their sixth
album and second for the major label Atlantic, the group has clearly—dare we say it?--matured.
With the notable exception of the single (and career highlight) “Fall Behind Me,” Gold Medal
marks a move away from the Donnas’ harder/faster ethos towards a more polished (acoustic
guitars...whaaat?) pop sound veering towards ‘70s psychedelia under the helm of Avril Lavigne
producer Butch Walker. And you can tell it from the album’s graphics, which flash vintage, Peter
Max-esque squiggles on the front cover and feature a faux black light poster inside (which we
have reproduced for this reissue along with the original printed inner sleeve). The result was an
album that lead vocalist Brett Anderson a.k.a Donna A. deems her favorite, and one that stands
as probably the band’s crowning artistic achievement. Our reissue comes in black and gold
splatter vinyl, and is limited to 750 copies...an overlooked early-oughties gem! |
