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Runway
by Spencer Kane

Gold [Re-Release]
by Britt Nicole

 

Starting the album off with a peppy but unhurried beat, the title track “Gold" does a great job of setting the tune for the record.  Some beautiful synthesizer chords and arpeggiated vocals adorn the intro to the song and showcase the producer’s excellent work.  The bass, drums and electric rhythm guitar that are prevalent in the verses and bridge are totally unique and original, and really catchy.  Although the lyrics are certainly inspirational, they certainly don’t present more than a facet of Britt’s faith.  This of course (maybe strategically) lead to lots of playtime on secular radio and even the Disney channel, as well as her normal appeal on christian radio.  I have heard a radio edit of the song where Britt’s rap segment is cut from the bridge, which kind of ruins it in my opinion, because Britt really kills it with that ditty!:)  Overall, the first and also shortest song on this album really takes the prize for being the catchiest.

 

What "Gold" lacks in spiritual content, “All This Time” certainly makes up for with great lines like, “I’m not the same me, and that’s all the proof I need!” The soft, acousticy feeling pop that we’ve come to expect from Nicole is certainly on display in this track. It certainly feels reminiscent of The Lost Get Found tracks like "Hanging On" and "Walk On The Water”  I really like this song a lot, and it’s had a lot of success on the radio, but it’s not getting a lot of plays on my iPod.  There’s better stuff on this album, so it gets ignored for the most part.

 

“Looks Like Love” has such a catchy intro and first verse, I was slightly disappointed with the rest of the song in comparison! I had just expected more:).  Don’t get me wrong though, Its an excellent track that ranks among the top tracks of the album in my estimation.

 

“Who You Say You Are” leaves you thinking “why doesn’t this play on christian radio?!!”  The awesome lyrics and unforgettable chorus really sparkle and shine like gold (no pun intended).This is one of the tracks from this album to pass the “Is she trying to sing along?” test with my mom.  It definitely stands out as one of the premier songs on the album.

 

Though it has certainly is quite popular, “Ready Or Not” certainly doesn’t cut it for me.  It’s almost entirely copied from popular mainstream artists smash hits, albeit masterfully.  The intro brazenly steals the guitar chords from  T-Swizz’s “We Are Never Getting Back Together” with the exact same effects. This is followed up with cutting and pasting the drum beat and beeping synths of “Extraterrestrial” by Katy Perry.  Then, similarly to Katy, Britt brings in a rapper to chant some lines at various parts of the song.  On top of it all, the producers chose Lecrae, the most over-used guest vocalist in christian music.  Finally, they take the lyrics from similarly titled “Ready Or Not” from Bridgett Mendler.  This song is nothing more than formula to get to the top of the christian music charts.

 

“Breakthrough” really IS a breakthrough for Britt Nicole.  The soaring vocals mixed with the well produced dubstep drop 2/3s of the way through stole the show for me.  I wish there was more of this new sound on this album!

 

Talking of soaring vocals, “Stand” is easily the best vocal performance Britt has ever offered her eager fans.  Though her high range does make it a little hard to sing along, this is probably the best song on this album.  Huge vocals + classic Britt feel + great lyrics = Awesome!!!

 

A little overshadowed by the previous tracks,”The Sun Is Rising” comes across as quiet and unnoticeable.

 

"Amazing Life" wins the award for my overall favourite song on the album.  As a self professed EDM freak, I can’t stop humming the chorus of this fantastic dance track.  I love this edgy and energetic Britt!!!

 

If you can keep awake through the long, slow intro of “Still That Girl” you’ll love the quiet pop song that is shyly hiding behind.  This was my favourite song from “Gold” for a whole month.

 

"Seeing For The First Time” certainly ends the regular album on a worshipful note, but I can’t say I liked it very much.  With so much excellent worship music out there, Britt should have stuck to her light pop sound.

 

The remixes of “Gold” vary largely in their quality.  The “Jason Nevins Rhythmic Radio Remix” sounds rushed, annoying, cheap and lame.  However, the “Wideboys Remix” is excellent if you love a nasty drop.

 

In total, the album “Gold” is Britt Nicole's best yet, but she still needs a little work to iron out the wrinkles. On a scale of -10 to +10, “Gold” scores an uplifting, catchy and timeless +6.4.  I recommend this album strongly to anybody looking for a record to put on shuffle in the car for a long road trip (and everybody else).

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