More of a conceptual project than a record, the cinematic debut from Woodkid ... will divide listeners but it’s an assured, cohesive and intelligent record, perhaps more than any other so far this year.
Woodkid has a sound that is unique in the music landscape, and most of the songs on this album are exciting, evocative tracks that play to the most basic of emotions: love, loss and redemption.
A beautiful, if at times exhausting album, The Golden Age shows Lemoine is skilled at making music as well as music videos.
This, his debut, is full of the multi-instrumentalism, Antony Hegarty vocals and super-clean production that have made the 29-year-old Parisian’s name.
If you’re in the mood for something bold, with loud production and poetic lyrics, The Golden Age might be worth hearing. It just might not be an experience that sticks with you in the long run.
Taken strictly as an aural experience, it’s a brave and sometimes moving work that nonetheless falls well short of success.
I originally found Woodkid about 6 years ago from Geometry Dash, the level using his song 'Run Boy Run' which to this day I think is a phenomenal track. Even if I've barely listened to Woodkid, the level will always be somewhere in my memories because I remember how amazed I was when I was younger and saw that for the first time. It's a great orchestral and cinematic art-pop album, Woodkid's vocals are incredible, but production can get a bit samey towards the middle.
Starting incredibly ... read more
"The Golden Age" has tons of opportunities to shine with how wild and well-assorted its production is. It's also an LP that features vocals of good quality from Woodkid.
I had difficulty however engaging myself in this record .
Although it sounds very cinematic and epic, the music's composition itself is not that amazing to me. What kept my attention while listening is the song "The Shore" which is constructed with a fairly unusual chord progression.
The next two songs ... read more
After a second listen through, I can now say with certaincy that this album is a joy to go through for me. The orchestra inspired instrumentals and the geunine strength and power from the vocalist make for one of the best debuts of all time, in my opinion.
I have a major bias toward this record, but I remember listening to it years ago and have nostalgia for revisiting it. 8.5/10
Favorite Track: The Golden Age
For me, Woodkid embodies chamber pop possibly better than any other musician. He hybridizes grand, emotional orchestral arrangements, similar to what one could expect from Hans Zimmer, with percussion and lyrics that put his music in a pop context, making it more appropriate for jumping and singing to it.
1 | The Golden Age 3:44 | 95 |
2 | Run Boy Run 3:33 | 99 |
3 | The Great Escape 3:17 | 95 |
4 | Boat Song 4:28 | 88 |
5 | I Love You 3:51 | 92 |
6 | The Shore 4:14 | 96 |
7 | Ghost Lights 3:41 | 94 |
8 | Shadows 2:02 | 91 |
9 | Stabat Mater 2:49 | 90 |
10 | Conquest of Spaces 4:30 | 95 |
11 | Falling 0:44 | 87 |
12 | Where I Live 4:26 | 93 |
13 | Iron 3:23 | 96 |
14 | The Other Side 3:41 | 94 |
#17 | / | Pigeons & Planes |
#94 | / | Amazon |