Last Week Around the -ISTs
Schieffer's Out of Gov Race
![True Stories Can Be Stranger Than Fiction [Extra Extra ]](http://austinist.com/assets_c/2009/01/nightskyline-thumb-110x110-53663.jpg)
True Stories Can Be Stranger Than Fiction [Extra Extra ]
Gone are the sweet acoustic strum and the subtle country twang… Pink Nasty has graduated from Mule School. It took about a year and a half, but the pants-wettingly anticipated Mold the Gold has finally arrived. When the revving guitars of the opening track “I Don’t Know” give way to a lush, thoughtfully-produced sound, it’s plainly evident why fans had to wait so long for the sophomore release.
Mold the Gold was an epic endeavor. Recording took place in Kentucky, Kansas, and Texas, and the album features a slew of guest appearances -- Bonnie Prince Billy, Chepo Pena, Paul Oldham, Danny Pound, and, of course, Black Nasty all do their part to help round out the sound. The aim, it appears, was not to craft just a collection of songs, but a palpable aesthetic as well. A lot of care went into all 13 tracks; if this album was a type of milk, it would most likely be whole milk with extra vitamin D or chocolate milk (with syrup, not powder). There’s no way it could ever be accused of being skim or soy.
For the uninitiated or unfamiliar, Pink Nasty's sound is a mix of things, borrowing from genres like folk, country, and rock. Her lyrics are simultaneously hilarious and poignant. As for the actual aural experience, it's like listening to Ani Difranco when you don't necessarily resent your father, have a sense of humor, and don't know what Ani Difranco sounds like.
Where Mule School was down home and charmingly ambitious, Mold the Gold is polished and confident. There are many examples of little effects that imbue this disc with a sophistication that was lacking in its predecessor: the contrarian intro to “Hot Pink House;” the dissonant guitar riffs in “Golden Smoke;” and the perfect stop and start near the conclusion of the titular track “Mold the Gold.” Tracks like “Take It Back” and “Golden Smoke” may be reminiscent of Pink Nasty’s earlier stuff, but they bear an electricity and crispness that are entirely new and unexpected dimensions of her sound.
Despite its perceived edge, Mold the Gold still features a fair amount of levity and cheekiness. Co-written and produced by Black Nasty, the album begs the question: what are the Nastys, Pink or Black, if they aren’t cheeky? The casio/synth-drum beats, similar to the ones that infect Black Nasty’s AIDS Can’t Stop Me, make an appearance on the brief interlude “Street Smart” to remind listeners who they’re dealing with.
It’s a credit to the disc as a whole that it never takes itself too seriously. Lyrics like “said I was your experiment, but I know where that test tube’s been” from “Pass the Test” or “please don’t shower / deodorant stains on your back / and please give me the power / this feels like love, but on crack” from “Don’t Ever Change” are undeniably catchy and perverse. Alternatively songs like “BTK Blues” and “Golden Smoke” sport dark lyrical content that mingles seamlessly with light musical tones. The Pink Nasty persona in Mold the Gold proves to be just as complex and enjoyable as the music.
As an added bonus, here's the video for "Away Message" for your consideration:
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I like this video a lot!
I like the video a lot too, but I just don't understand why PN hates America so much. Why PN? Why?