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Goldfinger - Stomping Ground Audio CD

A fair review of the Goldfinger "Stomping Ground" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Goldfinger reviews here, or go back to the Goldfinger tabs.

Goldfinger Band: Goldfinger
Title: Stomping Ground
Rating:
Release Date: 2000-03-28
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: I'm Down 2: Pick a Fight 3: Carry On 4: End of the Day 5: Don't Say Goodbye 6: Counting the Days 7: Bro 8: San Simeon 9: You Think It's a Joke 10: Forgiveness 11: Margaret Ann 12: Get Away 13: 99 Red Balloons 14: Donut Dan

They Don't Make Punk Like This Anymore


You have nothing like this band. I really, really sympathize with the contemporary, rock-faring youth of America. Good Charlotte? Please. They don't have the intensity or power Goldfinger had. GC is an MTV boy band in a somewhat rugged, poser shell of a group. The music was predictable and stale. Bands like Goldfinger don't frequent the Warped Tour anymore, and it's a sorry, sad thing. Anymore it all sounds a little too produced, too calculated and planned. There's no spontanaity, no power, no sincerity. The day of the Boy Band Punk Rockers is at hand, and the genre is in decline. The grassroots, straight-from your garage band really was the likely culprit for corporate abuse, and with the fall of bands like Goldfinger, this was the likely step in the progression of the Corporate strangulation of Rock music the industry experiences today.

Even if Stomping Ground was one of the most polished albums Goldfinger produced, it seriously killed everything else up to that point. It was the greatest achievement punk had made while simultaneously laid the groundwork for its demise. The hooksy, catchy and unbridled passion these cool guys displayed both in the studio and on-stage (if you missed the "Crouching Fish; Hidden Finger" Tour, I pity you) was one of the finer moments of modern corporate rock. Even rock fans outside the punk genre gave these guys due credit for the music they made on this album. Goldfinger was the last bastion of pure, great punk before it was destroyed by Blink 182 and all the boy band poser Punkers destroyed the genre with crappy, 3 chord guitar music and semi-illiterate lyrics.

Give these guys due credit. You may hate punk rock as much as I did before Goldfinger and after them, but these guys made it pallatable for everyone and they made it a hell of a lot of fun. One listen to this record and what I'm saying will become painfully obvious. Stomping Ground remains one of the greatest punk albums ever recorded.


Goldfinger's best work yet!
Their previous work was more ska friendly. Goldfinger changed it up quite nicely on their 2000 release of "Stomping Ground". It was interlaced with horns and quick guitar rhythms. "Stomping Ground" was a move to the heavier side, without the horns.

As a huge fan of the earlier ska/punk sound, I found myself a little worried about their decidedly heavy, more metal sound. To my amazement, this has become my favorite Goldfinger album yet. Their influences sound like they come from "The Clash" and "The Kinks". The songs are very well written, and performed with great intensity. The loss of horns is welcomed change after you listen to the album. The album is ever changing, and doesn't include a dull moment.

If you find that you like the punk/metal sound of "Stomping Ground" more than it's predecessors, I would also recommend their 2002 release of "Open Your Eyes", as it has a heavier sound as well.

Goldfinger seems to be taking all the right steps of your basic punk/ska band. They are changing with the times on each one of their albums, not recycling material over and over, which several punk/ska bands have a problem with. I am anxious to hear a new album, to see how they've raised the bar for punk/ska once again.


Greatest CD ever
The song I really like is 99 Red Balloons. This CD is really cool. I first heard 99 Red Balloons on GT3. I also like a song called Donut Dan.


Overall, a good cd, with some excellent songs
I didn't really care for their last cd, "Hang Ups" due to it's filler songs. I never really got into Goldfinger too much. Don't get me wrong, "Hang Ups" has some great songs on it, like "Superman" and "My Head", but there were too many dumb, bland filler tracks. Anyway, My friend downloaded an MP3 of the 99 red ballons cover on here, and I knew I had to get this cd.

Well, I'm glad I did. "Stomping Ground" is in my opinion, Goldfinger's best cd. I think they do punk better than they do ska, I'll leave my favorite ska band to Reel Big Fish. My favorite track on the cd is probaly "The End of the Day", which just simply rocks. My other favorites are "I'm Down", "Pick a Fight", "Don't Say Goodbye", "San Simeon", "Forgiveness" and of course "99 Red Ballons". The entire cd has a strong punk sound all the way through it, and it sounds good. The only reason I didn't give this cd a 5 was because there are a few songs I could never get into, mainly "Carry On" and "Bro".

So, if you need another good sounding punk cd in your collection, be sure to pick this cd up, you'll be glad you did when listen to it again all the way through for the fifth time.


You Need This
I bought this CD because Hang-Ups and self-titled were good. I have had this CD for about a year, and I still listen to it. I listen to this CD almost everyday. All of the songs are really good except Bro and San Simeon, especially Bro. What the hell is that? That still won't make me take away a star because of that. The best songs are: I'm Down, Pick A Fight, You Think It's A Joke, Forgiveness, Magrgaret Ann, Get Away, and 99 Red Balloons (The Nena 99 luftballons cover) Goldfinger used to be Punk/Ska and this CD is all Punk. I like this CD as much as self-titled. Goldfinger is one of the best punk bands out there. Other good bands are: NOFX, MXPX, Pennywise, Reel Big Fish, Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Darrin is awesome at the drums and John has really good lyrics. If you don't buy this CD, you are missing out. If you don't like it you don't like punk. Everyone should own a copy of this CD.


You can see a complete list of all Goldfinger discography, or go back to the Goldfinger tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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