Stay Gold | ||||
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Studio album by First Aid Kit | ||||
Released | 6 June 2014 | |||
Recorded | ARC Studios (Omaha, Nebraska) |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 38:25 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Mike Mogis | |||
First Aid Kit chronology | ||||
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Singles from Stay Gold | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 80/100 |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
The Daily Telegraph | |
The Guardian | |
The Independent | |
Los Angeles Times | |
MusicOMH | |
NME | 8/10 |
Pitchfork | 7.3/10 |
Rolling Stone |
Stay Gold is the third studio album by Swedish indie folk duo First Aid Kit. The album was produced by Mike Mogis, who worked on the band's previous album, The Lion's Roar. The album was released on 6 June 2014 in mainland Europe and the following week elsewhere.
According to an interview with Sveriges Television, the album is more about their own life than their previous ones. "That one has to learn appreciate what is and that all flows, that nothing stays".Stay Gold introduced new elements to First Aid Kit's music, such as a 13-piece orchestra. Their previous albums had been produced in such a way that would allow the band to perform with three people on stage; however, these limitations have been lifted to give the band a bigger, more fulfilling sound.
The album received acclaim from many music critics, gaining an overall metacritic score of 80, indicating generally favorable reviews. Scott Kerr of AllMusic noted that the album is "noticeably more expansive than any of their previous work", and "has a rich texture of classic country instrumentation and stirring string arrangements, matching their soaring vocal melodies." The music review site musicOMH complimented on the larger sound that came from the band utilising more instruments, as well as the sister's "new-found, beefed up timbres". It also described the album as "[P]erfectly poised to knock you for six this summer". Andy Gill of The Independent judged the album "an engaging, youthful and thoughtful folk-rock", although James Hall of The Daily Telegraph thought the album "closer to country than folk", and wondered if "it's aimed at cracking the United States". Stephen M. Deusner of Pitchfork thought that the Söderbergs sisters "remain romantics in an unromantic world, not only writing lyrics about fighting the good fight but making the kind of wide-eyed, ‘70s-tinged folk-rock that thrives on soaring vocals, warm harmonies, big choruses, and heart-on-sleeve lyrics." He also considered the album "certainly their grandest and arguably their most consistent release to date". Leonie Cooper of NME thought that the duo had mastered "the art of sophisticated sadness", and "carefully crafted a tender batch of songs that disarm not only with their beauty but also their honesty."