Bush - Golden State

I have been a long time fan of Bush, ever since Sixteen Stone came out back in 1994. In fact, the first 'real' concert I went to was Bush when they were on the Black Dog Tour in '95. I came away from hat show with a bloody nose, and a busted lip that I still have a scar from today, but it rooted in me an appreciation for Bush that has stood the test of time. Ever since Sixteen Stone I have kept track of Bush and their releases, but not until now have I felt compelled to go out and buy their latest album. The band seems to have finally returned to their roots and cranked the grunge up a little. To clarify though, this is not another Sixteen Stone, but instead, Golden State is the perfect blend of the raw Bush sound of old, combined with the well-produced, lighter sound prevalent in their last album, The Science of Things. I have this theory, which some disagree with, that very rarely will the follow-up albums of a heavy band who has tasted main stream success be as raw or as heavy as their first release. I just think that part of what makes that sound on their debut is their hunger and desire to be successful. Once they achieve this, they loose that hunger, and in turn loose a lot of their edge. Countless examples can be named (Incubus, Korn, etc.), but what I think is important is when a band comes back to that original feeling and adds to it several years of maturity and experience. This is exactly what Bush has done on 'Golden State'. All in all, I think Golden State is a great album that has finally got me excited about Bush again. If you have ever been a Bush fan, now is the time to check back into them. If you have never heard of them, then well I am really sorry that you have no ears, it must be difficult. For me, Golden State is a great reminder of that great show back in 1995. [www.bush-music.com]