Gold Mine Trash

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This 1987 anthology was Felt's first best-of, and it perfectly captures the spirit of the British cult heroes' first few years. The band's first four records are all represented on <i>Gold Mine Trash</i>, along with non-LP singles from the same period (1981–1985). Presumably to attract the interest of hardcore fans who already have all the albums, there are demo versions of two tracks ("Sunlight Bathed the Golden Glow" and "Dismantled King Is Off the Throne"). Between the relatively lo-fi sound of the demos and the earliest recordings—and their proximity to the postpunk era—much of this collection ends up spotlighting a speedier, more rough-edged side of Felt than some people may be used to. Felt frontman Lawrence (sorry, no surname) sounds downright breathless on tunes like "Trails of Color Dissolve" and "Sunlight Bathed the Golden Glow," with Gary Ainge's tumbling rhythms and guitar man Maurice Deebank's roiling riffs edging him along. That said, Felt is as Felt does, and even the perkiest cuts here still sport plenty of the gentle, folk-rock-inspired guitar jangle and dewy-eyed lyricism beloved by the band's fans.

via Apple Music