The lineup: Zac, Matt, Adam, Shon and Adam.
The lineup: Zac, Matt, Adam, Shon and Adam.
Let’s get this out of the way up top: no, Solid Gold is not a syndicated top 40 countdown show which aired from 1980 to 1988 featuring the Solid Gold Dancers. But I could see the Solid Gold Dancers doing a fine routine to a couple of Solid Gold’s numbers—maybe the slinky “Bible Thumper,” or the dreamier “Who You Gonna Run To?”
Now that we’ve cleared that up, here’s the deal: Solid Gold is a band with the ability to compel you to Shake. Your. Ass. After meeting in 2000 at the University of Wisconsin, Zach Coulter and Matthew Locher founded the band along some shared fundamental principles: love of futuristic art and architecture, and an obsession with the old-school doob. After their drummer left, they continued on, crafting tranced-out slow-dance grooves. Lifting guitarist extraordinaire, Adam Hurlburt, from one of their favorite bands proved itself to be excellent. In 2005 they left Madison and the haze of smoke behind, relocating to Minneapolis. Lost and confused in a new city, the three found that they still agreed on three things 1) they enjoy guitar licks 2) they enjoy fucked up old keyboards 3) they enjoy synthed-out hip-hop beats.
With that in mind, it’s kind of weird that they didn’t find a drummer for a couple of years, but they’ve recently corrected that problem, augmenting their laptop-full of special effects with Sticks, a real live human metronome. Finally, they filled out their sound with a shamanistic slide guitar player, Shon Troth, who may or may not be a real live human.
Thus situated, Zach, Adam, and Matt reconnoitered in the studio to put the finishing touches on their years-in-the-making debut record, Bodies of Water. Full of songs about breaking up and running away, there is a penumbra of heart wrench lingering over Bodies of Water that belies the ironic Duran Duran-esque superficiality of their band name (and the flat plasticine whap of their beats).
The stories are familiar, breaking up and figuring it out on your own—but Coulter's lyricism vacates narrative possibility, refusing to go forward in any kind of linear development, instead relying on that beat and washes of keyboard and guitar to swirl around repetitive phrasing and imagery. “I’m not a good storyteller,” he says, before adding, “I don’t want to force it.” His songs are suggestions, but oftentimes suggestions recall mood and emotion and memory more powerfully than stories.
Solid Gold has been on the road for a couple years now, performing showcases in London and New York, playing festivals in the middle of Texas and the middle of Sweden, and enjoying triumphant hometown returns every time they make it back to Minneapolis. Who knows, maybe Solid Gold will find a slot on a Top 40 countdown show yet.
New Kanada
Solid Gold Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now good luck in my arms
The power is deceiving
But evil has it's charms
But hell ain't a line of gold
When you feel you're untouched
It's better than living
Just don't give in too much
I've been a cast away
I've been on my knees
I've been a runaway
Hiding from disease
Life ain't no open book
Just blindly planting seeds
Running with demons
You can hear them in the breeze
And she says,
Can't do this on my own
Do this on my own
Evil develops
Unformed beauty stops
Hatred is buoyant
It floats above the cross
The ending is nearing
In a form we all will feel
Hoping she's out there
Inventing the next wheel
Can't do this on my own
Do this on my own
L.A.
Is such a getaway
L.A.
It's such a getaway
The lyrics of Solid Gold's song New Kanada are about the struggles of life and the allure of evil. The opening lines, "Hey baby, now good luck in my arms. The power is deceiving, but evil has its charms," convey the idea that while we may be attracted to power and success, we should beware of the temptation of evil. The lines "But hell ain't a line of gold when you feel you're untouched. It's better than living, just don't give in too much" suggest that giving in to temptation may seem appealing at first, but the consequences can be dire.
The verses also touch on the hardships of life, with lines like "I've been a castaway, I've been on my knees" and "life ain't no open book, just blindly planting seeds." The chorus, "Can't do this on my own, do this on my own," suggests that the singer needs help to overcome the challenges they face.
The song also touches on the idea of progress, with the lines "Hoping she's out there, inventing the next wheel." The reference to the next wheel suggests that there is always room for improvement and innovation.
Overall, the lyrics of New Kanada speak to the struggles and temptations of life, the importance of seeking help, and the potential for progress and innovation.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey baby
Addressing someone affectionately, probably an ex or a current partner
Now good luck in my arms
Wishing good fortune to the person being addressed, possibly indicating they have left the singer recently or expressing a desire for them to return
The power is deceiving
Acknowledging that power can be misleading or corrupting
But evil has it's charms
Suggesting that evil can be tempting, alluring or seductive
But hell ain't a line of gold
Implying that even wealth or success does not guarantee happiness or fulfillment
When you feel you're untouched
Alluding to feeling invincible or untouchable
It's better than living
Suggesting that feeling invincible or untouchable is preferable to feeling powerless or lost
Just don't give in too much
Warning against overindulging in that sense of invincibility
I've been a cast away
Admitting to feeling isolated or abandoned by others
I've been on my knees
Acknowledging a sense of surrender or defeat
I've been a runaway
Confessing to fleeing from one's problems or struggles
Hiding from disease
Possibly a literal reference to avoiding illness, or metaphorical reference to avoiding negative emotions or problems
Life ain't no open book
Stating that life is not always transparent or easy to understand
Just blindly planting seeds
Suggesting that one can only do their best and hope for the best, even if they don't know what the outcome will be
Running with demons
Possibly a metaphorical reference to indulging in negative behaviors or thought patterns
You can hear them in the breeze
Possibly indicating that one can sense or intuit negative influences lurking around them
And she says,
Introducing dialogue from another person, possibly someone the artist cares about (romantically or platonically)
Can't do this on my own
Expressing a need for support, help, or guidance
Do this on my own
Implying that the singer has been attempting to handle things alone but is struggling
Evil develops
Stating that evil can grow or propagate
Unformed beauty stops
Possibly a reference to how beauty cannot thrive in negative or toxic environments
Hatred is buoyant
Suggesting that negative emotions can persist or rise up regardless of attempts to suppress them
It floats above the cross
Possibly a reference to religious iconography, implying that negative emotions can supersede or override religious or spiritual ideals
The ending is nearing
Suggesting that something is drawing to a close or coming to an end
In a form we all will feel
Suggesting that whatever is ending will be universally felt or experienced by everyone
Hoping she's out there
Expressing a desire for a positive or supportive presence in the singer's life
Inventing the next wheel
Suggesting that the singer is hoping for new ideas or innovation to help fight against negative influences or situations
L.A.
Referring to Los Angeles
Is such a getaway
Implying that L.A. is an escape or refuge from whatever struggles or issues the artist is dealing with
It's such a getaway
Reiterating that L.A. is a place of respite or relief
Contributed by Lucas B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.