streets of gold – 3OH!3 (album review)

3OH!3: Streets of Gold (2010)

CD REVIEW – JIMMY RUSSELL

Every few weeks or months it seems that a new novelty rears its head into almost any piece of popular culture. A defying scene, an outrageous act or a track that is sure to distress, these new crazes storm the mainstream world and dominate everything in their path. It was safe to say that the early year 2000’s “CRUNK” phase was dead, no matter how incredible the heavy basslines and strong male chauvinistic undertone was. So, like Yo-Yo’s and Pet Rocks, Crunk was assumed deceased, until Colorado based crunk/electro duo 3OH!3 preformed the unbelievable resurrection of the fallen genre in 2008.

Through the bands second album, Want, the revitalization was deemed success. Reaching mainstream status instantly, spawning multiple double platinum singles and world tours, Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte capitalized on their tongue-in-cheek (literally and figuratively) bravado and released Streets of Gold in 2010.

Once the tracks “Don’t Trust Me” and the USA ice-breaker “Starstukk” featuring Katy Perry dropped, 3OH!3 were a force to be reckoned with in international markets. Considering the sudden stardom, Streets of Gold was welcomed with high anticipation and promise. And it does deliver.

Opening the album with the track “Beaumont”, the scene is set with grim, fuzz fueled bass. And this continues with the following track “I Can Do Anything”, poking fun at life and expectations. An anthem for the album and sure crowd favourite, the call and response chorus is just the start of the ridiculously infectious songs found on this album.

Perfectly complimenting each other, Tik ToK superstar Ke$ha joins the boys for the first single off the album which accounts experiences of fits kisses and where they can lead to. “My First Kiss” is not the first time the two have worked with each other, and following from the sensation “Blah Blah Blah” also received, we can only pray it won’t be the last time. The tracks main hook “my first kiss went a little like this” is sure to stick in your head for eternity while the zippy power pop beat during the verse will keep ones feet tapping the whole time.

Overflowing with hooks that all carry the potential to be chart-toppers, tracks “I Know How to Say” and “Touchin’ On My” seem to shine the brightest and are obvious future singles. Similar to the 2006 Pussycat Dolls hit “Beep”, the song leaves nothing to our imagination as vulgar propositions and expectations are blocked out with a slowly descending key tone-esq sound. While “I Know How to Say” is a pure guileless and undeniable pop smash hit which will be sure to be on constant rotation on every play list in the coming months.

While “Double Vision” and “We Are Young” boast anthemic choruses, and “See You Go” is reminiscent of its predecessor “Don’t Trust Me”, it eventually becomes apparent that the while the album truly succeeds in producing dance hits similar to ones found on Want, “Double Vision” and “I’m Not The One” suggest a branched genre for the boys.  Out of their comfort zones, Motte and Foreman are stripped down to produce two of the most mellow, piano driven ballads ever heard of from a crunk/electro band (if any are even made in fact).

Ending the album on a low-key but musically tasteful note, similar to “Colorado Sunrise” on Want, “Love 2012” brings us that wavy, fuzzy electronic, deep bass that 3OH!3’s fundamental elements are built on and found on earlier albums.

As Sean and Nathaniel continue to infiltrate the masses, thus appearing over all forms of media present, it is safe to say that the band that is named after an area code will not be going anywhere anytime soon. Viva la CRUNK!

Track Listing:

1. Beaumont
2. I Can Do Anything
3. My First Kiss (Feat. Ke$ha)
4. Deja Vu
5. We Are Young
6. Touchin On My
7. House Party
8. R.I.P.
9. I Know How To Say
10. Double Vision
11. I’m Not The One
12. Streets Of Gold
13. See You Go
14. Love 2012