Gold Medal

Description

Famous for having formed in 8th grade for a talent show at school, The Donnas started as a self-proclaimed mixed response to the Ramones, joyfully and unabashedly playing pop-punk anthems about teenage alienation and hedonism from a resolutely female perspective. But by the time of Gold Medal in 2004, their sixth album and second for the major label Atlantic, the band had clearly, dare we say it?—matured. With the notable exception of the single (and career highlight) "Fall Behind Me," Gold Medal marks a departure from the harder/faster ethic of The Donnas towards a more polished philosophy (acoustic guitars... what are those?) with a pop sound leaning towards 70s psychedelia under the guidance of Avril Lavigne's producer, Butch Walker. And you can tell from the album's graphics, which flash vintage doodles reminiscent of Peter Max on the cover and feature a faux blacklight poster inside (which we have reproduced for this reissue with the original printed inner sleeve). The result was an album that lead singer Brett Anderson, aka Donna A., considers his favorite, and which is probably the most underrated album in the fabulous catalog of the band (most of which have recently been released here at Real Gone Music).