Here In Your Bedroom The debut studio album by ska punk legends Goldfinger is turning 30 years old tomorrow, and it still has a bit of a unique charm to it. It’s the only Goldfinger record to not be produced in any capacity by lead singer/band leader John Feldmann, and it was all recorded directly to analog tape under the direction of Mojo Records founder Jay Rifkin. Goldfinger also spawned the band’s highest charting single to date in “Here In Your Bedroom” that was a Top 5 rock hit in the states. The sound feels like a mix between Dookie-era Green Day, paired with the ska horns of Reel Big Fish, and with an experimental vocal approach from Feldmann that channeled The Clash’s Joe Strummer. Goldfinger were just beginning to figure out their sound on this album, and it’s still a bit of a mixed bag in the overall listening experience. Songs like “King For A Day” and “Mable” are a ton of fun, and Goldfinger is worth another look.
”Mind’s Eye” opens with a wailing, alien-esque sound/feedback in the beginning of the album since Feldmann mentioned, “”We recorded that album on tape. It was all super experimental—’Well what if we have the feedback going, we hit record and start playing so the tape starts with nothing.'” As the song really kicks in, you can hear some of that early-Green Day influence paired with a slick energy behind the vocals. “Stay” plays out like a 4-chord pop-punk track that feels right at home in the mid-90’s, with a pulsating bass line found throughout courtesy of Simon Williams. “Here In Your Bedroom” is a bonafide classic of a Goldfinger song, and it’s easy to see why it struck a chord with audiences upon its debut in the Spring of ’96. It remains a staple of Goldfinger’s live show, and at times, the band invited audience members up on stage to partake in the party atmosphere depicted in the music video.
”Only A Day” is a dreary punk rock song about how boredom and bad weather can affect your mental health and overall well-being, while the slow-build ska punk charm of “King For A Day” feels like a burst of sunshine hitting you in the face that will improve your outlook on life. The latter track could’ve easily been released as a single if the band didn’t almost immediately go into recording their follow-up record of Hang-Ups that would spawn the Tony Hawk Pro Skater classic single of “Superman.” “Anxiety” was a pretty straight-forward punk rock song, while “Answers” has a bit of a cool “spy theme” flavor to it that sets it apart from the rest of the material on Goldfinger. The chorus feels like a Rancid clone, but Feldmann showcased his captivating spirit at an early age here.
”Anything” is a speedy punk rock song that fits well in the sequencing of the LP, while “Mable” ended up being the second single released from the set that has a punk sneer behind Feldmann’s vocal approach. The pop-punk chorus of, “She makes me want to kiss all the babies / Hug the puppy dogs / She makes me feel like a mom / Smell the flowers and plant a tree / I gotta say that Mable — she’s the bomb,” is a love song at its heart, as Feldmann gushes over the clumsy riffing. “The City With Two Faces” is an abrasive and speedy punk rock song that never overstays its welcome, and the fan favorite of “My Girlfriend’s Shower Sucks” highlighted the use of humor in Goldfinger’s songwriting in its infant stages.
”Miles Away” is a breezy pop-punk love song that feels almost like an 80’s cover song with the picturesque lyrics of, “How deep is your love? / How deep is the ocean? / How deep is the sea? / And how deep is my love?” The steady punk riffing in the bridge/breakdown is reminiscent of early-Green Day and it showcased how Goldfinger were playing homage to other pop-punk bands storming onto the scene around the same time. “Nothing To Prove” gets back to the abrasive punk sneer, while “Pictures” would be the third and final single released from the set. The closer of “Fuck You and Your Cat” never tries to be anything other than a silly song of Goldfinger playing around in the studio, and that humor would carry over into subsequent albums in the band’s storied career.
Goldfinger, if nothing else, is a fun little reminder of the humble beginnings of the ascent of John Feldmann as a songwriter and punk personality in the scene. The band would continue their rise with a slicker-styled ska punk energy on their later releases, and continue to hone in on their charming personalities to make new fans of the Warped Tour enthusiasts of the world.