Golden Idols’s latest record, Uneasy, tackles relationships — but not the conventional, romanticized kind. Instead, the EP, staying true to its title, grapples with how it feels to experience a love in distress: the shaky beginnings (or lack thereof), one-way arguments, poorly kept secrets, and miserable moments of defeat. The Seattle pop-rock group is known for their unorthodox approach to portraying love, and Uneasy is no exception. The five-track EP dives into moments of unreciprocated affection, infidelity, and saying goodbye in order to show how unfulfilled love stories can often be the most satisfying.
The EP kicks off with “I Wanted You,” a twangy track that discusses the hesitancy to act on fleeting, potentially unreciprocated feelings. Low, snappy vocals are enhanced by a smooth undercurrent of drums and bass as listeners follow the story of a chance encounter turned playful obsession. The track dances along punchy waves of sound that fit the storyline of inexplicably lusting after a stranger; as the vocals rise and crash along waves of emotion, so do the instrumentals.
Next up is the funky title track, “Uneasy,” which uses groovy bass and twinkly piano notes to set the tone for a feverish inner turmoil. Lead vocalist and guitarist Patrick Broz sings of a frustrating relationship dynamic in which one person can’t discern the other’s mood and wishes. This agonizing back and forth continues for the length of the track, with Broz narrating the thoughts of the person whose confusion is causing them to feel — quite literally — uneasy.
The following tracks, “Nobody Else” and “Getting My Own Place,” are bluesy, soft-rock pieces that tackle the difficult process of leaving a failed relationship. While they incorporate narrative lyrics similar to those of the previous tracks, these songs place an emphasis on making a painful experience upbeat and positive through easily danceable sounds. Sharp, punchy instrumentals are paired with vocals that fluctuate in their intensity as the tracks move through the emotions of trying — and hopefully succeeding — to let someone go. “Nobody Else” tackles a dueling dynamic in which jealousy juxtaposed with exasperation prevents two people from moving forward; “Getting My Own Place” shares the perspective of someone resolved in their determination to leave a toxic situation.
The EP concludes on a frisky note with “Reliable,” in which unfaithfulness becomes a fervent game of running between love interests. Fast, pounding instrumentals from bassist Jewel Loree, guitarist Eric Peterson, and drummer Saba Samakar give the track a frantic tone as Broz sings of racing to and from trysts. “Reliable” is unrelenting in its vigor, mirroring the chaotic narrative of someone maintaining a double life. The track, which runs just over five minutes, concludes on a softer, hazier note, almost as if to suggest that reality has set in, and the adulterer has solemnly realized the weight of their actions.
Overall, Golden Idols’s Uneasy is a homage to the imperfections of modern relationships, set to the tune of snappy instrumentals. The five tracks could be viewed, individually, as short stories, wherein each reflects a metaphorical hurdle in searching for love. Uneasy, however, can also be considered a singular story in which the details of a failed relationship are transformed through visually and sonically descriptive notes.
Uneasy
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