Review | Gold Leaves - The Ornament
Gold Leaves is the newest project
from Seattleite Grant Olsen (of Arthur & Yu fame), and the debut album The Ornament which comes out today, is perfectly
crafted to become your new ‘old favorite’.
Full of careful arrangements, truly poetic songwriting and harmonies that would make any Seattleite proud (see: Fleet Foxes, The Moondoggies), the elements in their separate parts are not anything we have not heard before. But Olsen has turned the parts into simply one damn good album. It’s both lush and simple, spacious and orchestral.
Olsen actually began working on these songs some four years ago, but tabled the project when a bag with his laptop and notebooks was stolen. He took it as a sign. But some time later, after going through many transitions in his life — to which he credits the themes and undertones of the album — he came back to the project. And as a nod to Robert Frost, who wisely wrote “Nothing gold can stay”, Olsen decided to call his project Gold Leaves.
And though the album exists within the already established, and loved-by-many Seattle folk/rock scene, there are elements of 60s soul music, americana and doo-wop present in the album as well. In fact, in case you think the harmonies sound a bit familiar, they were laid down Olsen’s friends and label mates The Moondoggies.
This album really could not have come at a better time. It’s almost fall, and these tracks are sure to make the change from golden summer to crisp fall a little easier. Get ready for some Gold Leaves.
Buy The Ornament
