Goldie Boutilier Presents... Goldie Montana
The exhilarating and cinematic creation of Goldie Montana for Goldie’s debut album is a masterpiece in character development and raw honesty, filled with gripping storytelling alongside visuals that look like they were plucked straight from an '80s gangster movie. It’s as described by Goldie herself, “a love letter to courage, to peeling yourself open, to saying the things you have been too ashamed to say out loud”.
Starting strong with ‘King of Possibilities’, the retro-funk melody and sultry lyrics set the scene for the high-stakes, bad-girl lifestyle that resonates throughout the album. The album opener is a title track opening sequence to the adventures and life of Goldie Montana. The upbeat ‘Neon Nuptials’ is a love letter to a dream happy ending, star-crossed lovers that no one could tame and tear apart, with strong guitar riffs and the addition of wedding bells to truly tie the romantic and hazy track together. Disco-infused and incredibly catchy, ‘Snake Eyes’ is a highlight within the already strong album, the song and lyrics creating the vision of the blonde temptress that is our protagonist. The heartbreaking and raw ‘I Can’t’ takes us through the pain of breakups and moving on, with a hint of sun-soaked guitar riffs and synths that grow throughout, mirroring the feeling of fury that overpowers and the anguish of grief that comes with dying love. ‘Favourite Fear’ is the turning point for Montana, the rock-heavy guitar and drums signaling the anthem for remembering who you are, reiterating the main character syndrome that makes this album so authentic and empowering. The calm before the storm of the interlude ‘Yacht Is Sinking’ leads straight into the retro-pop ‘Who Are You Gonna Worship Now?’ with nostalgic synths that set the tone for this opulence chic-inspired song that wouldn’t go amiss in a movie or a show about dramatic and wealthy families who sell their souls for their riches. ‘I Am the Rich Man’ is an ode to self-love and self-value, lyrics that inspire the notion that perhaps a man is not a necessity in life, an exploration of internal power and independence without relying on anyone else. ‘Goldie Montana’ is a bold and confident anthem, announcing herself as the ultimate mastermind with strong drums that sound like a strut on marble and heavenly vocals that match the dreamy synths throughout the title track. Penultimate ‘Terrible Things’ is raw in authenticity and truly brings the album together. It’s the ultimate call out for the hypocrites, and embracing the things that brought you to where you are now. The closing track, ‘At the End of the War, ’ slows down the tempo, a simple melody, the ending of a traumatic experience with the inevitable discomfort that comes with the feeling of being free.
The album is a masterclass on embracing transformation, from the lowest points in life to the ones that feel like the ultimate win, moments that may have broken you but ultimately made you the person you are today. Goldie has cemented herself as a visionary with her audacious sound and vision that makes Goldie Montana a striking debut, keeping us on our toes to see what she gifts us with next.
