Leon Bridges, Gold-Diggers Sound | Album Review 💿

R&B artist Leon Bridges releases his most ‘contemporary’ album to date in Gold-Diggers Sound, while retaining the soulful cues and touches. 

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&B has evolved time and time again over the years. Generally, the more soul-hearkening brand of the genre gets less attention than the more hip-hop and pop-oriented brand.  That can make the neo-/retro-soul crowd more under-appreciated and underrated.  I’d argue that 🏆 Grammy-winning R&B singer 🎙 Leon Bridges chose the more difficult path, though that path is the best artistic fit.  💿 Coming Home, his 2015 debut, was full-blown retro-soul – forget the neo-! His sophomore album, 💿 Good Thing (the better album) shed some of the retro-, embracing a slightly more contemporary sound, while still fundamentally being neo-soul.  His third studio album, 💿 Gold-Diggers Sound is his most contemporary effort to date.  Even so, the well-rounded Gold-Diggers Sound upgrades his sound while retaining soulful cues and touches, satisfying traditional listeners while still appealing and being appreciated by younger R&B enthusiasts.  

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“Born Again”

On opener ✅ 🎵 “Born Again,” Leon Bridges is joined by 🏆 Grammy-winning musician, 🎙 Robert Glasper.  With Glasper aboard, “Born Again” gives us the best of jazz and contemporary soul.  We get the smooth vibes of Glasper’s keyboard playing, beautiful horns, and a sweet harmonic progression.  Of course, the star is Bridges, who sounds refined.  He’s nuanced and soulful without forcing things.  “Born Again” might not be the song I’d envisioned commencing Gold-Diggers Sound, but it ends up being incredibly successful.  

“On the back of my motorbike / Write your name in the sky, ooh / It’s whatever you like / We can ride, ride, ride.” ✅ 🎵“Motorbike” marks not only the second track from Gold-Diggers Sound but also the second advance single. Bridges remains classy and refined vocally.  He effectively sings sans gospel histrionics giving this love-centric number a chill, fitting vibe.  “Motorbike” was penned by five songwriters (including Bridges), all of which capture that universal four-letter word.  As far as the production, 🎛 Nate Mercereau and 🎛 Ricky Reed construct a solid, respectable backdrop for Bridges.  There’s nothing flashy per se, but it successfully recalls the soul of old while sounding fresh in 2021.  It’s chill, soulful, and romantic.

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“Steam” 

🎵 ✅ “Steam” loses no steam three songs into Gold-Diggers Sound.  Like the two songs that precede it, “Steam” balances the soul of old and the R&B of present.  This is a groovy record that’ll get your body moving from the onset – funky as albeit.  Furthermore, Bridges matches the groove element by serving up a grittier brand of vocals, while, again, never over singing. 

“If you’re still in love, oh, like you’re sayin’ / Then why don’t you touch me? Yeah.” Good question, Leon! ✅ 🎵 “Why Don’t You Touch Me”, the third advance single from Gold-Diggers Sound, marks another stellar moment.  Bridges continues to showcase his soulfulness without a hitch. The background has its share of neo-/retro-soul sensibilities while also sounding more contemporary than his past work. Beyond the warm, well-rounded adult contemporary R&B sounds constructed by Mercereau, Reed, and 🎛 9AM, as well as marvelous vocals from Bridges, the songwriting is relatable.  With the relationship seemingly slipping, yet love between the two still exists, Bridges is rightfully concerned.  The best moment is the chorus, excerpted above and continued as follows:

“…I’m dressin’ to the nines and your eyes strayin’
Oh, why don’t you touch me? Yeah
Why don’t, why don’t, why don’t? Yeah, yeah.”

All said and done, “Why Don’t You Touch Me” marks another strong music showing for Leon Bridges. 

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“Magnolias” 

Gold-Diggers Sounds remains on the up-and-up with 🎵 “Magnolias.”  Here, Leon Bridges sounds, dare I say, sexy, singing about those “fresh cut magnolias.” Once again, it’s clear that this LP is meant to balance old and new.  Initially, “Magnolias” sounds as if it’s firmly planted in the past, then, that beat drops. Woo! Bridges didn’t have such a hard-hitting, sleek sounding backdrop on Coming Home and arguably, Good Thing.  The results are positive. 

Horn-laden interlude 🎵 “Gold-Diggers (Junior’s Fanfare)” follows, reminding us that Leon remains and old soul, even if the sound is more contemporary overall. On ✅ 🎵 “Details,” neo-soul and adult contemporary R&B – grown-folks music – is alive and well.  There are the sweet sounds of guitars, horns, robust bass, and soul cues of old.  Bridges sings incredibly smooth, as he makes it crystal clear that he is the guy for her – the only one who sees those “details of you.” Romantic and dedicated to the nth degree – me like!

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“Sho Nuff”

“And you know what I need / From my crown to my feet / Oh, please, baby, please / Before I fall to my knees.” Are you in need of even more groove-tastic, electrifying, soulful vibes? Look no further than ✅ 🎵 “Sho Nuff.”  “Sho Nuff” is feel-good, inoffensive, yet sexy neo-soul. In an age where explicitness is king, Leon Bridges goes against the grain and does just as well with suggestiveness.  

On ✅ 🎵 “Sweeter”, Bridges takes the opportunity to capture his thoughts about race and racial injustice through music. “Sweeter,” (featuring 🎙 Terrace Martin), features a nice blend of old- and new- school R&B.  Reed and Mercereau do a marvelous job behind the boards, helping to mold this ‘sweet’ sound.  Though the sounds are indeed sweet, Bridges’ vocal performance, and the lyrics he conveys are the centerpiece. 

“Hoping for a life more sweeter
Instead, I’m just a story repeating
Why do I fear with skin dark as night?
Can’t feel peace with those judging eyes.”

From the start, you feel the weight; the lyrics speak for themselves.  Leon goes on to say that he “Thought we moved on from dark days,” basically expressing his disappointment over the racial injustices in 2020 without explicitly saying so.  One of the most moving passages: “The tears of my mother rain, rain over me / My sisters and my brothers sing, sing over me / And I wish I had another day, but it’s just another day.” What really stands out about “Sweeter” is how Bridges, Martin, and the songwriters and musicians poetically approach things.  “Sweeter” is a beautiful song, but beautiful with no shortage of emotion and pain.  It’s an excellent addition to the growing list of songs that speak out against racial inequality and injustice. 

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“Don’t Worry” 

Penultimate record 🎵 “Don’t Worry,” featuring 🎙 Ink, marks the longest song from Gold-Diggers Sound. Even if it pushes things at six-and-a-half minutes in duration, Bridges remains both consistent and compelling.  Furthermore, Ink serves up a welcome contrast vocally to Leon. “Don’t Worry” concedes no soul – it still appeals to traditional listeners. 

Bridges concludes Gold-Diggers Sound ‘on a high note’ with ✅ 🎵 “Blue Mesas.”  That high note, of course, refers to the high quality of the record.  What’s not high is Leon’s mood. The moment that the record commences, it’s sad, set in a minor key.  Dramatic strings featured during the intro and at various stints are haunting and gorgeous.  As for the man of the hour, he continues his impressive track record, blessing us with those anointed, expressive pipes. The difference is how vulnerable he is throughout the record. One feels for and/or relates to Leon on the centerpiece, where insecurity and loneliness has encapsulated him:

“How you get lonely even though
You’re surrounded by the ones you know?
Killing myself, saying these words
There’s a hurting deep down in my soul
But I learn not to let it show
Do I need help?
No.”

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Final Thoughts 💭

Has Leon Bridges made a ‘bad’ album to date? The answer is a resounding no.  That said, perhaps I underrated Gold-Diggers Sound before its arrival.  I expected a consistent, well-rounded contemporary R&B album with soulful touches, but Gold-Diggers Sound ends up being better than advertised.  Over the course of 11 tracks running a tight 37 minutes, Bridges never misses the mark.  Traditional R&B listeners will be thrilled, but also some younger R&B enthusiasts will enjoy and appreciate this effort as well.  Gold-Diggers Sound earns my seal of approval. 

✅ Gems 💎: “Born Again,” “Motorbike,” “Steam,” “Why Don’t You Touch Me,” “Details,” “Sweeter” & “Blue Mesas”

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🎙 Leon Bridges • 💿 Gold-Diggers Sound • 🏷 LisaSawyer63 / Columbia • 🗓 7.23.21

[📷: LisaSawyer63 / Columbia]

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