Golden (Lady Antebellum album)

Golden
Studio album by Lady Antebellum
Released	May 7, 2013
Recorded	2012-13
Genre	Country, Bluegrass
Length	43:52
Label	Capitol Nashville
Producer	Paul Worley Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum chronology
On This Winter's Night (2012) Golden (2013) 747 (2014)
Singles from Golden
"Downtown" Released: January 22, 2013 "Goodbye Town" Released: May 13, 2013 "Compass" Released: October 14, 2013

Golden is the fifth studio album by American Country music trio Lady Antebellum. It was released on May 7, 2013, in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and May 6, 2013, in Europe and South Africa.^[1] The album topped the Billboard Top 200, Billboard Top Country Albums with 163,000 copies sold in the first week and The UK Country Albums Charts, their third consecutive #1 on the former, and also peaked within the top 10 on the Australian, Canadian, Irish, and UK all-genre album charts. Golden was a critical success as well, garnering mostly positive reviews for "returning to form," though some critics deemed the album overly-predictable.

The album is the first former EMI title to be fully rebranded as a product of Universal Music. The only reference to its old parent is its UPC. On November 12, 2013, a deluxe edition was released, featuring three new songs and acoustic versions of three hits from previous albums.^[2][3]

Between its two releases, Golden has produced three Top 20 Country Airplay hits in the US, including the number one singles "Downtown" and "Compass".

Promotion

Tour

Lady Antebellum first announced their third headlining tour, The Take Me Downtown Tour, in July 2013, with the first tour date set for November 8.^[4] However, the band later decided to push back the tour to accommodate the release of the Deluxe Edition of Golden and in order to prepare a better show.^[5] The tour kicked off in January 2014, and was expected to visit over 60 cities across North America.^[5] Kip Moore and Kacey Musgraves served as the opening acts.^[3]

Singles

The album's lead single, "Downtown", was released January 22, 2013. It peaked at number two on the Hot Country Songs chart and at number one on US Country Airplay.

"Goodbye Town" was released as a promotional single through iTunes for pre-orders of the album.^[6] It was subsequently released as the second official single from Golden on May 13, 2013, and peaked at #11 on the Hot Country chart. The band described "Goodbye Town" as "one of [their] favorite productions" on the record.^[7]

The third single, "Compass", was released October 14, 2013. It is one of the three new recordings featured on the Deluxe Edition of Golden. Lady Antebellum opted to produce the song alongside Nathan Chapman, rather than with their usual producer Paul Worley.

Other songs

An official lyric video was released for the Deluxe Edition track "And The Radio Played" on November 15, 2013, though no plans have been made to date to release the song as a single.^[8]

In April 2014, a re-recorded version of "Golden", featuring vocals from Stevie Nicks, was released as a digital single.^[9] This version charted at #50 on the Hot Country Songs chart in the first week after its release.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	70/100[10]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[11]
American Songwriter	[12]
Daily News	[13]
The Gazette	[14]
The Oakland Press	[15]
Rolling Stone	[16]
Roughstock	[17]
Taste of Country	[18]
Toronto Star	[19]
USA Today	[20]

Golden has received mostly positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews and ratings from mainstream critics, the album received a metascore of 70, based on 6 reviews.^[10] Eric Allen of American Songwriter told that with just "one listen to Golden [and it] immediately declares that Lady A has returned to form and isn't going anywhere in the imaginable future."^[12] At Country Weekly, Joseph Hudak rated the album a B-, and called the first half of the album "a little too polished", but towards the end the band is "close to finding the secret for mixing easygoing music with evocative, mature lyrics. It’s musical alchemy."^[21] Glenn Gamboa of Newday graded the album a B, and found that the band is "picking approaches that suit the songs best, rather than what keeps all the talented folks occupied most."^[22] At The Oakland Press, Gary Graff evoked that the album "changes things up — subtly, to be sure, but just enough to be perceptibly different from its predecessors", which at the same time "still holds close to the middle of the country road here, but it veers just enough to keep things interesting."^[15] Roughstock's Dan MacIntosh alluded to how "Golden may be better than all past Lady Antebellum efforts, but it’s by no means perfect". and yet he wrote that "the result is an album that is truly golden, and really difficult to hate."^[17] David Burger of The Salt Lake Tribune graded the album a B-, and found that the release contains "both sweet, full-bodied songs that will sound great on the radio this summer, but also features a lot of filler."^[23] At Toronto Star, Ben Rayner evoked that the release is "a touch less prissy and overdressed than the high-gloss wallpaper that has come before," which the band "occasionally takes a stab at rockin’ out in restrained fashion without embarrassing itself at all."^[19] Billy Dukes of Taste of Country projected forward by stating that "there’s a new maturity on this record that, if allowed to progress, promises something even bigger with the next album."^[18] At USA Today, Brian Mansfield affirmed that "a bittersweet edge makes even the liveliest songs more poignant."^[20]

However, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic criticized the release as being "so cheerful" that it makes the album seem "a little churlish", and he felt the need "to complain that the songs here aren't grabbers: they're slow burns, designed to sink into the subconscious through repeated plays on radio, in-store sound systems, waiting rooms, and bumper music."^[11] Yet, Erlewine noted "that's fine", and called the album a "professional product at its finest, meticulously assembled, polished until it gleams, designed to be nothing more than thoroughly agreeable."^[11] At Daily News, Jim Farber highlighted that the album contains songs that are "sun-kissed, expensively constructed, and bound to reap a mint", but that is not necessarily a good thing because "like all Lady A ditties, they’re also lacking in little things like personality, detail and need."^[13] At The Gazette, Bernard Perusse told that as a consolation we should "just be happy that this disc is a smooth, pleasant-enough improvement over the last one."^[14] Chuck Eddy of Rolling Stone wrote that the release "feels like a house of mirrors".^[16] PopMatters' Dave Heaton rated the album a five-out-of-ten, and said that the release is "an overall sedate," and "relatively predictable album".^[24]

Track listing

All songs produced by Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum, except "Compass", produced by Lady Antebellum and Nathan Chapman.^[25]

Golden – Standard edition
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Get to Me"	Hillary Lindsey, James T. Slater	3:48
2.	"Goodbye Town"	Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood, Josh Kear	4:48
3.	"Nothin' Like the First Time"	Sarah Buxton, Jedd Hughes, Lindsey	3:44
4.	"Downtown"	Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Natalie Hemby	3:16
5.	"Better Off Now (That You're Gone)"	Will Hoge, Brian Layson	3:03
6.	"It Ain't Pretty"	Nicolle Galyon, Eric Paslay	3:29
7.	"Can't Stand the Rain"	Scott, Kelley, Haywood, Kear	3:11
8.	"Golden"	Scott, Kelley, Haywood, Paslay	3:27
9.	"Long Teenage Goodbye"	Scott, Kelley, Haywood, Lindsey	3:42
10.	"All for Love"	Scott, Kelley, Haywood, Dennis Edwards, Jason "Slim" Gambill, Jonathan Long, Chris Tyrrell, Clint Chandler	3:16
11.	"Better Man"	Kelley, Haywood, Edwards, Gambill, Long, Chandler	4:04
12.	"Generation Away"	Scott, Kelley, Haywood, Brad Warren, Brett Warren	4:03
Total length:			43:52

Deluxe edition[26]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
13.	"Compass"	Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Erik Hemransen, Ammar Malik, Ross Golan, Daniel Omelio, Emile Haynie	3:04
14.	"And the Radio Played"	Scott, Kelley, Haywood, Kear, Chapman	3:13
15.	"Life as We Know It"	Scott, Kelley, Haywood[27]	4:22
16.	"Need You Now" (iTunes Live session performance)	Scott, Kelley, Haywood, Kear	4:04
17.	"Just a Kiss" (Backstage acoustic session)	Scott, Kelley, Haywood, Dallas Davidson	3:45
18.	"I Run to You" (iTunes Live session performance)	Scott, Kelley, Haywood, Tom Douglas	4:47
Total length:			67:06

Personnel

Lady Antebellum

• Dave Haywood – acoustic guitar, Hammond B-3 organ, mandolin, piano, ukulele, background vocals
• Charles Kelley – lead vocals, background vocals
• Hillary Scott – lead vocals, background vocals

Musicians Chad Cromwell – drums, percussion, shaker, tambourine Jason "Slim" Gambill – electric guitar Will Hoge – harmonica David Huff – drum loops Rob McNelley – electric guitar Michael Rhodes – bass guitar Michael Rojas – Fender Rhodes, Hammond B-3 organ, piano, synthesizer Biff Watson – acoustic guitar, banjo Glenn Worf – bass guitar Paul Worley – acoustic guitar, electric guitar

Design Terri Apanasewicz – hair stylist, make-up Jonna Carter — art direction Michelle Hall – art producer Joseph Llanes – photography Lee Moore – stylist, wardrobe design Karen Naff – art direction

Production

• Natthaphol Abhigantaphand – assistant engineer
• Daniel Bacigalupi – assistant engineer
• Steve Blackmon – assistant engineer
• Paige Conners – production coordination
• Adam Grover – assistant engineer
• Erik Hellerman – engineer
• Charles Kelley – producer
• Joe Martino – assistant engineer
• Andrew Mendelson – mastering
• Allen Parker – assistant engineer
• Clarke Schleicher – engineer, mixing
• Nick Spezia – assistant engineer
• Brad Winters – assistant engineer
• Jeremy Witt – production assistant
• Paul Worley – producer

Chart performance

The album has sold 554,000 copies in the US as of January 2014.^[28]

Album

Chart (2013)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[29]	8
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[30]	2
Irish Albums (IRMA)[31]	10
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[32]	78
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[33]	26
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[34]	36
UK Albums (OCC)[35]	7
UK Country Albums (OCC)[36]	1
US Billboard 200[37]	1
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[38]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (2013)	Position
Canadian Albums(Billboard)[39]	41
US Billboard 200[40]	56
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[41]	13

Chart (2014)	Position
US Billboard 200[42]	139
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[43]	20

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions
		US Country	US Country Airplay	US	CAN Country [44]	CAN
2013	"Downtown"	2	1	29	1	26
	"Goodbye Town"	22	11	80	11	77
	"Compass"	6	1	46	2	51

Certifications

Region	Certification
Australia (ARIA)[45]	Gold
Canada (Music Canada)[46]	Gold
United States (RIAA)[47]	Gold

Release history

Country	Date	Label
United Kingdom	May 6, 2013	Parlophone
South Africa		EMI
United States	May 7, 2013	Capitol Nashville
Canada
Australia		EMI
New Zealand
Philippines	May 15, 2013	Universal Music
Taiwan	May 24, 2013	Gold Typhoon[48]

References

1. Lipshutz, Jason. "Lady Antebellum Stays 'Golden' on New Album". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
2. Blistein, Jon (September 30, 2013). "Lady Antebellum Share New Single 'Compass'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
3. Dauphin, Chuck (September 30, 2013). "Lady Antebellum Point to 'Compass' as New Single". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
4. Sciaretto, Amy. "Lady Antebellum Announce First Leg of 2013 Take Me Downtown Tour". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
5. "Attention All Lady A'ers". Lady Antebellum. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
6. "Goodbye Town is an Instant Download When You Pre-Order GOLDEN on iTunes - Watch the Official Lyric Video". Lady Antebellum. Apr 16, 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
7. "A Preview of Goodbye Town In Today's Webisode - VIDEO". Lady Antebellum. Apr 17, 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
8. ""And The Radio Played" Official Lyric Video". Lady Antebellum. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
9. "Golden (feat. Stevie Nicks) - Single by Lady Antebellum". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
10. Metacritic (May 7, 2013). "Critic Reviews for Golden". CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
11. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (May 6, 2013). "Golden - Lady Antebellum : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllNusic. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
12. Allen, Eric (May 8, 2013). "Lady Antebellum: Golden". American Songwriter. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
13. Farber, Jim (April 30, 2013). "Lady Antebellum, 'Golden': Album Review". Daily News. New York. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
14. Perusse, Bernard (May 5, 2013). "New music review: Golden, Lady Antebellum (Capitol Nashville)". The Gazette. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
15. Graff, Gary (May 6, 2013). "Listening Room: Lady Antebellum subtly picks up the pace with "Golden"". The Oakland Press. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
16. Eddy, Chuck. "Lady Antebellum, 'Golden'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. July 4–18, 2013 (1186/1187): 109. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
17. MacIntosh, Dan (May 3, 2013). "Album Review: Lady Antebellum - Golden". Roughstock. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
18. Dukes, Billy (May 8, 2013). "Lady Antebellum, 'Golden' – Album Review". Taste of Country. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
19. Rayner, Ben (May 7, 2013). "Lady Antebellum injects a bit of grit into Golden: album review". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
20. Mansfield, Brian (May 6, 2013). "Listen Up notables: Lady Antebellum, more". USA Today. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
21. Hudak, Joseph (May 7, 2013). "Golden by Lady Antebellum". Country Weekly. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
22. Gamboa, Glenn (May 3, 2013). "Lady Antebellum's 'Golden' review: True to form". Newday. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
23. Burger, David (May 7, 2013). "CD Reviews: Lady Antebellum, Pistol Annies, Natalie Maines". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
24. Heaton, Dave (May 7, 2013). "Lady Antebellum: Golden". PopMatters. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
25. Mansfield, Brian (March 25, 2013). "Lady Antebellum reveals 'Golden' track list, details". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
26. ""Golden" Deluxe Album Preorder (Digital Copy)". Gumroad. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
27. http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=11790185&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID
28. Bjorke, Matt (January 8, 2014). "Country Album Chart News: The Week of January 8, 2013: With news on latest albums from Luke, Garth, Cassadee, Danielle and Scotty". Roughstock. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
29. "Australiancharts.com – Lady Antebellum – Golden". Hung Medien.
30. "Lady Antebellum – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Lady Antebellum.
31. "Irish-charts.com – Lady Antebellum – Golden". Hung Medien.
32. "Dutchcharts.nl – Lady Antebellum – Golden" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
33. "Charts.org.nz – Lady Antebellum – Golden". Hung Medien.
34. "Swisscharts.com – Lady Antebellum – Golden". Hung Medien.
35. "Lady Antebellum | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart
36. "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company.
37. "Lady Antebellum – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Lady Antebellum.
38. "Lady Antebellum – Chart history" Billboard Top Country Albums for Lady Antebellum.
39. "Top Canadian Albums: 2013 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-01-15.
40. "Billboard 200 Albums: Year-End top-selling albums across all genres". Billboard.
41. "Top Country Albums: 2013 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
42. "Billboard 200 Albums: Year-End top-selling albums across all genres". Billboard.
43. "Top Country Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
44. "Lady Antebellum: Song & Chart History - Canada Country". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
45. NO certyear WAS PROVIDED for AUSTRALIAN CERTIFICATION.
46. "Canadian album certifications – Lady Antebellum – Golden". Music Canada.
47. "American album certifications – Lady Antebellum – Golden". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
48. http://www.goldtyphoon.com/releasescollection/ladyantebellum2013-05-24.html