Tommy Gold - Southside Serenade (Album)

Tommy Gold’s third studio effort is finally here & it’s quite the spiritually enthralling experience. If you know Tommy by now, you know he is not one for the filler bars, every line this man writes holds some sort of weight but man are these opening lines heavy. He does a bit of reflecting on “444”, baring his heart & soul instantly. Nothing but gems you could use as mantras on this record, he immediately proves that he hasn’t lost a step in terms of his writing & delivery. The tonality of this records seems to be leaning towards the poignant & introspective & we’re all here for it. He & Malik speak on growing far past who they used to be in lulling fashion on “SOUTHSIDE SERENADE”. It’s his ode to his past life, admitting that he wasn’t always the stand up guy he is these days but that those days are what lead him to this point. It’s always beautiful when someone can reflect on what once was & hold themselves accountable for the role they played in other people’s stresses. 

“How a heart grow cold in the summer heat?” It’s a good question that Tommy asks himself frequently. All he can surmise is, it’s a result of the environment he comes from, as well as the experiences attached to it. It’s a haunting record with its daunting production, almost Christmas like with the choir caroling in the background. He then goes back to a time when life was a bit simple, sitting in his “MOMMA’S KITCHEN” trying to come up with a plan to make it out of there, a lot of hardships he was faced with but he always knew he was gonna leave the nest sooner or later but it’s scary being out in this world alone like, who’s gonna hold him down after the fact. That person seems to be himself as he’s adamant on improving upon who he used to be, though the one thing that remains is his hunger. These are spiritual songs indeed & that only continues with “BLINDING LIGHTS” as he ventures towards the lambent light growing ever so brighter the further he journeys through this life.

Whoever said money can’t buy happiness, lied. It’s true in his case as he smiles at the fact that he’s able to make his loved ones proud. He prays he’s able to continue to maintain this lifestyle of his on “NO LIMIT SOLDIER”. The various references throughout this record make it all the more soulful. He’s coming into his own “POWER” & is glad to share his insights on these interludes. He & D’Shaun reconnect for another one of them ones on “ONE DEEP”, an ode to being a lone wolf in this life. Who knew a eulogy could sound this triumphant? “DEAD HOMIES” is a beautiful dedication to life & all the pain & beauty we find within it. He even ends this gorgeous opus of his with a Spanish number, further cementing his stay in this game. All in all, it’s a poignantly crafted, introspectively reflective masterpiece Tommy has gifted us with, his life experiences thus far all culminated into this opus.