Recommended Tracks: “The Magic,” “Twin Flame,” “I’m Sweet (I’m Mean)”
Artists You Might Like: MUNA, HAIM, Trousdale
Have you heard of Gold Star Baby? One of the hottest clubs around? Okay, well maybe you’ve heard of The Aces? If not, get ready. And if you have, get ready to be re-introduced to them, as the always stylish and ever-cool alt-pop band are taking things to the next level with their fourth studio album, Gold Star Baby. It’s The Aces as you’ve never heard them before, with a newly-charged 80s-inspired sound and confident spirit that makes this album sleek, shiny, and the perfect soundtrack to your night out. So put on your dancing shoes, find your glitteriest outfit, and turn up the volume. We’re going to Gold Star Baby!
Fans have already been acquainted with some of the more confident and empowering songs on the album, like “Jealous” and “The Magic.” They both serve as hype anthems, with lines like, “I know you’re jealous when I walk in the room / Oh, I’d be jealous if I met me too,” on the former and “‘Cause when we walk in the room, they stop and stare / Barbie and Ken, they don’t compare to us,” on the latter. These lyrics are inspiring, as if we all should strive to be this poised and confident on a daily basis. The Aces playfully lean into this concept even further on “Stroke,” where we hear, “I know you said it before / But say it again / I’m the best you ever had.” These lines can definitely “stroke” someone’s ego because, as lead vocalist Cristal Ramirez sings, “Tell me, who don’t love a compliment?”
It’s fun to hear The Aces celebrate who they are, especially when it comes to who they love. On Gold Star Baby, they give us songs that get wrapped up in ribbons of lust and desire, resulting in sensual and tender moments. On the title track, for instance, Cristal sings, “Oh, I’m so unique / You wanna learn some things / I do it differently / You get a gold star, baby, when you’re good for me.” Here, she is ready to shine, and the cosmic music encourages her to do so. The cosmic sounds continue on “You Got Me,” as it emanates from the lively instrumentation and dreamy synth. With it all, Cristal tries to find a way to tell someone how she feels. She’s vulnerable yet head over heels as she sings, “You got me / Game over / I’m all yours / Waiting for when to tell you.” On “She Likes Me,” Cristal continues to dote on this girl, mentioning, “She’s such a hottie / It’s not just in her body / It’s in the way she speaks and her intellect.” All the while, she can’t believe that this girl feels the same way about her, enveloping listeners in the excitement and flattery of new love.
Still, before every new relationship comes an awkward situationship that walks a fine line between thrilling and misleading. It’s a connection that “puts the new ones to shame,” as Cristal sings on “Twin Flame” as she is torn between going back to someone who is “bad for me” and embracing someone new. These flames then grow and spread on “Fire in the Hole.” It’s lively and vibrant, even as Cristal shares, “Oh, I really thought that I would love you forever / But then you turned so quickly into my enemy.” Despite this, there is still a powerful connection between the two, with Cristal admitting, “Like checkers on a board / We keep going back and forth” and “If I get close to you / You’ll call a car for two.” A similar story unfolds on “Spending the Night,” which explains, “We can’t be spending the night right now / One text away, and you’re on my couch.” The vibe is a little more dismayed on this track, with toned-down instrumentals and more exposed vocals. Yet, it remains dreamy and lush, with an alluring sound that gives way to the storytelling at-play. It shows that The Aces can be equal parts inviting and cautious, and they describe as much on “I’m Sweet (I’m Mean).” You just never know how people will affect you—one minute, you’re kind and affectionate, and the next, you’re angry and upset. Ultimately, you want to find someone who doesn’t cause you to flip so quickly, and when you do, never let them go.
So, as you gather your belongings and exit Gold Star Baby, you can look back on the time you had and know that all was left out on the dance floor. The Aces have fully come into their own on this album, boldly embracing who they are and what they believe in. Additionally, they deliver their tightest sound to-date, with textures, rhythms, and riffs that only could have been crafted after the years they have spent making music together. Fans will also enjoy the intro and interlude on the album, which set the mood, entertain, and keep the spirits high. All around, The Aces have fully immersed us in a bright and sparkly world, one in which you don’t want to leave any time soon—no matter how late the night gets, how tired you are from dancing, or how exhausted you are from being a gold star, baby.
You can listen to Gold Star Baby here.
Catch The Aces on the ‘Gold Star Baby World Tour’ here.
Learn more about The Aces here.
Keep up with The Aces: X // Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // TikTok // Website
