Best known as the other half of The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach formed side band this year called The Arcs, which released its debut LP, Yours, Dreamily, in September. After putting out the six-song album last month, The Arcs vs. Inventors Volume I, the band tied a bow on their prolific inaugural year with the song “Fools Gold.”
The blues-rock single is found on 30th Century Records Compilation Volume 1 released Dec. 18. The 11-song record also features artists such as Apache Sun, Autolux, Paper Morning and Nine Pound Shadow. With a heavy bass line and indistinct vocals, “Fools Gold” is reminiscent of Auerbach’s previous work with The Black Keys. The guitar riffs have the nostalgic sound quality of a VHS-tape, and there’s a familiar synth line throughout the song — both fitting the Auerbach archetype.
Suggested by the title, the lyrics of “Fools Gold” call out low-quality posers making bank off of life. Auerbach sings, “You’re so pale/ You’re so stale/ Everything you do is for sale.” Auerbach told the Rolling Stone about the song: “It has the same thrilling discovery, the same shiny luster and perceived weight as gold, but it isn’t gold and when all is said and done, it has the same value as a hunk of shit. It’s always been so easy to be a fool.”
“Fools Gold” marks the 23rd song put out by The Arcs this year. If they keep up at this pace, who knows how much music they’ll have for us by next Christmas?
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