Athens, Georgia has never been short on indie rock talent, so any project drawing from that scene immediately has my attention. Little Gold is the latest example, a passion project led by Christian DeRoeck (Woods, Meneguar) and featuring members of Big Trouble, The Howdies, Drew Beskin & The Sunshine, and Footings.

Public Dog is already the band’s fifth album, serving up an inviting mix of country-tinged indie rock and college rock. But what I like most about this record is that it keeps making me think about the live show. The sequencing plays like a well-planned setlist. Rockers like Cochise, Born To Loose (sic), and Pissin keep things moving, while quieter moments such as the percussion-free The Queen’s Weed, the instrumental Philomena (Pt. 2), and slow burners like Early Internet and Mercury provide exactly the breathing room and emotional heft they need.

Some records make you want to hear them again. Public Dog makes me want to find out when Little Gold is playing next.

Buy the LP via Tall Texan Records.

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