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Gold Medal
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  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
Gold Medal Image
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 17 Ratings

  • Summary: The Donnas' second major-label effort was produced by Butch Walker (Avril Lavigne, Injected).

Top Track

Don't Break Me Down
Don't break me, don't break me down Can't you see my hands on the ground? I can't remember my name And I promise it won't be the same Did you steal... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 22
  3. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. PopMatters
    90
    The most striking aspect of Gold Medal is the band's remarkable maturation process over the past two years.
  2. Mojo
    80
    They've come within a hairclip's breadth of producing the rock'n'roll riot they always promised. [Dec 2004, p.114]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Village Voice
    80
    Their craft has gotten way deeper than hey-ho blitzkrieg bop.
  4. Rolling Stone
    70
    Five albums in, these ladies have outgrown their limited palette of good-time party tunes about boys, cars and getting high, and have tapped into an emotional well full of more bile than anyone could have expected.
  5. Stylus Magazine
    60
    Brett Anderson has always been the weakest link, so pointing out weak rhymes and the frequent unconvincing moments (she’s upstaged by the background vocals on the highlight “It’s So Hard”) seems cruel.
  6. Pitchfork
    55
    On Gold Medal, even when they fail, it seems as if that failure is a result of The Donnas trying to carve their own identity rather than just being a cute cover band that ran out of ideas.
  7. Under The Radar
    20
    Unoriginality at its best. [#8, p.109]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. samr
    Apr 16, 2005
    10
    Loved it!
  2. SpankyHamm
    Dec 18, 2004
    10
    The Donnas absolutely rock! Little AC/DC here, a little Cheap trick there, it's all good. I'm glad Brett Anderson feels comfortable The Donnas absolutely rock! Little AC/DC here, a little Cheap trick there, it's all good. I'm glad Brett Anderson feels comfortable with her voice and that the producer didn't feel it needed to be ProTooled like so many others (y'know, Britney, Avril, etc.). Maya's bass has been cranked up after a few too many albums being a Michael Anthony impersonator, and her bass lines crank. Torry still does a great job playing drums and Allison's guitar just shakes the foundations. A welcome follow-up to Spend The Night. Awesome!… Expand
  4. KaseyB
    Feb 14, 2005
    10
    this is a great album and these girls rock, they are in your face and honest i love them!
  5. Matt
    Nov 8, 2004
    9
    I'm listening to a completely different album than the naysayers. The guitar work on this album lets them show off their ability. While I'm listening to a completely different album than the naysayers. The guitar work on this album lets them show off their ability. While the other albums were also very good, Gold Medal is less one-dimensional. Their fun lyrics were very rock and roll, but you can't stick with those lyrics forever. The lyrics here are intense.… Expand
  6. MarkH
    Apr 4, 2005
    9
    This album flat-out rocks! Every song is awesome on this C.D. I listen to "Gold Medal" every day and never get tired of listening to it. This This album flat-out rocks! Every song is awesome on this C.D. I listen to "Gold Medal" every day and never get tired of listening to it. This is definatly one of the best rock C.D.'s I have ever listened to!… Expand
  7. ClaudiusM
    Feb 12, 2005
    9
    This is a great rock album, one of my favorites since Urge Overkill's Saturation. They've def grown up a bit and this one reflects that
  8. rodneym
    Nov 1, 2004
    3
    Oh dear ac/dc with tits.

See all 15 User Reviews

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