This came out in 2001 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Kurt Cobain has been dead long enough that the infuriatingly derivative Gavin Rossdale and Bush no longer come off as just another bunch of Nirvanabes. Not that it’s much of an improvement — now, you see, they come off as dated retro-rockers who don’t know when to quit.
On Golden State, their fifth album and first for Warner, pretty-boy Gavin and his chums once again reproduce the formulaic strum ’n’ clang of classic Seattle grunge, tempered by Rossdale’s artsy ambitions and romantic streak. Aside from one satisfyingly searing punky number (My Engine is With You) and a couple of mopey ballads (Inflatable and Out of This World) that suggest Rossdale has spent quality time with some Travis and Coldplay CDs, most of Golden State makes you wish Kurt would rise from the grave just to kick Gavin’s bony little ass. Still, if Bush can hang in there for another decade until the inevitable grunge revival, they might reach a golden state yet.
