Golden State boasts better production than any of Bush's previous albums. While the material here is nowhere close to as good as that on Sixteen Stone or Razorblade Suitcase it is still an enjoyable album. The band have dropped the electronica elements that dominated The Science Of Things in favor of slicker production. Golden State sounds much more American in terms of production. Everything is much clearer...drums and guitars especially....I always found the British drum sound a little too flat for my liking.The first single "The People That We Love" was originally called "Speed Kills" but in wake of the events of 9/11 the name was changed. "Superman" is as melodic as anything the band has done before while "My Engine Is With You" rocks with the grunge punk like swagger of Sixteen Stone's "Ex-Girlfriend" or "Bubbles" from the Mallrats soundtrack. I found "Inflatable" to be about  worst track on the album but somehow it ended up as a single. I can hear the record company now .."We need the slowest, mushiest tune on the album for a single...it always works". I've got nothing against ballads but when there are eleven better tracks on the album  there is no need for "Inflatable" to be a single. The piano tinged "Out Of This World" is a ballad and a far better tune...it my be no "Glycerine" or "Comedown" but kicks a hell of alot more ass then the dreamy little tune they picked. Dumbasses. Golden State is a solid album, on par with The Science Of Things but comes nowhere close to rplasing Sixteen Stone as my favorite Bush album.

KF