One of the best albums of 2025, Angus Stone once again demonstrates he is as good a songwriter as Australia has produced. Between Angus and Julia, solo albums and Dope Lemon, he has been prolific with releases over the years. Golden Wolf is another gem, rich with catchy tunes and enough variation to keep it interesting.
Starting things off with John Belushi, Stone and the band create a shimmering array of sounds that is big, full of hooks, and confident, and continues a line of songs referencing the rock n roll lifestyle. It’s an interesting concept and tribute to burning fast, but also doesn’t seem to romanticise the lifestyle, with lyrics “I’m going to give you all my love” and “You don’t have to go it alone” balancing the track with a message of support and love.
This sound continues across Sugarcat and Electric Green Lambo before peaking with the title track, an excellent tune with a big stadium chorus, up there with Stone’s best work. At the age of 39 is he starting to focus more on the bigger questions in life? Escape, living your best life, and what lies after are all themes running through Golden Wolf.
Then the album takes an interesting turn into Yamasuki – Yama Yama which is a great, unique tune – all the Dope Lemon cool but samples and loops throughout.
A few more indie tracks, followed by another more out-there tune in Maggie’s Moonshine, with an almost trap like beat and smooth, laid-back vocals. On The 45 is catchy with great backing vocal hooks, very much in the Angus & Julia spectrum of sound, and full of on-the-road lyrics that also permeate through Stone’s catalogue.
Ending on the instrumental, Dust Of A Thousand Stars, it’s nice to see these guys are willing to step outside the standard indie music and experiment a little, while keeping things poppy enough to hook you.
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