Album Review: Dope Lemon – Golden Wolf
2 min read
Dope Lemon’s Golden Wolf is the kind of record that doesn’t ask much of you, just your attention, a pair of good headphones, and maybe a lazy afternoon to soak it all in. Angus Stone’s fifth outing under the moniker returns with that same sun-drenched, stoner-folk haze he’s become known for, but this time it’s shaded with a more introspective tone. Opening track John Belushi sets the mood with its slow-burning drawl and cryptic lyrics, casting a nostalgic spell that’s equally comforting and mysterious. From there, we slip seamlessly into Sugarcat, a dreamy, groove-led number that feels like something you’d hear floating out of a beach shack as the sun starts to set.
Throughout the album, Stone dances between mellow psychedelia and flirtations with funk and soul. Electric Green Lambo and the title track Golden Wolf showcase this balance perfectly, blending creamy synths, warm guitar tones, and lyrics that lean into surreal escapism. It’s in these quieter, more meditative moments that the record reveals its emotional weight, even if it never quite demands your full emotional investment. And just when the flow threatens to get too comfortable, Yamasuki – Yama Yama shakes things up with tribal percussion and unexpected textures, a welcome reminder that Stone is still willing to explore the weirder edges of his sonic palette.
The back half of the album offers some of its strongest material. She’s All Time, a sparkling duet with Nina Nesbitt that blends Stone’s signature mellow charm with subtle pop sensibilities while Maggie’s Moonshine unfolds as a smoky, seven-minute jam, full of spacey instrumentation and hypnotic rhythm. As the album winds down, On the 45 and closer Dust of a Thousand Stars capture a cinematic sense of departure, especially the latter, which drifts off into an ambient, instrumental haze that feels both final and infinite.
Golden Wolf isn’t out to surprise anyone, it’s more of a deepening than a reinvention. But it’s in the details, the atmosphere, and the quiet confidence of its pacing that the album shines. Angus Stone knows his lane, and he rides it with grace – a golden, hazy journey that prioritizes mood over momentum. For those willing to let go and float with it, Golden Wolf delivers an immersive, soul-soothing ride that lingers like a slow-fading sunset.
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