Dancing in The Aces’ Glittering World of Gold Star Baby
The Aces have always thrived in spaces between intimacy and queer celebration, but with their brand new record, Gold Star Baby, they fully embrace the night out as both a sonic playground and a metaphor for queer joy. From the first moments, the album welcomes you past the velvet rope and into a shimmering, neon-lit club of their design. It’s confident, bold, and playful with just enough to remind you it’s meant to be fun.
The album kicks off with undeniable bops. Tracks such as “Jealous,” and “The Magic,” and the title track pulse with slick grooves and hooks that feel custom-made for crowded dance floors. There’s a clear liberation in their music, the kind of energy that welcomes you into a room where you feel seen, desired, and free. The Aces have described this album as all about joy; it’s music that dares you not to move.
The title track in particular captures the band’s essence perfectly. When the lead singer, Cristal Ramirez, sings “Do you like shiny things? / think you know what I mean / Yeah I’m a gold star baby / Oh I am so unique,” it’s cheeky and declarative. The lyrics flaunt individuality as glamour, but there’s also an implication of irony; it pokes fun at the way confidence and charm can blur into the dance floor. This mix of self-assurance and tongue-in-cheek play becomes the heartbeat of the album.
But as the night goes on, this record becomes more vulnerable. On “Twin Flame,” this album reaches an emotional peak, and the band reflects on a love that is impossible to extinguish. The chorus, “I can’t put out our twin flame / our twin flame / 'Cause nothing else has felt the same, oh no / I can't put out our twin flame, our twin flame / Our connection puts the new ones to shame, oh no / How could I forget all our history?” captures the ache of history, the pull of a bond that refuses to fade no matter how many new faces appear. There’s a bittersweet honesty in the lyrics, a reminder that even on the dance floor, the memories of past loves can arise and burn as strobe lights.
Even on smaller tracks such as “The Girls — Interlude,” a short snippet of pregame chatter adds texture to the storyline and narrative, making the album feel cinematic. You’re not just listening to a collection of tracks, you’re moving through the arc of a night out, complete with its highs, lows, and moments of vulnerability.
What this album captures best is the duality of nightlife — the euphoria and emotions, the moments of loud joy, and the quiet sparks of connection. The Aces perfectly bottle all of this into a cohesive and glittering soundtrack. Like nights out, it’s about the memories, the moments, and the rush of energy that you carry back at home with you. If you loved this album, make sure to check the band on tour this fall. Tickets are available now here!
