BADBADNOTGOOD Jams Out “God Only Knows” (ft. Jonti) For Like A Version

It’s almost Christmas! That means you’re probably in the market for some music that isn’t lyrically based around the festive season, from all those years scarred working in retail, to sip your eggnog/whisky/cognac to while blasting your air-con to pretend you’re actually in the northern hemisphere.

Luckily for you, Canadian instrumental hip-hop group BADBADNOTGOOD have beautifully re-imagined The Beach Boys’ 1966 classic God Only Knows into a post-jazz jam.

The Toronto quartet are currently in the middle of an Australian tour in support of their latest jazz-hop studio album ‘IV’, which featured collaborations with Future Island’s Sam Herring, Kaytranada, Mick Jenkins, and Charlotte Day Wilson.

Featuring Sydney producer Jonti on vocals and electric guitar, the quartet open with a 50-second prelude led by Leland Whitty’s meandering soprano saxophone and jumping bass intervals.

After a signature instrumental crescendo the original’s familiar bass line kicks in, followed by a smooth keyboard and acoustic guitar progression. Jonti’s soft vocals float charmingly over BADBADNOTGOOD’s jazzy soundscape.

It’s the little things about this cover that make it the perfect amber-liquid sipping track, such as the cowbell-hi hat combo, subtle tremolo guitar picking, and sporadic walking bass lines.

The cover’s bridge section is the cherry atop this post-bop cupcake as each member of BADBADNOTGOOD steadily intensify their playing to create a wall of sound, which somehow still provides enough space for the song’s icon lyrics to be heard above the jazz-racket, “God only knows what I’d do without you”.

Check out the Like A Version below, as well as BADBADNOTGOOD’s remaining Aussie shows and the hilarious ‘Musicless Video’ of The Beach Boys!

BADBADNOTGOOD Remaining Australian Shows

FRI 9 DEC
The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (Sold-Out)
SAT 10 DEC
Meredith Music Festival, VIC
MON 12 DEC
The Corner Hotel, Melbourne

More Info HERE