EP Review: Good Boy Get Raw And Emotional on ‘Plum’

Brisbane rockers Good Boy have dropped their sophomore EP, showing that they’re seemingly one of the hardest working bands around at the moment. After their debut EP released earlier this year, the band have turned around and backed it up with five fresh tracks that continues the raw and energetic sound they established.

‘Plum’ begins with the track Sycophant and its strong opening bass riff backed by a solid, unchanging drum beat. The verses of the track garner a rushed, energetic feel to them thanks to some choppy plucked guitar work, and throughout the chorus, the drum beat and popping bass line merge to almost give a disco-influenced vibe. If you’re a fan of a bass solo, you’re in luck as lead vocalist and bassist Rian King smashes out some of the best fret work that we’ve heard in a lot of reviews.

SOGK has a much more 80s post-punk sound with its whirling guitars and moving bass sounds. This track is the band’s latest single, and you can tell how much effort has gone into the polished production with added flair, including elements such as subtle hints of piano. There is a self-assured swagger to King’s vocals with lyrics like “I don’t need to have faith/Cause I cut out the middle man/ I have faith in myself”.

Good Boy seem to be very opposed to the term “dolewave”, and between you and me, we’re not crash hot on it either

Through the middle tracks of the EP, there is a more starkly minimalist sound to the tracks with Ya Mum’s Ya Dad making the guitar line take a back seat and melding the drums and bass together. In a completely contradictory sentiment to their last single, Poverty Line, King almost wishes for a more mainstream existence, singing “Just want to lead a normal life/Have a couple of kids/Have a couple of wives”. I did say “almost”.

Millie, too is a more stripped back sound, with a melancholic or regretful undertone to this slower track. The track talks about getting away from everything that ails you and coming back to repay those you use to escape. However, after this mournful tone, the EP kicks the dial back up to eleven to finish strong.

Poverty Line was the first single from this release, and you can see why, with its insanely catchy opening riff and repetitive lyrics. It will bury its way into your head, but then you’ll be caught off guard knowing that your tongue will struggle to wrap itself around the quickly spluttered title line. The other members of the band can struggle with the line, as guitarist Tom Lindeman told AAA Backstage in a recent interview.

Good Boy seem to be very opposed to the term “dolewave”, and between you and me, we’re not crash hot on it either. If you had to confine their music to a certain genre, you’d probably have to include a few “post-“s, and a stray “punk”,  but that would be doing a disservice to this raw and emotional EP.

Check out Poverty Line below, along with Good Boy’s upcoming live dates, including a free one!

Good Boy ‘Plum’ EP Launch Tour

FRI 7 OCT
Grace Darling, Melbourne
SAT 8 OCT
All My Friends Nexus Arts Centre, Adelaide
FRI 14 OCT
Rad Bar, Wollongong
SAT 15 OCT
Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
FRI 21 OCT
Elsewhere, Gold Coast
SAT 22 OCT
The Foundry, Brisbane
SAT 29 OCT
The Nook & Cranny, Sunshine Coast

Get Tickets HERE