My Nguyen
Melbourne, Australia’s Good Morning, comprised of Stefan Blair and Liam Parsons, show in their sixth LP Barnyard that they are growing into their sounds and settling into their groove. With lyrics that explore the depths of mortality and existentialism, the lush orchestrations are an underpinning layer beneath meaningful lyrics, showing us that these are serious artists who want to embrace everything from the vulnerable to the poetic and deeply momentous side of life. These are artists unafraid to shed their outer layer and show us their true selves in this honest and searing album. Barnyard gives us an inside look into Good Morning’s signature sound and Blair and Parson’s evolution as artists.
Barnyard launches with “Too Young To Quit.” The melodic guitars in the forefront, combined with the vocals make for a stirring sound. The track comes across as a resonating ballad that immediately grabs you. The sound was reminiscient of the Tears For Fears classic “Everybody Wants To Rule The World.” With a sauntering beat on drums, the music has a way of meandering for a bit on “Depends On What You Know.” There was a touch of punk and emo to this track as the undulating bass lines became the centerpiece to this number. Percussive beats start off “Wahlberg” and the distorted, reverb-drenched vocals especially recalled a Julian Casablancas vibe.
Dark strumming on the acoustic guitar sounds out on “Yng_Sldn.” The world-weary and worn-down vocals spoke of eons of heartache. Both the vocals and instrumentation were really solid here. Acute strumming on the acoustic guitar reels in the sounds on “Matthew Nelson” as the mood switches to a sunnier vibe. The blues and jazz-infused vibe of “Burning,” with its smooth piano provides an underlayer to the soothing vocals. As electric guitars added in some gritty vibes, the contrasts in sound made for a very unique listen.
The lyrics of “Big Wig // Small Dog” were very tongue-in-cheek, and provided vivid imagery of a small dog with a big wig on. “Never Enough” has a sauntering backbeat, that when combined with the guitars, hits you with an unrelenting sound with a heavy rock edge to it. I felt myself getting lost in the dark energy of this eruptive number. The band closed on an upbeat note with “Country.”
This is an eye-opening album that features Blair and Parson unearthing some very deep and vulnerable moments within themselves to give us something that will truly resonate with audiences. Walking the fine line between hopelessness and gentle optimism, this was an incredibly joyous record that sees the band members including sentiments like nostalgia and instances of bliss into these emotional tracks packed to the brim with tranquil guitars that recall a very folk and bedroom pop vibe. These tracks are filled with a timeless appeal and I believe it will only be a matter of time before they become classics. Fans of folk, bedroom pop and alternative will find something to relish with Barnyard.
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