admin
22 December 2023
If you were to put The Special Goodness’s full-length debut, Land Air Sea in your CD player without seeing the band’s name, it wouldn’t be ridiculous for you to think it was a new Weezer LP. Part of this could be explained by Pat Wilson, Weezer’s bespectacled drummer, being one half of the duo (the other being Atom Willard of Rocket From The Crypt fame).
Still, it’s not just the music or general sound; it’s Pat Wilson’s voice-- moving front and center on guitar and vocals-- that could honestly be mistaken for that of Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo if you’re not paying close attention. Not a bad thing if you’re a Weezer fan, which I happen to be.
This isn’t an accusation. The Special Goodness is too good to be labeled a knockoff, and their sound differentiates itself from Weezer, upon repeat listening. Popping in Weezer after some Special Goodness, the differences become clearer. The vocals are similar, but not identical. The Special Goodness also has the harder, crunchier guitar sound of recent Weezer, but it’s a little more anthemic at times. Okay, so I introduce the idea of the bands sounding similar at the outset of the review for the first paragraph, then spend the second disproving it. Just trying to get you past possible first reactions.
The hooky, fun rock sound and melody with some emotive singing is really good listening on this disc. It’s fine alt-rock. The first track, “You Know I’d Like...” won’t get out of my head as I write this, and I don’t mind one bit. I also like the use of ellipses. My favorite song, though, is track four: “N.F.A.”, which stands for “Not Fucking Around”. It features a great chorus of “And I’m not fucking around with her” all up in it. I dig.
Fans of Weezer take note: Here’s something to hold you over until their next album. And, hopefully, The Special Goodness will continue, because they have great tunes to offer, too. As it is, The Special Goodness is a really solid pop/rock duo with an album that, though not completely original-sounding (and who is?), is fun and entertaining from start to finish.
DIG THE SPECIAL GOODNESS HERE.
PURCHASE THIS OR SIMILAR ITEMS
Still, it’s not just the music or general sound; it’s Pat Wilson’s voice-- moving front and center on guitar and vocals-- that could honestly be mistaken for that of Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo if you’re not paying close attention. Not a bad thing if you’re a Weezer fan, which I happen to be.
This isn’t an accusation. The Special Goodness is too good to be labeled a knockoff, and their sound differentiates itself from Weezer, upon repeat listening. Popping in Weezer after some Special Goodness, the differences become clearer. The vocals are similar, but not identical. The Special Goodness also has the harder, crunchier guitar sound of recent Weezer, but it’s a little more anthemic at times. Okay, so I introduce the idea of the bands sounding similar at the outset of the review for the first paragraph, then spend the second disproving it. Just trying to get you past possible first reactions.
The hooky, fun rock sound and melody with some emotive singing is really good listening on this disc. It’s fine alt-rock. The first track, “You Know I’d Like...” won’t get out of my head as I write this, and I don’t mind one bit. I also like the use of ellipses. My favorite song, though, is track four: “N.F.A.”, which stands for “Not Fucking Around”. It features a great chorus of “And I’m not fucking around with her” all up in it. I dig.
Fans of Weezer take note: Here’s something to hold you over until their next album. And, hopefully, The Special Goodness will continue, because they have great tunes to offer, too. As it is, The Special Goodness is a really solid pop/rock duo with an album that, though not completely original-sounding (and who is?), is fun and entertaining from start to finish.
DIG THE SPECIAL GOODNESS HERE.
PURCHASE THIS OR SIMILAR ITEMS
artid
1926
Old Image
6_5_specialgoodness.jpg
issue
vol 6 - issue 05 (jan 2004)
section
entertainmental