Good (Vinyl)
When Good came out in 2001, you might not guess that a record this playful and polished began in a Grey Lynn shed. But that unlikely DIY origin is central to its charm. From the fuzzed-out guitars of “Green” to the understated magnetism of “Sophie,” Good captured a kind of off-kilter pop sensibility that felt uniquely New Zealand — clever, a bit sideways, and full of hooks.
The album built momentum with a string of unlikely hits: “Green,” with its fuzz-pop hook and deadpan refrain; the kinetic “Blowing Dirt,” matched by a one-take video in reverse; and “Place to Be,” a compact, angular pop tune — tight, synthy and just a bit weird. But it was “Sophie,” with its minimalist charm and low-key emotional pull, that quietly reached number one and helped turn Good into a platinum success. The album spent nearly a year on the charts, helped along by a run of inventive videos that mirrored the music’s off-centre spirit.
Nick Bollinger called Good “a small explosion of quirky but incredibly catchy songs,” and included it in his 100 Essential New Zealand Albums. This first-ever vinyl edition is a chance to hear it again, or for the first time — carefully remastered from the original mixes by Murray Fisher, with fresh clarity and warmth, true to the original spirit.
Description
When Good came out in 2001, you might not guess that a record this playful and polished began in a Grey Lynn shed. But that unlikely DIY origin is central to its charm. From the fuzzed-out guitars of “Green” to the understated magnetism of “Sophie,” Good captured a kind of off-kilter pop sensibility that felt uniquely New Zealand — clever, a bit sideways, and full of hooks.
The album built momentum with a string of unlikely hits: “Green,” with its fuzz-pop hook and deadpan refrain; the kinetic “Blowing Dirt,” matched by a one-take video in reverse; and “Place to Be,” a compact, angular pop tune — tight, synthy and just a bit weird. But it was “Sophie,” with its minimalist charm and low-key emotional pull, that quietly reached number one and helped turn Good into a platinum success. The album spent nearly a year on the charts, helped along by a run of inventive videos that mirrored the music’s off-centre spirit.
Nick Bollinger called Good “a small explosion of quirky but incredibly catchy songs,” and included it in his 100 Essential New Zealand Albums. This first-ever vinyl edition is a chance to hear it again, or for the first time — carefully remastered from the original mixes by Murray Fisher, with fresh clarity and warmth, true to the original spirit.
