WARNING! The video embedded in this article contains profanity. Reader discretion is advised.

Finding Good Looking Friends in my noted music searches was a bit different of an experience than usual. In checking the About section of their Facebook page, the band is listed under the genre “Wikipedia Rock,” the about reads, “We are a band.” I sent my press inquiry to “Sandwich Man.” I can always get behind a band that doesn’t take themselves seriously, but how will that transition to the effort displayed in their music?

The Light of the Well begins with birds chirping in the single “Bravery,” with some math-y guitar bits ensuing over some story-telling lyrics that immerse you while managing the ever-important relatability factor. “Euphoria” gets its kicks with a one-minute lead-up to a catchy chorus. It is at this early point in the album that I must note that the vocal harmonies solidify Good Looking Friends’ brand of music as a standout band.

“Multiply” picks up the pace and starts to sound less like American Football and more like Tiny Moving Parts. This is the first of several songs to implement an unusual instrument into the mix, with what sounds like horns and strings sprinkled about to enhance the tone. “Chased” is a brief acoustic piece with the group sharing vocal duties, with a bit of disarray instead of conjunction. Quite jarring, but gives a carefree vibe to the listener.

The second-longest track on The Light of the Well, “Chased” provides a solid piece of variety in song structure and some more of that instrumentation experimentation mentioned earlier, the highlight being the outro with drummer Adam Rossi hitting staccatos to the final notes. “Lawman” will catch listeners off-guard with its chiptune tones, sparking my nostalgia for Nintendocore, making this one of my favorite songs on the album and proving the band can step outside of its comfort zone without a hitch.

The third single “Survive” comes in with the vocals once again taking the spotlight put on top of a strong arrangement of strings and the memorable lyric, “When I’m awake, can’t tell if I’m alive.” “No Thanks” features the most soothing guitar work yet, juxtaposing the big bummer that the lyricism presents. Octave-layered vocal melodies are pleasant to the ears as this calm piece exemplifies the depressive tone of emo.

“Tanagra” clocks in at almost seven minutes and truly feels like a test of the band’s performance abilities, a test that they pass with flying colors. Reminiscent of Explosions in the Sky, this long track never feels stale and keeps the listener’s attention throughout its journey. “Leonard” closes out the record with another acoustic romp filled to the brim with harmonicas, several layers of guitar, and just the right bit of angst to cap off The Light of the Well.

As an entry point to Good Looking Friends, I was seriously impressed with this LP. There were plenty of welcome surprises, with the instrumental shift of “Lawman,” and “Tanagra” being one of the best songs I’ve heard in months. Variety is the spice of life as is the spice of Good Looking Friends’ take on the emo genre. Hopefully, The Light of the Well comes as a form of release for the members, as they evidently put their all into this effort, as we can enjoy what is yet another fine addition to our listening patterns.

A review copy of The Light Of The Well was provided by Good Looking Friends ahead of its release.

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The Light of the Well

$7.00 USD

8.5

Score

8.5/10

Pros

• Refreshing variety between songs
• Usage of saxophone, strings
• Strong lyricism
• "Tanagra" is unreal

Cons

• Some songs stand out more than others
• Some instruments overtake others