EP REVIEW: Good Kid 4 – Good Kid

GOOD KID are a jack-of-all-trades band. The five-piece from Toronto, Canada are not just musicians, they’re also storytellers and programmers, and their passionate fanbase, who create art, covers, animation and videos, have helped propel the band quite far. They’ve collaborated with the likes of XrayAlphaCharlie and Julien Solomita and even caught the attention of YouTuber MrBeast who sent them skyrocketing after he used seven of their songs in one of his videos. Now, with the release of their fourth EP, aptly titled Good Kid 4, GOOD KID are ready to make 2024 their year.

The six-track EP starts off with Bubbly, a track which is as up-beat as its title suggests. The lyrics are melancholy though, which is a sharp contrast to the instruments, and is something that becomes a theme throughout the EP, whether it is in the indie-rock of From The Start, the pop-punk of Summer or the fast-paced rock of Break.

Although the band change genre on every song, the EP itself has a great pacing. Four of the six tracks clock in under three minutes, but in every case the band make the runtime count and the songs feel complete even in such fleeting runtimes. All are strong tracks, but the highlight is surely the penultimate Dance Class. Its catchy 1960s-esque rock sound and sing-along chorus is infectious, and listeners won’t be able to stop themselves singing along.

Overall, GOOD KID prove that less is more on their fourth EP, as they showcase their catchy music. Their bubbly and upbeat sound provides a cover for their melancholic lyrics that are raw and honest about life. The pacing of the EP is good as the six songs flesh out the runtime. Furthermore, despite most of the songs being under three minutes long, they do not sound rushed or unfinished. On Good Kid 4, GOOD KID prove that they can stand on their own.

Rating: 8/10

Good Kid 4 is out now via self-release.

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