New album, Tears Before Bedtime, from London’s the Would-Be-Goods is a nostalgic storybook, giving the listener a glimpse into 14 haunting tales. Each song on this new masterpiece of an album allows the listener to lose themselves to the melancholic genius of lead singer Jessica Griffin’s songwriting, transporting them to new times, places and worlds.
Since their debut release in 1998, ‘The Camera Loves Me’ for él Records, Would-Be-Goods have been continuing to push what we know from indie guitar-pop, delving into inspirations from glam rock to tango, now with Skep Wax Records. Coming from and recording in the intensely diverse London, Would-Be-Goods have a huge range of places to take inspiration from for this new album, but chose to look at creating pocket worlds with their newest album, taking us from 1960’s London, to ancient Greece, to post WW1 France.
‘Tears Before Bedtime’ is truly a beautiful new melancholy lullaby for all of the heartbroken lovers. Opening the album on the spellbinding ‘The Gallopers’ transports the listener to a world at the fair, telling a tale reminiscent of the ‘Goblin Market’, losing oneself to the charm of the carousel.
The newest single from this album, ‘Dr Love’ welcomes you in, like meeting a new, exciting lover, and begins to darken. Showing all of the truth of this song, it is an exploration of those loves we all knew, too good to be true. With an 80’s pop-rock swing beat reminiscent of ‘Papa Death’ by Love and Money and a vocal melody evoking the 1960’s. Griffin closes the whole odyssey off with a bouncy, jazz spell, a melody that flows up and down with the ease of a well-versed storyteller.
This album is a triumph in storytelling and listener immersion, and a beautiful listen for a bright sunny day or a dark and cold night.
Following this album the Would-Be-Goods are embarking on a 6 date tour of the UK, hitting nostalgic venues from the Glad Café (30th May), Glasgow to the historic The Gate (03 April), Cardiff and an intimate show at Just Dropped In Records (25th Feb), Coventry, kicking off their tour in their hometown at Water Rats (21st Feb), London. Previously being praised for ‘Elegant and timeless guitar pop…’ (Excellent Online) and ‘Smart words, lush baroque pop and stylish taste’ (Chickfactor), this new record is definitely a continuation of Griffin’s genius in playing with genre, melody and storytelling.
Follow Would-Be-Goods on their social media and make sure to go and see them on tour starting late February.