Formed out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Goodridge is comprised of Frank Blation, Chris Neal, Ceejay Fennell and Michael Melton. Originally formed in the winter of 2019 into 2020, the band stayed silent during the pandemic, writing songs and hoping for better days. Finally in January 2021, they started recording with Riff Room Recordings to start getting music to the fans and having material for when gigs started opening back up. Their debut EP Sinking features alternative, pop punk and Midwest emo musical styles. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Skyler Wilkerson and Cameron Telford at Riff Room Recordings in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with limited vocal recordings tracked at the Goodridge house in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Some notable band influences include, The Wonder Years, Owls, Sleepy Dog, Into it. Over it, This town needs guns, Free Throw, Microwave and Delta Sleep.
The band states the EP itself is like a duality of concepts, musically, with the fast-paced pop-punk being interlaced between the more dramatic Midwest emo inspired soundscapes. Consistent movement seems to rotate between the instruments as the songs evolve showing off a multitude of musical directions. Lyrically, the songs take on a somewhat somber, if not slightly cynical outlook of some of the harder aspects of life to deal with. The opening track “Flowers” outlines the heartbreak of letting go of a loved one who has passed. There's some nice noodling going on between the bass and guitar playing, contrasted by the post-punk/emo ‘90s sound during the chorus parts. Musically, I thought the mixing of instruments was very well balanced, too. Next is “Oi Oi” which features some great guitar riffs and a catchy chorus. The lyrics speak of feeling alone and down about oneself. The punk rock style the band plays musically, evokes the frustration within oneself that forces you to find an “escape hatch” out of your aloneness and despair. The next tune “Chicago” is about self-doubt and coming to terms with the conviction of moving on from a failed/abusive relationship. Indeed, some relationships can really screw with your head, and heart. There’s a heavy, slightly distorted guitar intro with a heavy hitting rhythm section coming after. The highlight to this longer song was the change in arrangement and/or chord structure, which I thought added a nice dynamic. “Secret Fire” describes the aspiration to do better and be better, after you have torn yourself down, when depression and anxiety have gotten the better of you. I liked this one for its faster paced rhythm and heavier guitar action, with two guitar tracks laid over one another, and its contrast of harder rock parts with lighter sounds. This one kind of reminded me a little of Vampire Weekend. The last track is simply titled with the initials “G/C.” The sad sound the band plays is quite beautiful. In the beginning notes, there’s a guitar part that sounds “plucky” as if almost sounding like violins. The bass melody is what caught my ear the most, along with the vocal harmonies. The band changes their tempo and dynamic structure, playing heavier not even two minutes in, which I thought was very well done. A few verses later, the band comes back to a lighter sound and then they start building up the song’s intensity again – “I just need one more sun ray / Maybe they’ll come back some day / One more sunray / Somewhere someday.” Lyrically, the words are a cry for help, as the songwriting speaks of holding out till spring – by that time, maybe things will be better, and I can get out of bed away from the covers. Overall, Goodridge’s Sinking is about just that – sinking into some deep, dark corners of the mind and heart, where hope is just of reach. It’s about exploring one’s past, perhaps coming to terms with some of the crappiness that went on, and maybe, finding the courage one day to move on with life.
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