Album Review: Joseph - 'Good Luck, Kid'
From the raw acoustic nature of ‘Native Dreamer Kin’ and the darkly polished indie of ‘I’m Alone, No You’re Not’ Joseph have been cultivating confidence within their perfectly crafted sound. ‘Good Luck, Kid’ is the next chapter in the story of their lives, and whilst there may be a lack of hauntingly stripped back harmonies like in previous songs ‘Sweet Dreams’ or ‘Wind’, there are no shortage of moments that make you wonder if there is some kind of telepathic connection between the sisters that allow them to create such mellifluous magic.
‘Good Luck, Kid’ is about taking the reins on life when you finally feel like you’ve settled into your pre-assigned role of being an adult. This idea reflected in the magnitude of sound that they’ve built up. Lyrically you’re on a journey of self-discovery - sitting in the driver’s seat and trying to keep both hands on the wheel while you’re being distracted by all of the sights. By swapping their folky elements in favour of some slinky pop, the Portland sisters are transitioning into the mainstream and letting you know that they are here with the intention of grabbing your attention.
The eponymous single is an observation on the state of current affairs and how that affects the way you live: “you’re used to looking around to see how everybody else is doing / and now it seems like we’re all losing it / you read the paper it’s all bad news.” Being able to put words to the traumatic state of affairs without it sounding preachy or desperate can be tough. This is a testament to the songwriting skills of the band. One of the main things that can help retain stability in an otherwise rocky existence, is having someone to go through it all with. This seems only natural that Joseph also go through the ups and downs of relationships.
There’s a cyclic nature in finding the strength to walk away from something that no longer works for you. ‘Green Eyes’ is about being certain in your choices: “if we’re heading for the cliffside / I’m ready for the fall” and has elements of Florence & The Machine with its flourishingly colourful visuals, whereas ‘In My Head’ goes through the paranoia that you feel in uncertainty where you end up talking yourself out of things: “in the back of my mind / already saying goodbye [...] I’m in my head getting ahead of myself.”
Joseph’s velveteen sisterly harmonies play with intonation and pronunciation with the melancholic ‘Revolving Door’, a kind of ballad on infidelity that tugs on the heartstrings. There is a mirroring in the lyrics: “if I would've known what I know now, would I do it again?” with the misty dream-pop ‘Enough In Your Eyes’ (“would it have gone differently if I knew what I know now”) which comes off as meditative and distant, yet full of warmth. If anybody knows how to perfectly capture the essence of a mood, it’s Joseph.
Subject matter aside, Joseph shine on tracks like ‘Presence’ with its sassy baritone guitar riffs that wouldn’t be amiss on a Jack White album, and in stark contrast the almost acapella mantra of support systems and keeping faith ‘Room For You’ which has a similar air to ‘Not Mine’ from Native Dreamer Kin. ‘Without You’ taps into the likes of ‘Canyon’ but more in the way of an assertive outlook on the security elements of a relationship. Transformation is at the heart of ‘Good Luck, Kid’ and as is dependable with Joseph, delivered with relatability and charm.
Words by Tyler Damara Kelly
Live Dates
Friday 1st November - Arenberg, Antwerp, Belgium
Saturday 2nd November - Take Root Festival,Groningen, Netherlands
Sunday 3rd November - Paradiso Tuinzaal, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Monday 4th November - Uebel & Gefährlich, Hamberg, Germany
Wednesday 6th November - Frannz Club, Berlin, Germany
Thursday 7th November - Strom, Munich, Germany
Friday 8th November - Luxor, Cologne, Germany
Saturday 9th November - La Boule Noire, Paris, France
Monday 11th November - Hare & Hounds, Birmingham (tickets)
Tuesday 12th November - Bush Hall, London (tickets)
Wednesday 13th November - Night People, Manchester (tickets)
Thursday 14th November - Broadcast, Glasgow (tickets)
Saturday 16th November - The Workman’s Club, Dublin, Ireland