Good Kid’s “Good Kid 3” [Review]

I’ve been a fan of Good Kid for a few years now and even reviewed their previous EPs before. With the release of their 3rd EP, aptly named “Good Kid 3”, I felt as if I had to review this EP.

Releasing on April 14th, 2023, “Good Kid 3” follows the band’s trend of releasing four singles, and then putting out an EP with two new tracks.

I last reviewed Good Kid’s music back at the end of 2020 with the release of the band’s second EP, “Good Kid 2”. Since then the band has been hard at work by going on multiple tours as well as even getting their music into games such as Fortnite.

Despite their success, the band has slowed a bit in terms of putting out music. Almost a year passed before the band released their first single off the EP, and the second song off the EP took almost another year after that. With that said it’s definitely quality over quantity for this band.

The first track off the EP was originally released on September 9th, 2022, that being “No Time to Explain”. The band’s signature upbeat J-rock feeling music is no slacker here. Every song on this EP is less than 3 minutes with the shortest track clocking in at just a hair over 2. The band makes sure that none of their songs overstay their welcome and this EP makes sure of that. “No Time to Explain” is a song all about the feeling of getting closer to someone that you care about, and how the changes in such a relationship can instill some fear and hope.

Heavily inspired by the Ghibli film, “Kiki’s Delivery Service”, “Mimi’s Delivery Service” is a song about sensing how someone you care about has lost their spark, whether that spark is childlike whimsy, or them giving into self-doubt. The band really goes all out on this track and it really sounds like the band has cemented their sound in this song.

The first new song off the EP is “Osmosis”, another song about a drink. On the band’s previous EP, “Good Kid 2”, the band released a track called “Aloe Lite” a song titled after a drink that drummer Jon Kereliuk was drinking at the time. While writing this song Kereliuk was drinking reverse osmosis water which is where this track gets its title from. While this song definitely feels very similar to the band’s previous tracks on this EP, it does mix it up with the chorus and instrumental break. Even though the title of the song is a bit arbitrary, the band leans into the water theme with the lyrics. The song itself is about having someone open up to you and trying to help them better themselves.

Next up is “First Rate Town”, a song about outgrowing a city that you once loved and called home. Despite being the shortest song the band’s ever released clocking in at 2 minutes and 2 seconds, it’s probably one of the stronger songs on this EP with the guitars being the absolute standout here.

“Orbit” is the first song the band released as a single after their second EP, and it might just be my favorite on the record. The song is super bright and peppy and it has a chorus that’s only 7 words which really makes you want to sing along to it. The song itself is about not feeling confident enough to be around someone that you think is way too out of your league.

Closing out the EP is “Madeleine”, a song that has been only played during the band’s live shows and happens to be one of the oldest songs the band has ever done. The band finally decided to record it and release it as a part of this record. The song is very somber and shows the band’s range as a band. While it’s the most acoustic the band has ever been, contrasting their high energy on pretty much every other track, it’s a very nice song to throw in the mix. The song is about two friends who while they were very close at one point earlier in their lives, they’ve grown apart for one reason or another, but the singer is very intent on trying to reestablish that relationship.

Final thoughts

While the band is thriving right now “Good Kid 3” is just more of the same. While it’s not bad, the band isn’t doing much to add to their catalog of songs. Regardless, songs like “Madeleine” really show that the band has quite a diverse range and can absolutely knock it out of the park if they can lean into it.

Album Score: 7/10

Favorite Track: “Orbit”

Check out my other reviews of “Good Kid” and “Good Kid 2”

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