Review Summary: cool. 'nough said
Never has one word summed up something so completely for me than "Cool". You take all the elements of music that I enjoy and add a unique flair that only Zac Garren can bring and basically you have 'Cool'. His fourth album has it all; groovy guitars, catchy lyrics, and an overall funky sound that is, well, cool! It’s everything that you already loved about Good Health only better.
Immediately you see that Zac has switched things up in this album. While his pevious albums were predominantly acoustic, 'Cool' immediately kicks off with funky shredding on his telecaster. Songs like “Sunday After”, and “All I Need (you are)” keep the funky groove flowing on the album. The best of Zac’s cool funk is showcased in “Runnin’ Around”, however. How cool is “Runnin’ Around”? Basically if I had to make a playlist for just having sex it would begin with “Runnin’ Around”. Yeah, it’s that cool.
Another song that should not go unheard is “Crazy”. If there is one song that sums up the entire sound of the album it would be this track. There is the funky grooving telecaster, the unique lyrical delivery, and undeniable catchiness. Yes, it’s all there. And remember “Baby Bird” off the album “Sonshine”? “Crazy” brings back the “ooohing” with an even funkier guitar.
“Runnin’ Around” and “Crazy” are fantastic tracks in their own regard, but “Sunshine” steals the spotlight as the masterpiece on this album. “It’s moody. It’s passionate. It’s acoustic. It’s arguably the best song Zac has written. It’s the song Zac appeared to have been trying to write with the album “II”. It is easily one of my favorite acoustic tracks ever written. For those of you who are new to Good Health, I would highly recommend listening to this track first.
How can an artist write a song on a piano reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens and then follow it up with a techno rap? I have no idea, but Good Health does it and it’s damn cool. “Goddamn Shame” shows Zac tickling the ivories for a melancholy track straight off 'Illinois' to some straight up foreshadowing of his R&B side with “Every Time I See Her”. Zac has shown he’s always loved bringing techno/electronica elements to his album and does it with “Every Time I see her" and again with the video game closer “8bit”. Personally, I love these tracks because they showcase the creativity of Good Health. These are all elements from other albums just done to perfection on this album.
'Cool' is an album that mixes it all together so well for me. Not many artists out there can keep a groove like Zac Garren and walk a tight rope between cheesy and goofy. Talent like this should be appreciated by more people. His music is cool. He’s cool and 'Cool' is cool. Cool!
Recommended tracks
Sunshine
Sunday Afternoon
Runnin’s Around (for your sex playlist)
All I need (you are)
