Review Summary: Fuck you, you slut. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aj0ZYQ10CU
Now defunct Kiwi pop-rock band Goodnight Nurse released their debut album
Always and Never ten years ago at the end of the mid-00’s emo trend which, along with their 2008 follow-up
Keep Me on Your Side, helped front-man Joel Little make a name for himself as a songwriter and producer. Joel’s talent in these aspects of music would later help craft the singer known as “Lorde,” who managed to break into the international scene, a feat which Goodnight Nurse never achieved. Despite releasing under the radar of most mainstream (non-New Zealand) media,
Always and Never is one of the better examples of this era of pop rock, with catchy emotionally charged songs and upbeat pop-punk anthems.
Clean vocals are performed by Joel with competent backing vocals by drummer Jaden Parkes and guitarist Sam McCarthy. The album starts with eerie singing over a piano introduction, which leads into the fast paced pop-punk song and album highlight
My Only which features a prominent bass-line and great riffs. Backing vocals are used in multiple ways throughout the album to either create a chaotic feeling, with different lyrics being sung at once, to create a raw sound, or to make choruses more energetic. This element of their music is best executed in the song
A Shadow & A Prayer, with harsh vocals harmonized with the clean vocals. Ballads
Take My Hand and
Our Song showcase the more emotional side of the band, with the inspiration for
Our Song being Joel’s deceased grandfather. These ballads are good but sometimes drag on a bit too much: the sweet spot for this band’s music is between 2:30 and 3.30, with longer songs sometimes becoming tedious.
All Hail the Serpent Queen features the most elaborate structure, with a 40-second instrumental section involving bass and guitar solos. This song would go on to inspire a second part on their follow-up album, with a third part planned but never released (which has been a source of endless grief for me). Songs frequently shift from slow-paced to fast-paced tempos, similar to many post-hardcore bands. The production on the album is usually on point, with each instrument generally having its time to shine and vocals being mixed in interesting ways. One exception to this is the drumming which is the weakest element of this album, with the percussion often lacking any substantial punch. This is only a minor gripe, as the songs hold together without this, and Parke's backing vocals contribute to the album in other meaningful ways.
Humour plays an important role in
Always and Never, with some songs being lighthearted in a similar vein to those by Green Day and Blink 182.
Going Away, a song about a breakup, features almost no angst as the singer realizes that sometimes girls are just not worth the hassle. Lyrics in the song
Loner speak to me on an almost spiritual level:
“I don't wanna be a loner all my life, but I sh!t myself whenever I see you”
Is
Always and Never a masterpiece? Does it bring much innovation to the pop-rock genre? No, not really. However, it does provide an emotional rollercoaster ride about the topics of grief and breakup while keeping a sense of humour and optimism. While Goodnight Nurse’s outlook never resulted in worldwide success, they were a band which produced some enjoyable music and will have a special place in the hearts of many New Zealanders.
Recommended tracks:
Hidden Track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aj0ZYQ10CU
My Only
All Hail The Serpent Queen
Loner
A Shadow & A Prayer
Note: This review is for the New Zealand version of the album. I might update the review with impressions on the Australian-version exclusive songs but since this version is the album I have been listening to the past 10 years, I don't know if I will.
