In late 2023, Canadian rock band Good Kid released a cover of Laufey’s “From The Start,” blowing up social media algorithms with an anime-restyling of the song by Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey. I love Laufey’s songs as much as the next fan, but when Good Kid posted their aforementioned cover, it was like I was suddenly diving into a world full of rock and roll. The band aren’t strangers to being in the spotlight, having had their songs featured in a Mr. Beast Youtube video as well as the popular video game Fortnite. With the news of Good Kid’s upcoming album release and world tour, along with “From The Start’s” Gold Single certification from Music Canada, it was a great time to listen to their 2024 release Good Kid 4.

The EP opens with “Bubbly,” which is full of vibrant energy and ends with a melodramatic flourish. The track perfectly foreshadows Good Kid’s various emotional tones when it comes to their songs, leaving fans elated to tranquil, in a sudden heartbeat. The hyperactive beat of “Bubbly” is very groovy to move along to, especially because of the guitar solo in the background. However, these solos appear in many of Good Kid’s songs, and it can sometimes be repetitive. I don’t hate instrumental solos in music at all, but when it comes to listening to a certain type of musician or band, you can already predict when the peak of the song happens before you’ve even finished your first listen. According to guitarist David Wood, the lyrics to “Bubbly” describe having overwhelming social anxiety, based on his own experiences with the subject. While it warrants praise for speaking up about personal struggles, the upbeat tone of the song feels contradictory to what the song is trying to express. Still, “Bubbly” does manage to go through with its message towards its outro, finishing with a melancholic outro after its upbeat mood has run its course.    

Good Kid’s popular Laufey cover is a through and through pop love song. It’s the only cover on their EP, yet, it manages to be the loudest song on the tracklist. Nick Frosst, the main vocalist of Good Kid, belts out and redefines Laufey’s melodramatic jazz tunes, as if he were announcing his love without care for rejection. The background instruments echo, as they clash and strum to their full ability, which I adore very much. While being featured tremendously in many short-form videos in 2023, I don’t have a problem with hearing it on repeat. It’s such an endearing song that has a lot of love poured into it by Laufey (alongside composer Spencer Stewart), and Good Kid themselves. 

“Summer,” the third song on the EP, doesn’t have that same groovy rock feeling compared to the other tracks before it. The repetition of the lyrics doesn’t vibe as well with the music, and the instruments feel louder than the vocals. Compared to “Bubbly,” with its powerful beat, complex lyrics, and balance between instruments and vocals, it almost feels like I’m listening to two different songs that target very different fans, “Summer” is for the fans who like upbeat stereotypical pop rock, and “Bubbly,” is for the other set of fans who enjoy deep, meaningful indie rock. To shine on the brighter side of “Summer,” I enjoyed how Frosst harmonized the lyrics throughout the track. With that being said, “Summer” felt like it needed more depth to its groove.

“Break” has a very static introduction. At the start, the chorus feels very breathy, due to rapid singing from the vocalist along with the layering of the electric guitar strumming vigorously in the background. In spite of these flaws, there are a few things that I think work better in “Break” compared to “Summer.” The track manages to have a lively tone that’s similar to “Bubbly,” which makes it really groovy, unlike the very soft and solemn tone of “Summer.” During the bridge, it very much echoes its predecessor, but later manages to build up excitement towards the final chorus. Many of the lyrics in “Break” repeat themselves just like in “Summer,” but the way the lyrics are sung changes tone throughout the song, which gives the track more replay value. 

Despite my grievances with the last two songs, “Dance Class” has that splendid rock and roll sound that Good Kid is known for. Opening up with a soft, muffled instrumental, the song has an upbeat groove that builds up overtime and eventually ends with a mix of guitar and bass. Guitarist David Wood and Bassist Michael Kozakov discuss the message for “Dance Class” in a short video on their official Youtube channel: Kozakov interprets it as a love song, while Wood disagrees. Like with most of their song lyrics, Wood leaves it up to their audience to interpret the song’s message. 

The final song, titled “Premier Inn,” is a firm send-off to the EP. There’s something noteworthy about the sporadic nature that is echoed with its instrumental break towards its final chorus. It’s a rather bold tune, and I could think of so many action or animated movies that would pair well with this song. From listening to “Premier Inn,” it’s clear that Good Kid wanted to end this EP off with a bang.

Good Kid’s fourth EP is full of ups and downs. The EP is a rollercoaster that has you up in the sky with its first few songs, but doesn’t carry through with that same feeling towards the middle. Don’t get me wrong, some of the songs are enjoyable, but some songs don’t really highlight Good Kid’s rock and roll identity. I’ve listened to some of Good Kid’s songs outside of this EP, and they more accurately capture the band’s juvenile spirit that some of these songs are missing. Despite my dislike of some of the songs on the EP, I think all of Good Kid’s songs are experiences that everyone can resonate with, it’s just different for everyone’s personal experience. With that knowledge, I’m looking forward to what 2026 has in store for Good Kid, and I’m hoping that they knock it out of the park with their brand new songs.