The Goods — Don’t Spoil The Fun
Released October 24, 2025 – Oakland, California
Genre: Rock / Pop / Power Pop
RIYL: The Lemon Twigs, Teenage Fanclub, Young Guv, Supercrush, Matthew Sweet, Big Star
Oakland’s The Goods return in dazzling form with Don’t Spoil The Fun, their first full-length album — a sun-drenched, melody-rich collection that reaffirms the timeless power of great songwriting. Out via Dandy Boy Records, the record captures the best of what makes power pop such an enduring art form: chiming guitars, harmony-laden choruses, and lyrics that balance bittersweet honesty with wide-eyed optimism.
At the heart of The Goods is Rob Good, the band’s frontman, songwriter, and producer — a cornerstone of Oakland’s indie scene whose previous work with Ryli, Sob Stories, and Cocktails already hinted at his melodic instincts. Here, joined by bassist Cherron Arens and guitarist Gabriel Monnot, he takes those instincts and polishes them into something both classic and fresh. Recorded and produced entirely in Good’s Oakland studio, Don’t Spoil The Fun is an album built on care, patience, and genuine emotion.
From the opening chords, the record radiates warmth and immediacy. “Sunday Morning Out of the Blue,” the focus single, perfectly embodies the band’s blend of tension and tenderness — a jangling, heartfelt reflection on love’s contradictions: how two people can clash, collapse, and somehow come out closer. Its bright guitars and buoyant rhythm belie its emotional depth, revealing the band’s knack for turning everyday experiences into melodic gold.
Across eleven tracks, The Goods channel the golden lineage of The Byrds, Big Star, and Matthew Sweet, but they avoid simple revivalism. There’s something distinctly contemporary in their energy — a sense of modern self-awareness, where nostalgia is tempered by lived experience. Don’t Spoil The Fun thrives on that duality: it’s a record that feels like a mixtape of your favorite bands from the past, but written for the present moment.
Good’s lyrics are open-hearted and reflective, tackling connection, self-preservation, and the ways we hold onto meaning in an overstimulated world. “These songs were written over the last five years — some even before our first EP,” he explains. “We kept rewriting, re-recording, refining until it finally felt like us.” That evolution can be heard in every track — from the breezy immediacy of “April Fools” to the wistful sentimentality of “Photograph,” a tribute to The Golden Bull, the now-closed Oakland venue where the band played their first show.
“Keep It Safe,” the album’s closer, drifts out like a sigh — a reminder that protecting one’s peace is as essential as chasing joy. Between the fuzzy guitars and luminous vocal harmonies, there’s an emotional honesty that makes the music resonate long after the final chord.
With Don’t Spoil The Fun, The Goods deliver more than just a collection of songs — they deliver a statement of intent. It’s a celebration of imperfection, friendship, and the stubborn, enduring belief that guitar music still has heart.
Bright, melodic, and deeply human, Don’t Spoil The Fun is power pop at its most vital — proof that sometimes, the best way to move forward is to keep things simple, sing your truth, and never, ever spoil the fun.
© Thusblog
