Whenever a relatively unknown band releases a stunning record seemingly out of nowhere, you can get a bit fearful when it comes time for the next one. Can they capture the same feelings? Has a little bit of buzz gone to their heads? Will they conform to mainstream pressures? When Joseph released I’m Alone, No You’re Not back in 2016, it was one of the most underrated records of the year. Almost exactly three years later, this trio of sisters is still one of music’s best-kept secrets. And I’m happy to report that the dreaded “record after” curse has eluded them completely. I guess you can strike gold twice.
Looking back three years again, there were two conflicting sides of a conversation the band was working through: ‘I’m alone,” and “No you’re not.” It was such a defining ethos they named their record as such. Today, we see a band that has settled much more comfortably into the latter part of that conversation. But that didn’t happen without a fight. In the time between records, the band almost dissolved, which is a hard enough thing to work through when you’re not immediate family members. Thank goodness they persevered, because they just released their most consistent record to date.
Another fear for the “record after” is whether the band would step too far away from what made them so special in the first place. Joseph have branched out sonically – as is necessary in a career – but just enough to not be jarring. Added synth elements and pop flourishes are used tastefully to enhance the lush and complex vocal arrangements that captivated listeners in the first place. The choruses throw more of a punch than ever, creating a bunch of surefire anthems. And other than a very brief lull before the absolutely stunning album closer, ‘Room For You’, the sequencing is damn near flawless.
Good Luck, Kid showcases a band more comfortable in their own skin, even if each individual member is still working through some inner demons. “Just how many half truths do I have to tell myself to get through?” they sing in perfect harmony midway through the record. It’s just one example of Joseph’s uncanny ability convey such universal struggles with conviction and poise. And as long as they never lose sight of that ability, they’ll keep striking gold for years to come – even if it does mean remaining criminally under the radar. With Good Luck, Kid, I hope like hell the world makes some room for them.
Haiku Review
Joseph may well be
The best band you’ve never heard;
Make some room for them.
