Album Review: Good Boy - Shirk Life

Brisbane's indie post-punk three-piece Good Boy's latest EP continues the excitement generated from widely reported energetic live shows and 2016's No Love For Back Home EP release that boasted a garage, DIY ethos belying tight playing, a knack for hooks and topical social commentary.

Bass player and lead vocalist Rian King's Aussie twang capitalises on what Dick Diver, Brendan Suppression and Aussie hip hop made popular just under a decade ago and it's this use of the contemporary Tasman Sea accent that gives stunning effect to what are at first glance simple, straight-forward songs. A Waste of Approximately 122 Dollars... is barely restrained annoyance although in hindsight the band's obvious views may have changed significantly now we have a Yes result. The quick-witted and unintentional political themes are also explored on Fishing With A Shotgun, but for all its cryptic clues it is alternatively a bloody great musical arrangement. For the most part, the tempo is upbeat on this six-tracker, although there is a sense of building angst that culminates toward Hell In A Handbasket - it wouldn't be punk without exacerbation now, would it?