The rap rockers in Silly Goose have just unleashed their second studio album Keys To The City upon the world after an already eventful year. The band has gone viral on multiple occasions for performing in unorthodox spaces, but in August, vocalist Jackson Foster found himself in hot water when he was arrested at a gas station in Chicago, IL for trespassing, even though the band was granted permission by the employees. Not one to let opportunity pass them by, Silly Goose released an iconic shirt with Foster's mugshot gracing the front, with proceeds going to cover the legal costs. While it was an unfortunate happening, it allowed for even more publicity and eyes on the band, perfect to promote their new singles and upcoming album. Now the time is upon us to check out the newest effort from the Atlanta-based quartet.
The album starts off with an "Intro" song, one that recreates a wild west atmosphere with rattlesnake sounds, whistling, birds cawing, footsteps made by heavy boots, saloon doors swinging open, and a piano playing classic old timey saloon-style tunes while a drunken man yells to "turn it up!", smoothly transitioning into the first full track, "Cowboy". Beginning with a gnarly riff from guitarist Ian Binion that is reminiscent of Limp Bizkit, followed by sick turntable scratches and a beat that makes you want to bounce, this is one of the standout tracks on Keys To The City. Of course the lyrics contain all sorts of references to the wild west and the desert, even name dropping Hayley Williams of Paramore, but the chorus in particular stands out to me for it's delivery. The way that "I know the desert is unfair / I'm just a cowboy without a care" is sung scratches a part of my brain and has been stuck in my head since I first heard it. The beautiful clean vocal performance contrasts with the unique rapping style Silly Goose has become known for. The crescendo to the bridge is wonderfully done, and this sees the band at one of the heaviest points in the album. They really came out of the gate swinging with this one.
Next is "Neighbors", a fantastic song to play at parties to keep the energy lively. Foster's flow is on full display, and the chorus gives early 2000's young punk vibes à la Sum 41 and Good Charlotte. The lyrics are juvenile, but there's nothing wrong with songs existing solely to sound cool and catchy with no deeper meaning. This is a song to play live for the crowd to have fun and let loose. Plus, who makes nu metal music with the intention of being intellectually superior? Silly Goose is really firing on all cylinders, because the fourth track on the album is my personal favorite, "Traffic". Seriously, I cannot stop listening to it. From the first moments of hearing the opening riff, I was hooked. It's giving Apartment 26 and Pitchshifter vibes, which is not what I would expect from Silly Goose but I absolutely dig it. Foster is spitting bars here, really showcasing his rapping talent as well as songwriting because the rhymes and rhythm are top notch, and the lyrics about stupid drivers and being stuck in traffic are super relatable and also hilarious. Who writes a song about road rage and turns it into a total rager?! Silly Goose, that's who. The chorus is a total earworm, and we get a nice mix of screams thrown into the track as well. Every aspect of the band is showcased beautifully here. "Traffic" is definitely making it into my favorite songs released this year, and if you only listen to one song from this album, let it be this one.
Moving on to the title track, "Keys To The City" is another banger. Bassist Yalli Alvarez shares the spotlight with Foster's rapping here, a dynamic duo. Man do Silly Goose know how to make a memorable chorus, because here we have yet another one that will crawl it's way into your mind, settle down, and never leave. One of the funniest lyrics from the whole album is in this track, "Shout out Danny Wimmer for putting me on stage / But somebody tell him to put me later in the day". Hopefully the Geese get their wish someday soon. I hope to be able to see Silly Goose live, I bet the energy at their shows from both performers and fans is crazy and I would love to experience it. The bridge contains a callout of the people who didn't believe in them and people who now try to pretend to like them and be their friend. Choosing this track to share the same name as the album was the right choice as it balances the silliness and the vulnerability of the band, while delivering on that signature rap rock party sound.
Next is "Dino Interlude", consisting of beeping, radio broadcast snippets, a car crash, thunderstorm sound effects, booming footsteps, and concluding with a shrill dinosaur roar, seguing into the next song, "The Great Dino Escape". This is a song that makes absolutely no sense at all, it's literally just about dinosaurs but that doesn't mean it isn't a fun time. Yes, the lyrics are goofy but the instruments are seriously killing it. Foster calling himself a "Veloco-rapper" is genius. The last minute and a half of the song is very hard-hitting, perhaps the heaviest Silly Goose has ever been, and it even features a sweet guitar solo. Continuing on, "Now Dance" begins with screaming rather than straight up rapping or clean vocals, which is a nice change of pace from the rest of the songs we've heard so far. The drumming of Alan Benikhis really stands out on this track. The chorus slows it down in contrast to the fast-paced start before picking it right back up. The following song is "Give Me My Money", starting off with a bumping bassline before kicking off with some more toned-down rapping. That doesn't last for long because Foster takes this opportunity to show off his ability to quickly spit out rhymes, evoking Mike Shinoda's rapping in "Papercut" in my mind. Back again with another standout lyric, "Fuck your tickets / 'Cause I am the master / So fuck your fees" encapsulates how we all feel about corporate greed and capitalism. I can't help but think of the J.G. Wentworth commercial jingle "It's my money and I need it now!" when I listen to this song.
The tenth track on Keys To The City is "Playin' Games", one of the more serious and meaningful offerings on this album. A song from the perspective of someone who has dealt with a manipulator and self-saboteur, the lyrics are calling out the toxic behavior and begging the person to look inwards and try to heal. “You been lookin’ through tinted shades / The weather is always darker / Grab a marker / Make a list of things that you could rearrange inside of your brain” spoke to me as someone who tends to be pessimistic and gets inside my own head a lot. It really is just a matter of perspective, but it’s much easier to focus on the doom and gloom of life so it takes real work to rewire one’s brain and change the way one thinks. This song sounds straight out of the early 2000’s and I dig it. Continuing with the theme of emotional vulnerability, "Split" is the fourth single from the album to be released. I won't spend too much time here talking about it because I went in-depth on it here, but just know it's another one of my favorites. While it's a different approach from the band, it works really well. The highlights of this song are the lyrics, the clean vocals during the chorus, the turntable scratching, the drums, and Foster's very impressive continuous scream. Closing out the album is "Heart Attack", a return to the usual Silly Goose sound. This is another one of their heavier contributions, as I said previously in my album review of Resent by DED, I love when an album picks up the pace and closes on a heavy high note rather than winding down. Foster's vocal delivery here at times is giving Jonathan Davis vibes and I am so here for it. The last minute of the song, after the final word we hear being "fuck", is screaming and a groovy guitar riff that reminds me of the end of "Pollution" by Limp Bizkit.
Keys To The City is my first real deep dive into Silly Goose, as I only knew the title track, "Split", and "Rap Rock Jesus" prior to this album's release. They are quickly becoming one of my favorite bands that I've discovered this year, and with each additional listen to this record, I find more and more enjoyment in it. They wear their musical inspirations on their sleeve, but they are still uniquely themselves and you can hear the heart and soul they put into their artistry. Yes, they are just as passionate about road rage and killing dinosaurs as they are about mental health and their feelings, and that's why we love them. This album sees Silly Goose show us their Serious Goose side, and I hope we continue to see more of that in the future. These guys are super talented, and definitely worth checking out if you haven't already.
Keys To The City is available now via Blue Grape Music.
