"The band
first came to my attention in the early 1990's... but time has
proven them to be much improved. Greatly, as a matter of fact.
The new disc is titled "Breaking Up & Down" and it has some songs
on it that are masterful. I mean absolutely."
- Richard
Milne, WXRT Radio, Chicago, April, 2000
"Boy meets girl happens
to everybody. Boy and girl fall madly in love is a possibility.
Boy and girl encounter no obstacles on their way to eternal happiness.
Right. Being cheated on, getting played for fools, going unnoticed
by the object of our affection. The relationship game is tough,
confusing and frustrating - anything but everlasting love and
dreams come true. But it's certainly no reason to give up. Chicago
rock band The Good knows this. And with their new album, Breaking
Up and Down, they have created a wickedly clever soundtrack for
the more embarrassing moments of dating, romance and commitment."
(more...)
- Buzz
Magazine, Champaign, IL, May 2000
"Stalwart
local band The Good, now a four-piece with singer/songwriter/guitarists
Devin Arkin and Tony Rogers, Dave Rothkopf on bass, and John Goodman
on drums, prove their mettle with their third and best release,
Breaking Up & Down. Too smart for its own good, this band continues
to drum out clever pop-rock songs, inject humor, ingenuity, and
brain power into a genre that sorely needs it." (more...)
- Gwen
Ihnat, Illinois Entertainer, August 2000
The Good's music is
tricky to describe: The Chicago band plays a form of rock that's
just off-kilter enough to avoid easy pigeonholing. The group's
recent Milky White CD is full of odd harmonies and chunky riffs,
with enough commercial-sounding singles ("Popular Notions," et
al) to survive in an overpopulated music world.
-The
Onion, Madison / Chicago, August 2, 1997
The Good's lyrics have
it all over most locals, and they could stop there, but they don't.
Scholvin is a rock god guitarist who perks up this record all
over the place, Arkin adds violin on Rogers' eerie "Building On
Graves," and this band could give a seminar on how to turn background
vocals into the most intriguing part of the song. When I reviewed
their last record, I said that The Good live up to their name.
This time, they outclass it. Rating: 8 (out of 10) (more...)
- Gwen
Ihnat, Illinois Entertainer, May 1997
If the clever lessons
within the lyrics and their well orchestrated progressions don't
hook you, then the lush vocals of singers/songwriters Devin Arkin
and Tony Rogers will make you a fan for sure. If you do not already
own a copy of The Good's latest effort, I strongly suggest you
go pick one up. You won't be sorry. (more...)
- Escapist
Magazine, Peoria, IL, February 1998
One band has distinguished
itself from other Chicago performers. Whitehouse Records' The
Good have combined strong lyrics, perfect harmonies, and diverse
melodies to create their second album, Milky White. With such
a powerful release under their belts, I predict The Good is on
the way to national attention. 4 STARS (out of 5) (more...)
-Daily
Illini, Champaign, IL, March 6, 1998
Milky White is the
stunning debut from The Good out on Whitehouse Records. The record
(and the band too actually) are a bit difficult to easily characterize.
Though it's basically straight-ahead rock and roll there's a bit
of an alterna-twinge and elements of the Beatles and 70's arena
rock not to mention a bit of folk and blues thrown in for fun.
There's also an element of They Might Be Giants type of humor-rock.
(more...)
-Rob
Cooper, Divein Chicago, February 1998
These guys are kinda
like the Beatles meet Teenage Fanclub...... while getting hit
by a bus driven by Pink Floyd! They have combined witty lyrics
of the ages, with an excellent guitarist, and amazing vocals to
top!
-Eclectic
Ecstasy, Griffith, IN, July 1998
The kinds of catchy,
inspired, infectious lines that have not crossed my ears in quite
a while. Crashing modern media into classic literature, The Good
have produced a lush soundscape of odd thoughts that translate
into purely wonderful music. (more...)
-In The
Mix, March 1998
While other Chicago
powerpoppers The Bad Examples are more likely to draw comparisons
to Squeeze and Crowded House, The Good are more likely to thunder
along like the Who and the Posies.... The band's latest CD is
Milky White, a stunning (and generous) collection of lyrically
unique powerpop gems that rarely misses. And it's not afraid to
try to make you think.
-from
an interview with Tom Durkin,
Noize.com, January 1998
If Frank Zappa had
ever started a band with Pete Townshend of The Who in some alternate
universe, the result would probably sound like The Good. (more...)
-Daily
Egyptian, Carbondale, IL, January 30, 1998
Don't ask how they
do it, but the Good can weave depressing subjects like political
and moral decay into intricately devised compositions that sound
exactly like rock 'n' roll. One finds oneself enraptured by the
tunes, while at the same time being immersed in deep inner debate
over the lyrical nature the Good exude... With subtle sarcasm,
obvious taunts, and a wicked sense of humor, Milky White captures
essences and nuances of life's grand parade that hardly ever come
to light in contemporary media of any kind. (more...)
-Nightlife
Magazine, Carbondale, IL, January 29, 1998
The pop rock of The
Good is worthy of the band's name. The Good weaves intricate tapestries
of songs from background vocals and layers of instruments. Breaks
and bridges from The Good are hummable enough to be full songs
on other discs.
-Hi-Test
Records, December 1997
Thought provoking lyrics...
crunching guitars... creativity... intensity... The Good. Their
latest release, Milky White, is one of this year's more remarkable
CD's and definitely creates a connection with the listener. Their
lyrics and fervid guitar riffs make this CD special. Add The Good's
creative background vocals with tight, full sounding production
and this CD soars. (more...)
-Backstage
Pass, Chicago, November 1997
The Good is damn good.
Sporting loud guitars with heavy riffs, they lay down some numbers
that are full overdrive, but still manage to sound original. No
simple task in this day or any day and age. Incorporating piano,
some strings, and even a few choice samples into the fray, Milky
White has all the earmarks of becoming a fan favorite and a critic
darling. (more...)
-The
Glass Eye, Cleveland, October 1997
Sophistication and
pop rarely go hand in hand, unless you're dealing with Chicago's
The Good. At first listen, these lyrics sometimes seem inflammatory.
After all, The Good refers to minister Louis Farrakhan as a "bigoted
fucker" and the atom bomb as a big reaction to "Nips." Underneath
this shocking exterior, however, lies some carefully devised commentary.
-Rock
Island Argus, September 4, 1997
So what makes The Good
so... good? For one thing, they're not afraid to be original.
The songwriting alone is intelligent, thought provoking, and at
times, downright good humored. This band has a strong knack for
utilizing so many different sounds, styles, feelings, and emotions
in their music it'll make your head spin.... The Good, however,
put that old adage of "jack of all trades and master of none"
to rest. Milky White is a garish collection of dazzling melodies,
haunting minstrelsy, and true musicianship. (more...)
- Mark
Bruno, Showcase Magazine, Chicago, August 1997
Full-layered great
songwritten rock here with tunes that aggressively and intelligently
take on Harry Truman, Winnie Mandella, Lou Reed, Orson Wells,
and Minister Farrakhan. It's thinking man's music all around.
Damn good!
- River
Cities' Reader, May 21, 1997
The Good (from Chicago)
is definitely worth checking out... they're five funny guys with
the serious musicianship to drive the humor home.
- The
Des Moines Register Datebook February 5, 1997
Elvis Costello didn't
reinvent the guitar, but he did put a new spin on the songwriting
wheel. Costello-ish songs that feature lyrics worth straining
to hear are both a lost art and a dying breed, and there's at
least one Chicago band that seems to agree with me. The Good,
a local five-piece with a jones for wit, angst, and quality lyrics,
display considerable songwriting talent on their first CD, Oft
Interred With Their Bones.
-Gwen
Ihnat, Illinois Entertainer, 1995
Oft Interred With Their
Bones might be the best self-produced record I've ever heard.
Classic rocking guitars underneath a fresh blend of styles and
vocals... all wrapped around songs that recall wordsmiths like
Paul Simon, Lou Reed, Ray Davies. Ask me what real 'alternative'
music is and I'll tell you it's The Good."
-Jen
Self, WRBU, Indianapolis, 1995
They are good!
-Jackie
Bange, WGN-TV News, Chicago, 1995
Vocals first, with
guitars a close second. Like lyrical rockers Queen and Blur before
them, The Good has distilled a number of wide-ranging influences
into one hell of an original sound. These guys don't bother to
walk the thin line between pop and rock. They trample it.
-Mike
Anzaldi, WIDB, Carbondale, IL 1995
There are some very,
very fine moments on this new compact disc from The Good.
-Richard
Milne, WXRT, Chicago, 1995
While the music's worth
the price of admission, the lyrics are what elevate the disc to
must-have status.
-Denis
Boyles, Men's Health Magazine (almost),
1995
Not since The Beatles
have I heard a record as complete as this one. Every song is great.
Great melodies, great harmonies, great lyrics, great sound. Every
time I listen to the record, I have a new favorite song.
-Tim
Kazurinsky , former Saturday Night Live castmember and lifetime
Good fan
