Formed in 2022, Glasgow-based Good Pariah combines disparate influences into both comedic and tragic musical panacea for the modern age. Twanging guitars, expansive oscillating soundscapes, and both aggressive and touching duel vocals generate a sense of wide open space and more up close and personal. They pull in the intellectual lyricism of Silver Jews, the righteous reggae punk guitars of The Clash, and the size, depth, and tenderness of Big Thief. Good Pariah seeks both to make their audience think, laugh, and find some catharsis from the less savory elements of the life we all share but cannot always feel a part of.
With lush harmonies, Good Pariah paints a pessimistic image with a toothy grin on “A Better Place”. The minimal arrangement comes alive with cartoonishly passionate vocals that detail the strength in putting yourself first in a cheeky display of their forward-thinking songwriting. Good Pariah showcases the many sides of their artistry in one swoop, a subtle arrangement explodes into wrapping guitar tones while soaring vocals give the whole song the feeling of levitation. “A Better Place” is a demanding reason to catch on to this young band now, before their unique taste on post-punk catches on with the world.
“’A Better Place’ is a lament about the difficulties of being a moral person in the 21st century,” explains the band on their new single. “A sarcastic and even playful laugh at the hypocrisy many of us engage in when it comes to the issues we all know and share, and an appeal to hope and the leap of faith that we all must make to carry on despite it all.”
