The Good Thing Archive

You may recall that we sent out a record from the fine, Philadelphia-based band Friendship some months back. While arranging the purchase of the LPs I approached Merge Records to see if the band’s leader, Dan Wiggins, would be interested in curating an upcoming record for the club. Dan was down! Here is what he has to say about his selection.

Florry is the warm, greedy mouth of a sunburned teenager making contact with the cold hole at the bottom of a shotgunned Bud Light. They are the rhapsodic whistles of SeaWorld’s most lovesick dolphin. They are the fuel injectors on the engine of a semi carrying toxic waste down the Garden State Parkway. When I listen to Florry, I need to dance. I feel like the rooster’s favorite hen. They are among the inheritors of country music because their songs are about the emotions and messy lives of vulnerable people and the places they live, presented without judgment, glamorization, or any other bullshit. They are the soul and its buddies. And their live show kicks ass.

—Dan Wriggins

Hugo Rojas - Inzá, Colombia

Wowee, Chester Thompson, y’all. We’ve had this record on the back burner since the last Black Jazz record we featured back in March of ‘21. Head roaster Kevin and I played this album all the time in the roastery. Each time I would lament the fact that we didn’t scoop up a giant stack of them when it was originally repressed back in 2020. But as is often the case, everything has worked out real good and here we are 2 years later with enough Chester Thompson to go around - pressed on limited and oh so exclusive to Good Thing members only clear Coke-colored vinyl to boot! Of all the jazz records we’ve sent out this is the first that is led by an organist. And it’s about time. The Hammond organ has not gotten nearly enough love on this subscription. On that I think we can all agree! Powerhouse finds Thompson in the rare position of bandleader. And what an unusual bandleader he is - rarely taking the limelight and letting Rudy Johnson and Al Hall take most of the melodies and solos. Thompson is known mainly for what came next on his musical journey - his years in Tower of Power and then 26 years Santana’s band. Jeez, wait a sec. I just realized that means I probably saw him back in ‘97. Not that I remember much from that show other than being told to eat this little strip of paper in the car on the way there and then of course the sunset. Boy, what a sunset that night.

Kinini Village - Rulindo, Rwanda

Oh man, please forgive me. I’m just a little too tired to put together a full fledged blurb this month. But don’t think we’re slacking. The record is still amazing and the coffee is especially sweet and truly outta freakin’ site. This week is just bonkers. What I really need to do is just put on some sweet, sweet Acetone and chill. I hope you understand. In fact, why don’t you join me?

Manager of the Osito bodega, and B.F.F. to many, Damian Bolaños is a welcome addition to our menu. His Caturra and Castillo shrubs grown on Finca Buena Vista have flavors that are textbook Colombia—bright, sweet, clean, and just a touch of savory complexity. This coffee really jumped out on the cupping table thanks to its blackberry aromatics and jammy sweetness. We don't have much of this coffee, but you'll be glad that we grabbed as much as we could.

I first heard this record on a tip from a fellow Good Thing member who said, “I’ve been listening non-stop to Cymande’s self-titled 1972 debut LP”. If you are listening to something non-stop, then hey, I’ll listen to it at least once. Glad I did! Formed in London 40-something years ago by Steve Scipio and Patrick Patterson, Cymande brought together a group of nine Caribbean-born musicians to form what Rolling Stone would call “London’s greatest funk band.” They quickly released 3 albums in 3 years between ‘72 and ‘74 before beginning a near 40 year hiatus in ‘75. During that long interlude their music continued to excite and inspire. Their records were a cratedigger's delight and their sounds were sampled by the likes of De La Soul, The Fugees, Wu Tang and many, many more. Founding members Patrick Patterson and Steve Scipio gathered the original members back together in 2011 to record their 4th studio album. Cymande is still active and on the road today. Damn, they are playing in Italy in August. Let’s freakin’ go!

La Piramide - Inza, Colombia

I’ve been trying to track down enough copies of this here record for years. Every time I see it’s been repressed I make my move and I am always a hair too late. The available stack always gets gobbled up by record dealers with a faster trigger finger than I. But here it is. We have it! And just about exactly 43 years to the day since its release. My friend Dan first played this record for me while driving around in his big old blue Volvo. Damn. Where the heck were me and Dan going? Anyway, being a Talking Heads and New Order fan, I was primed to like what I heard right away. By the time we arrived at the chromatic guitar runs at the end of “Loveless Love” I knew that I loved this record. It just continues to peak over and over again with not all that much going on. Most songs only have 2 chords and there is nary a cymbal crash on the whole album. The first 4 minutes of “Forces at Work” are the best advertisement for the E Major Chord ever recorded and I think Parquet Courts would agree. For a long time I thought that The Beatles cover mid-record was a low point of the album but after years of close listening it turns out to be a perfect cover - one that shows respect for the original but is done fully in the style of the band covering the tune. Near the end, “Raised Eyebrows” lays out a perfect line that is repeated over and over like a mantra - “Some will make it and some won't make it oh-oh”. Jeez, ain’t that the truth. Welp, enjoy!

-Will Pratt

Bookkisa - Guji, Ethiopia

I found out about Steve Monite - just like everyone else in the world (including Frank Ocean) - from his appearance on Doing It in Lagos, a 2016 Soundway Records compilation. Doing It got a lot of play at our bakery in the last couple of years and Monite’s “Only You” was always the track that defined the whole album for me. So as a matter of course, I jumped when I saw that Soundway was releasing his long lost and forgotten 1984 record suitably titled, “Only You”. Monite seemed to have forgotten about the record as well. Having given up music after his album failed to catch on, he was surprised to find out from his nephew that he suddenly had a monster international dance hit. He looked himself up and it was true. He found a video of Frank Ocean covering “Only You” at a concert in Los Angeles. Can you imagine? Seriously, try to imagine that feeling. Monite is reinvigorated and determined to get back into the music scene. And hell, if he cuts another record, you know where to find it!

Daniela Gutierrez - San Marcos, Costa Rica

When we are picking records for The Good Thing, one of the main criteria we are looking for is that the record needs to be something that can be played at any time, in any setting - whether you’re home alone, hosting friends, in a busy cafe or, hell, even in a slow cafe. When is doubt, reach for one from your Good Thing collection! We choose records that will hopefully become timeless additions to your collection that you continue to return to for years and not just the few weeks after unsealing. These are vibe records. Last year when Ken at Numero Group asked if I’d be interested in Birdlegs & Pauline for the subscription I knew just halfway through the opening tune that this album was easily going to meet all of our Good Thing criteria. It even has some tenor sax! Hope you enjoy this one forever and whenever.

Teshome Gemechu - Gedeo, Ethiopia

Ah, the last record that we will be sending you in 2022. And what better way to honor the joyous holiday season than sending out a collection of sad folk songs? I know, I know. In the past we have tried to be a little more uplifting with spiritual music or some Beethoven but the timing on the delivery of these records was just too perfect. While this collection compiled by the good people at NTS is truly sad, what they have gathered is also perfectly beautiful and ought to be enjoyed no matter the time of year. So when you can’t take any more Nat King Cole, pop this one on and enjoy the winter landscape and the dreary weather that is promised to come in the near future. Merry all the holidays and Happy New Year! - Will Pratt 12/5/22

Jingle Beans - Washed and Natural Ethiopia

I’ve been a fan of Daniel Johnston’s music since hearing “Casper the Friendly Ghost” on the Folk Implosion heavy soundtrack to the movie Kids - one of the greatest motion picture soundtracks of its time. Soon after I would hear some of my favorite bands like Built to Spill and Yo La Tengo feature covers of his songs on their albums which made him and his music all the more alluring to me. Originally from Sacramento CA, Johnston started recording music when he moved to Austin after dropping out of college. He began gathering a small following after handing out his tapes - most of which were recorded on a boombox in his brother’s garage - to customers while working shifts at McDonalds. Johnston's status was catapulted when mohair sweater-sporting fashion icon Kurt Cobain was spotted wearing a tee shirt with Johnston’s artwork on it. Though he has struggled with mental health issues and has been institutionalized more than once, one still can’t deny that there is an earnestness that comes across in Johnson’s songwriting that would be the envy of any songwriter. Originally released in 2006 and reissued last year, Welcome to My World is his first greatest hits collection. This pressing is beautifully laid out and filled with Johnston’s now well known magic marker art which is where the majority of his creative spirit went in his later year before his death in 2019. We’re very excited to be adding this one to all of your collections. This is actually my first Daniel Johnston piece of vinyl. Enjoy and welcome to Daniel Johnston’s World. - WP 11/7/22

La Soledad - Antigua, Guatemala