Photo by Andy Perkovich

The new single, “Good for You,” from Seattle-based psych-pop quartet Fruit Juice is the sardonic rant we’ve all had building in our heads since March. The short-but-not-so-sweet track throws down everything you wish you could have said to all the lizard people in your life this year with punchy guitar layers and a lyrical shower of David Byrne and Frank Zappa-esque vocals.

In the first verse, frontman Jake McCaffray introduces the track’s stream of consciousness (or should I say scream of consciousness) writing style. Taken from a journal entry after a phone call with a friend who was clearly too distracted by 2020 melodrama to pay attention, the lyrics virulently describe “playing the role of some verbal receptacle for them to throw their thoughts at.” Syncopated lines like, “When you asked me a question you certainly made it / all about yourself / Perhaps you seem to think you’re advising me in some way” mimic the inherent chaos of the year, eschewing any regular melody or rhythm. No matter, though, because McCaffray ropes us in with his mocking, muttering-under-your-breath inflection we’ve all become *all too* familiar with this year. The verse reads like a first chapter on a fantasy 2020 adventure, ambling along into unknown, unmelodic territory.

In the chorus, a catchy, effect-drenched, eighth-note-based guitar hook, driving bass from Gabriel Stranahan, and tight, punchy drums from James Dyer tie the song together like a good hook should. Lines, dripped in sarcasm, that end on the same word but lack a distinct vocal melody — “that’s good for you” and “that’s great for you” — give the sense of becoming unhinged, like McCaffray can’t keep a regular tune, but he can remember the word “you.”

It all leads up to the last verse, in which McCaffray lets his anger fly. He speaks faster, stuffs more words into the lines, and lets his vocal fry rage until he finally — but calmly, coming down — states, “It sure feels good to yell.” And while this does feel like an effective emotional release, there’s also so much musical action in the last minute of the song that it’s hard to find a moment to pause and soak up the energy. It’s overwhelming, and very 2020.

With all of the emotion from this past year rolled into a visceral, glitchy, sarcastic, punk rock package, “Good for You” is the kind of song I wish I could see live, surrounded by a large mass of people yelling, “that’s good for you!” at the top of their lungs, as sweat from the band rains on their heads. 

Alas, until then, take a listen to the track below — exclusively on Dan’s Tunes before it officially drops tomorrow — and let us know who you’ll be thinking about when you do finally get to scream this hook inside a venue.

Day Ray contributed to this article.

9.3

Scream-in-the-car-ability

9.0/10

Lyrics

9.0/10

Synth-sounding guitar hooks

10.0/10