Good (Vinyl)

When Good came out in 2001, you might not guess that a record this playful and polished began in a Grey Lynn shed. But that unlikely DIY origin is central to its charm. From the fuzzed-out guitars of “Green” to the understated magnetism of “Sophie,” Good captured a kind of off-kilter pop sensibility that felt uniquely New Zealand — clever, a bit sideways, and full of hooks.

The album built momentum with a string of unlikely hits: “Green,” with its fuzz-pop hook and deadpan refrain; the kinetic “Blowing Dirt,” matched by a one-take video in reverse; and “Place to Be,” a compact, angular pop tune — tight, synthy and just a bit weird. But it was “Sophie,” with its minimalist charm and low-key emotional pull, that quietly reached number one and helped turn Good into a platinum success. The album spent nearly a year on the charts, helped along by a run of inventive videos that mirrored the music’s off-centre spirit.

Nick Bollinger called Good “a small explosion of quirky but incredibly catchy songs,” and included it in his 100 Essential New Zealand Albums. This first-ever vinyl edition is a chance to hear it again, or for the first time — carefully remastered from the original mixes by Murray Fisher, with fresh clarity and warmth, true to the original spirit.