Indie Brooklyn band, Gooseberry, have released their debut full-length album titled, All My Friends Are Cattle.
Gooseberry, formed in 2019, is a band which takes inspiration from genres such as alternative rock, indie, and blues to craft their sound. Asa Daniels (guitar, vocals), Evin Rossington (drums), and Will Hammond (bass) form the group and have played major venues across the east coast including, Baby’s All Right, the Knitting Factory, and The Bowery Ballroom in NYC.
Since the release of their 2022 debut EP Broken Dance, the trio has received praise from editorials such as Under the Radar, Ones to Watch, and more. In April, Gooseberry announced their debut full-length album, All My Friends Are Cattle. The album was released on Sept 6 and has been steadily growing in popularity since its release. The band has been on tour leading up to the release of the album over Aug and Sept, including four dates in New York.
“We are super fortunate to call a lot of really great – and buzzing – NYC bands our friends. We feel ourselves part of that community and eternally grateful for being welcomed with such open arms. Our hometown has truly shaped what this band has become.”
Asa Daniels
The ten-track album was recorded at Precision Sound Studios in New York City with an all-star production team including, Grammy-winner James ‘Jimmy T’ Meslin (Dream Theater, John Petrucci, Rush), Grammy-nominated engineer Colin Bryson (Zach Bryan, J Balvin, Willow Avalon), who served as producer and recording engineer (reprising his role from the Validate Me EP). They were joined also by Grammy-winner Phil Joly (The Strokes, Lana Del Rey, Daft Punk) who mixed the record, and Jennica Best (Colatura) who mastered it. The band’s “honorary fourth member” Dan Janis of Baked Goods, provided saxophone and flute for a handful of tunes.
The album begins with “Kikiyon,” a harder, driven track with an instantly recognizable riff that pays homage to many classic rock songs over the years, most notably The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.” The solo on that song in particular has a distinct feeling to it that sounds much different than what is in vogue. As the album runs on, the songs grow softer and softer ending in the reverb-soaked “Start Over.”
Though powered by heavy 90s alternative influences, the standout tracks on the album are the gentler, simpler songs, like “Cherry Blossoms,” which remind listeners of artists like Jack Johnson. It is through these tracks that Gosseberry reveals who they can be.
The album contains a multitude of interesting musical ideas, most notably, the feature of the distinctive blare of the saxophone especially on “All The Same.” Many songs have clear Nirvana, Bush, and other 90’s alt inspiration, but the vocals on the record bear a recognizable similarity to more contemporary pop groups. As with many young bands, Gooseberry is still attempting to find their own sound.
The kaleidoscopic image on the cover is representative of the entire album in more ways than one. With just a glance, you see a menagerie of colors and feelings, each one notably different from its counterparts. While interesting for a moment, a deeper look renders the full image fractured and without a clear cohesion through all parts. Yet still briefly pretty.
Key Tracks: Cattle, Cherry Blossoms, One of the Good Ones.
Gooseberry will play the Richmond Music Hall in Richmond VA on Oct 3 and at the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, in NC on Oct 5.
