Melbourne’s psych rockers The Good Morrows have just independently released their debut eponymous LP.  Citing such influences as The Rolling Stones, 13th Floor Elevators, The Easybeats, The Kinks, The Beatles, The Stooges, and Black Lips it’s pretty clear what you’re in for when becoming familar with the four piece – straight up, radio friendly no nonsense psych rock.

Preparing to head off on a national tour in support of the record, we caught up with the band’s guitarist and vocalist Jarred Scopel who gave us a track by track rundown of the LP. You can now pick up a copy of the album at The Good Morrows Bandcamp page. 

Spaceman

“Surprising the quickest song I’ve written and recorded. It was finished in under two hours. Writing and recording all the instruments.

The song started off with a simple 4 chord pattern. I threw a phaser over the guitar and recorded the theremin intro using an iPhone app. I spent the next hour just pouring layer upon layer onto the song to give it the full, spaced-out sound I could hear in my head.”

Get Out of My Head

“This was one of the first 3 songs I’d written for The Good Morrows. I hadn’t had much experience with song writing but I’d spent the last couple of years DJing at the late, great Rochester Castle on Friday nights. I knew that I wanted to write a song that people would react to. I wanted it to be catchy, up-tempo and have a sing along chorus. This was the result.

We recorded it live in two takes with a friend studying sound engineering. It was surprisingly the first time she’d recorded anyone.”

Help You Be Yourself

“This song came about from a bass line I had written which turned into the main vocal melody of the song. I wanted the drums to sound super old school so I sent it off to Liam, to lay down some slick beats. It came back much better than I’d hoped for. We called upon the talented ears of Michael Badger to produce the song. He thought it might be nice to add a tempo change towards the end of the song which worked really well. He also recorded a sitar over the song which gave it that middle-eastern psychy feel.”

Ghost Town

“I wrote this one directly after I watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I loved the imagery and epic use of the songs which included Arcade Fire’s ‘Wake Up’, Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ and ‘Dirty Paws’ by Of Monsters and Men.

I wanted the song to have an uplifting chorus that just took it to another level. I think I managed to get there and still stay true to the Morrows sound.”

Let It Out

“I came back to this song after leaving it on the back burner for a couple of years. When I first started it I knew I couldn’t finish it or make it sound like it sounded it in my head.
The two year break gave me a whole new perspective on the song. I had taken a liking to bands like The Stone Roses and Primal Scream I thought it was time to give it another shot.

I employed the assistance of Michael Badger’s fancy production skills and who managed to help bring it to life adding guitar riffs and some great vocal harmonies.”

Did You See The Clouds?

“This song was mainly written by Andy, our guitarist. It’s got a nice vintage sound which reminds me of a song George Harrison would have written in the early seventies.”

I Wanna Know

“This song is by far our most sixties sounding tune; from the way it’s written, to the way it’s recorded. It kicks the album back into that high tempo, energetic feel the album has at the start.”

Watch Me Go

“This was another song that came together really quickly. It was written and recorded in less than three hours. I didn’t really care too much for it whilst I was writing it and didn’t think it was any good until I showed my girlfriend who’s head it was stuck in for the next few days.”

Running Around

“Definitely the angriest song I’ve written. It’s about a girl.”

Just What It Is

“Another song written by Andy. The lyrics in this are incredible and really trap you into the song. I particularly like the phrase “tend to turn to” so many T’s!”

Upcoming Tour Dates

Geelong – Saturday 14th March – The Barwon Club
Brisbane – Saturday 21st March – Grand Central Hotel
Sydney – Friday 27th March – World Bar
Melbourne – Friday 10th April – Ding Dong Lounge