Duke Reviews: “Getting Killed” by Geese

By ORION BAKER/Assistant Multimedia Editor 

Duke Reviews: “Getting Killed” by Geese

Hello, and welcome back to Duke Reviews!

After a short hiatus from my reviews since the summer, I’m reviewing the band Geese’s new album “Getting Killed.” For me, I had known of “Geese” before this album. Particularly, their “3D Country” album was stellar, so I was ready to dive into their newest work. But, first things first, context.

Who Are Geese?

Geese is a rock band formed in New York City in 2016. What started as a high school garage band turned into a wildly successful band, with numerous tours and nearly a million listeners on Spotify.

Their sound is comparable to bands like Black Midi, Radiohead, Black Country New Road and bands akin to them. What sets them apart is the more southern elements. Like the lead vocalist, who sounds like he has a southern twang in his singing. Or even with the southern instruments.

Does “Getting Killed” Work?

Honestly, I really enjoyed this project. It’s simple, but effective. Each track is multi-layered and fun. The instrumental is one of my personal highlights, as they are hypnotizing and really draws you in. Especially on tracks like “Islands of Men” with its drums and use of a triangle, which is just stellar, or “Long Island City Here I Come” with the use of a xylophone of all things.

I also supremely enjoyed the sound of Cameron Winter, the main vocalist. I really see his voice as a fusion of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Black Country, New Road’s former lead singer, Isaac Wood. It’s slow, but methodical. This dichotomy of sounds, in addition to the element of the south (despite being from New York), forms into a polarizing yet fantastic sound. I can’t understate how great the vocals are. Probably my favorite part of this album. Just magnificent. 

And while this is all great, I do have some flaws. The repetition of sound does get to a point. Don’t get me wrong, I do really enjoy how this album sounds sonically. It’s repetitive, and I wish there were more diversity of sound. Most of the tracks build up and play similarly, with some exceptions, like “Trinidad” or “Cobra,” for example. Even then, “Trinidad” itself doesn’t work for me, as it exemplifies this idea of boring repetition.  However, I will give the album its flowers for being avant-garde in approach. So it’s a mixed bag; I wish they experimented more, at least from what they’ve already done.

Scoring & Conclusion

Score: 8/10

Favorite Tracks: Taxes, Long City Here I Come, Bow Down

Least Favorite Tracks: Half Real, Trinidad

This album really introduced me to “Geese,” and I can say I definitely enjoyed it. I’m excited to see what comes next from them. The tracks are stuffed with varied production and orchestration, mixing into a unique serving of sounds.

The link to recommend things for me to review is here. I’m getting back in the swing of things, so I’ll continue to review content. Maybe, if it works out, the next review will be my first TV show, and it’ll be in time for Halloween. So it might take a bit longer. Thanks!