GOOD KIDS

Introducing Good Kids, a new project from 4 dads best known as members of the rock band, Army of Freshmen. The debut album from Good Kids includes 14 high-spirited, multi genre songs centered around the important milestones and experiences that shape a young child’s life.

For years the band members of Army of Freshmen harbored a plan to one day record a children’s music record. As many of them became parents at a relatively older age they would often discuss how they were seeing great subject matter for songs happening right in front of them. While knee deep in raising young children themselves, and with the pandemic forcing them off the road, the band members decided it was finally time to make the children’s music album they had always wanted to.

Concentrating on influential and relatable experiences in a child’s life like the first day of school, struggling with sports, losing training wheels, and having a new sibling, all the songs on the debut album are told from a kid’s perspective and carry a sense of hope and encouragement.

“We didn’t aim for a specific age group when we started but we found we were all drawn to writing about experiences that happen during that transition from toddler to young kid.”, explains Good Kids band member, Chris Jay. “It seems like every day at that age is an adventure and every event is a new milestone. Even as adults, the memories from that period stay with you and have a profound effect on who you become and what you believe.” 

Opening the album is the infectious title track “Good Kids”, a get your day started anthem that’s full of hope and excitement. The universal mixed feelings a child experiences on the first day of school is explored on the folky and touching “Tell The Teacher Hi” and the hooky hip-hop inspired “If I Had Super Powers” is the story of a daydreaming, superhero obsessed kid who plans out what he’d do with exactly 24 hours of powers. “PB&J” is a hilarious ode to the classic sandwich from a misunderstood super fan while “Dear Mom and Dad (I Need A Dog)” is an impassioned rocker about a dog loving kiddo who pens a heartfelt letter to their parents laying out the all pros-no cons of getting a pet. On the flip side, the ragtime inspired “I’m Not Sure I Want A Baby Brother” is the story of a child concerned about the changes coming with a new family addition and features a surprise ending. 

 “Sports”, a sing-along rocker, is from the perspective of a kid who, let’s just say, is not athletically inclined until one game when a fateful moment changes it all. “Nightmare” is a piano ballad about a not-so-good universal kid experience and on the opposite side of the musical spectrum, the punk themed “Treasure Hunt” is about the high stakes of backyard exploration. The poppy “My First Valentine” tells the innocent story of a first crush and the one Valentine’s Day card created to rule them all. The anthemic “Starting A Band” comes from a music loving kid and his quest to find others that are ready to answer the call… to rock. “Sick Day” is a doo-wop song about a bedridden day off and the hard rocking “Training Wheels” celebrates that defining moment when a little kid becomes a big kid. Closing out the album is “Good Night, Good Kids” a heartfelt, end of the day song to let you know it’s been a great day, you’re a great kid and there are more adventures to come.

Along with the self-titled debut, the band members also created an engaging new web series Good Kids, a visual companion where the learning and encouraging aspect of the band’s music continues. Each episode offers an educational and fun overview of one of the album’s songs subjects and they are all available on the Good Kids YouTube channel. The episodes are hosted by a different band member, and they feature an interview with a “real” good kid as well as some comical vignettes of the band taking on the subject themselves from sports to going to school to starting a band. 

 While Good Kids is a brand-new project for the four lifelong friends and music industry vets, their goal with the new project is a simple one according to Jay. 

“Making children’s music is more personally rewarding than anything I’ve been involved with musically. I really think success would be knowing there’s an 6 year old riding a bike in a neighborhood somewhere in the world humming along to a Good Kids song. To be one kid’s soundtrack for an important moment or period in their life, can’t think of anything more meaningful.”