If you want to close your eyes, plug in your headphones and be able to relive memories of a light, breezy summer day, this is your album. Will Joseph Cook’s “Something to Feel Good About”’ is filled with colorful tunes that explore the intriguing topic of self-discovery. It instills hope within people, conveying that they aren’t the only ones questioning their identity and belittling their problems in a shaken world that grows seemingly colder by the day.
The first song on the album is without a doubt the most popular. If you’re ever on Tik Tok, you’ll recognize it quickly. “Be Around Me” is a cute, bouncy track where Cook switches in between his own warm voice and a playful falsetto as he sings about the thrill of a newfound love.
Following this song is the title track “Something to Feel Good About,” which really encapsulates the airy, floating vibe of the entire album. Continuing with the same light-hearted feeling, “She Likes Me” is sprinkled with sweet undertones and precocious lyrics.
As the album progresses, there seems to be more reflection voiced in each track, beginning with “Wayside.” The canorous tune gives off a more subtle emotion than the first three tracks, layered underneath innocent lyrics such as “when you worry, I’ll be the bubble wrap.”
Similar to this song is the track that follows it: “Driverless Cars.” Cook sings about feeling like he’s on auto-pilot in a relatable, harmonious way that flows over a steady electronic drum beat in the background. The drums bring out a relaxed frequency that you can’t help but groove along to.
The latter half of the album begins showing off Cook’s more reflective melodies. “Downdowndown!” embodies the pain of heartbreak within soothing vocals and a subtle electro-beat. The downbeat vibe of “21” is similar to that of the previous song, portrayed through the use of an acoustic guitar as opposed to the electronic instruments that were used throughout the album. This switch in dynamic played into Cook’s intention of listeners really contemplating the contents of his lyrics.
Finally, the last song on the album wraps up his array of thoughts on self-identity and problems everyone faces perfectly. “Last Year” concerns all the makings of a bad year, which I am sure is how many people classified last year. It borrows from both the reflective and minimalist instrumental qualities of the past few songs. The lyrics are also so down-to-earth and relatable: “Last year felt like a joke, but nobody was laughing.” It’s clear that he went through his own deal of hardships this past year, but who hasn’t?
I’ve had this album on repeat since it came out — it’s so comforting to hear such relatable lyrics over sing-song melodies that stick to your mind like glue. It’s like a mini compilation of teenage anthems. I hope in all these hard times that it can be your “Something to Feel Good About” too.
