Goose
Big Modern!
At "FACE" Value: Goose Confronts the Algorithm on BIG MODERN!
Troy Bass, contributor
It’s BIG! It’s MODERN! It’s Goose’s latest studio album, BIG MODERN!, and it absolutely delivers. Coming off a massive 2025 that saw the band drop the heavily marketed, highly anticipated LP Everything Must Go, followed just months later by the surprise release of Chain Yer Dragon, Goose has skyrocketed into the stratosphere. Between headlining Madison Square Garden, selling out venues nationwide, and returning from their second-ever European tour, the band is playing like they have something to prove. The consensus is clear: they are here to stay.
BIG MODERN! marks the band’s sixth studio LP, arriving just over a decade after their debut album, Moon Cabin. The evolution in their songwriting could not be more apparent. The earthy, mystical, nature-inspired journey of Moon Cabin is a complete departure from the vibe of BIG MODERN!. The new album's cover art is bright and punchy, leaving little room for interpretation. A visual representation of taking a hyper-connected world at face value. This ties directly into the title track's most profound, central lyric: "FACE." It's a heavy word for the band right now, serving as a brilliant, multi-layered commentary. The title track, which debuted live in the fall of 2024, uses this concept to tackle modern themes of social media and the internet, exploring how our "face to face" reality is being replaced by perceptions as shallow as an endless Instagram scroll.
Other standout tracks include "Savenger," "MEDIA," and "POP." The latter two were penned by drummer Cotter Ellis and keyboardist Peter Anspach, respectively. These tracks lean into an '80s-inspired synth-pop aesthetic that mirrors the bright, punchy album artwork. However, this brightness is beautifully ironic; the subject matter is actually quite dark, exploring constant states of anxiety and the feeling of brain decay through mindless media consumption. Meanwhile, "POP" acts as a more lighthearted transitional track that keeps the musical theme intact.
The album's two singles, "Torero" and "Good2B," are also seasoned veterans of the band's live catalog. "Torero" remains a rare gem, while "Good2B" has recently entered heavy rotation. Both explore themes of existential dread and the death of identity. Guitarist and songwriter Rick Mitarotonda told Rolling Stone that "Good2B" represents finding a "personal oasis in the algorithm." This aligns perfectly with the track's brighter, danceable energy, driven by playful, bass-heavy grooves from Trevor Weekz. Conversely, "Torero" cuts deep with soaring guitar riffs and poignant lyrics suggesting that human emotions are now pre-packaged and sold back to society as entertainment.
In my opinion, the 12-minute masterpiece "SALT" serves as the album's anchor. It takes the listener on a complete journey, acknowledging the grit and reality of human existence while trying to preserve it in a world where nothing is as it seems. Finally, the closing track, "Good Times // End Times," wraps up the album with a fascinating perspective on giving into temptation, accepting humanity's fate, and casually coasting toward eventual doom.
We also see the welcome return of interlude jams, a concept first utilized on Moon Cabin but accelerated further on 2021’s Shenanigans Nite Club, where key tracks were followed by parenthetical interludes that could function as standalone pieces or extensions of the main song. BIG MODERN! takes this to the next level: interludes now follow other interludes, and the parenthesis count stacks up. Look no further than tracks like "(begin)," "(you are here)," "((savengerspell))," "(faena)," "(again)," "((nocturne))," and "(((postplace)))." My Ben Jammin’ co-host, DJ Benny D, told me he absolutely loves this complex layout. I agree, and I’ve even theorized that the layered parentheses represent different frequencies, nodding back to the album’s technological themes. It also helps stretch the record to an ironically exact and hilariously self-aware 69 minutes, a detail the band has playfully acknowledged.
Ultimately, the album's storytelling is perfectly packaged, executing the band's vision to a T. Musically, we get a fantastic blast from the past with synth-pop elements and funky basslines, balanced by head-banging rock riffs and shredding guitar work that cuts straight to the heart of modern-day turmoil. It’s a struggle we can all relate to, and given the album's message, maybe it’s time we all consider changing our habits?
BIG MODERN! Track Listing:
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(begin)
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Big Modern!
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Savenger
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(you are here)
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((savengersspell))
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Good2B
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MEDIA
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Torero
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(faena)
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POP
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SALT
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(again)
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Good Times // End Times
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((nocturne))
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(((postplace)))