Good Riddance prep new LP 'Thoughts and Prayers,' share "Our Great Divide"
Santa Cruz punk vets Good Riddance reformed in 2012 and released the very solid comeback album Peace In Our Time in 2015, and now they’re set to release a second reunion album, Thoughts and Prayers, on July 19 via Fat Wreck Chords (pre-order). As you might expect from an album title like that (and from Good Riddance in general), it’s a political album that’s well suited for our current trying times, but it’s not your typical, predictable anti-Trump album. “I don’t particularly want to write about a person, but I’m keen to write about the undercurrent and political and social climate that could bring about the ascension of somebody like that—because I feel like, unfortunately, that’s going to be more timeless,” singer Russ Rankin says. He later adds, “Just because you can’t see tangible change right in front of your face doesn’t mean that it’s not happening. You don’t know the positive effect you can change in the world by just sort of pushing against reality every day, pushing against the arbitrary boundaries that are set up for us by the status quo. That’s what keeps us going.”
The album was produced by longtime collaborators Bill Stevenson (of Descendents, Black Flag) and Jason Livermore, and lead single “Our Great Divide” is exactly the kind of pissed-off, melodic punk ripper you’d hope for from Good Riddance. “This is a comment about the divisive, polarized impasse humanity finds itself at, as we face incalculable challenges to our planet, and our future,” Rankin says about the song. Listen below.
Good Riddance also have European tour dates (and one Canadian date) coming up, and they’re promising more dates TBA. All currently announced dates are listed below.
Tracklist
1. Edmund Pettus Bridge
2. Rapture
3. Don’t Have Time
4. Our Great Divide
5. Wish You Well
6. Precariat
7. No King But Caesar
8. Who We Are
9. No Safe Place
10. Pox Americana
11. Lo Que Sucede
12. Requisite Catastrophes
Good Riddance — 2019 Tour Dates
02 Aug in Biarritz, France @ Festi Lasai
05 Aug in Lindau, Germany @ Club Vaudeville
06 Aug in Tolmin, Slovenia @ Punk Rock Holiday
07 Aug in Zwiesel, Germany @ Jugendcafe
08 Aug in Leipzig, Germany @ Werk 2 – Kulturfabrik Leipzig
09 Aug in Berlin, Germany @ SO36
10 Aug in Hamburg, Germany @ Hafenklang
11 Aug in Eindhoven, Netherlands @ Blue Collar Hotel
13 Aug in Igea Marina, Italy @ Bay Fest
14 Aug in Zurich, Switzerland @ Dynamo
16 Aug in Stemwede, Germany @ Stemweder Open Air
17 Aug in Vyskov, Czech Republic @ Pod Parou Festival
13 Sep in Winnipeg, MB, Canada @ Park Theatre
