Goose Everything Must Go
Goose's Everything Must Go arrives as a self-aware bridge between road-tested jamcraft and studio ambition, and the record's high points answer the question of whether Everything Must Go is worth listening to. Across three professional reviews, critics consistently point to handfuls of standout songs that carry the album - notably “Dustin Hoffman”, “Give It Time” and “Your Direction” - as the moments where the band's melodic gifts and live energy cohere into vivid songcraft.
The critical consensus, reflected in a 76.67/100 score across three reviews, praises the album's arrangements and nostalgic lineage while also noting lyrical awkwardness and occasional studio overreach. Reviewers repeatedly highlight how tour-tested material and horn and synth accents lift tracks: PopMatters emphasizes “Give It Time” and “Your Direction” for their restorative and breezy 1970s nods, Glide Magazine celebrates the live-minded propulsion of “Dustin Hoffman” and the triumphal tone of “Give It Time”, and Rolling Stone points to “Dustin Hoffman” and “Red Bird” as luminous peaks even as it flags meandering lyrics. Critics agree that the record balances jam-band tradition with clearer studio ambitions, cataloguing fan favorites while nudging toward mainstream polish.
While some reviewers find parts of the album uneven - especially in phrasing and lyrical focus - the broader verdict is favorable: the collection's standout tracks make Everything Must Go a rewarding listen for existing fans and a reasonable entry point for newcomers. Below, the assembled professional reviews unpack how these highlights position the album within Goose's catalog and the ongoing tension between live improvisation and studio refinement.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Give It Time
2 mentions
"the uplifting "Give It Time" speaks to the restorative power of music"— PopMatters
Everything Must Go
1 mention
"The LP’s eponymous opening track immediately establishes newest member Cotter Ellis as a musical focal point"— Glide Magazine
Dustin Hoffman
3 mentions
"New album cuts like "Dustin Hoffman" and "Iguana Song" provide a framework"— PopMatters
the uplifting "Give It Time" speaks to the restorative power of music
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Everything Must Go
Give It Time
Dustin Hoffman
Your Direction
Thatch
Lead Up
Animal
Red Bird
Atlas Dogs
California Magic
Feel It Now
Iguana Song
Silver Rising
How It Ends
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 4 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
The stately, conversational critic in me hears Goose framing Everything Must Go as both archive and launchpad, and the album’s best songs - notably “Give It Time” and “Your Direction” - exemplify that push. The reviewer's voice celebrates how “Give It Time” channels restorative power and how “Your Direction” leans into breezy 1970s soft rock, making them the clear best tracks on Everything Must Go. There is admiration for how studio touches - synths, horns, nature sounds - perfect familiar jams without overcooking them, which helps these standout songs land for newcomers and devotees alike.
Key Points
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The best song, "Give It Time", is best because it captures restorative, uplifting songwriting and hints at live possibilities.
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The album’s core strengths are tight, intricate jams translated well to studio form and tasteful embellishments that broaden appeal.
Themes
Critic's Take
In his amused-but-critical voice, David Browne finds the best tracks on Everything Must Go where Goose briefly escape the safe jam-band fold. He praises “Dustin Hoffman” for its high-flying solos and commends “Silver Rising” for an unexpectedly creepy, electronica-tinged edge. Browne also singles out “Red Bird” as a luminous, parental ballad that resembles Goose’s own "Box of Rain," even as he flags lyrical meandering elsewhere. The result is an album with clear high points - those standout songs are why listeners search for the best tracks on Everything Must Go and the best songs on Everything Must Go.
Key Points
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“Dustin Hoffman” is best for its soaring, high-flying guitar solos that showcase studio ambition.
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The album’s strengths are melodic highlights and occasional adventurous production that push the band beyond jam-band comfort.
Themes
Critic's Take
In a celebratory and sometimes wry voice the reviewer argues that Goose's Everything Must Go is at its best when it leans into sprawling, live-minded jams - tracks like “Dustin Hoffman” and “Your Direction” emerge as the best tracks on Everything Must Go, marrying funky grooves and Fleetwood Mac-tinged breeziness. The critique highlights “Give It Time” as a triumphant statement of progress and roots, while praising the eponymous opener for showcasing Cotter Ellis's percussive prowess. Overall the reviewer positions these standout songs as proof that the band has returned to its jam-band instincts, producing the best songs on the album through vivid production and road-tested arrangements.
Key Points
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“Dustin Hoffman” is best for its surprise shift from funky '70s strut to horn-laden adult-contemporary chorus.
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The album’s core strengths are its return to jam-band dynamics, strong horn arrangements, and polished studio production mixed with road-tested material.