Good Riddance (EP) - Marc Rangel (R&B) Marc Rangel returns to our blog for the fourth time with their long awaited EP “Good Riddance”—a follow up to 2021’s EP “all’s well that ends well”. In their latest effort, Marc delivers a cohesive project with a clear message and throughline that had us thoroughly impressed. We’ve had the opportunity to review three of the tracks from this EP previously, and we’re happy to say that the remaining tracks are just as strong as those that came before, fleshing out the storyline of someone toying with the idea of rekindling things with a former lover, only to realize they are too damn pretty to be dealing with that mess and moving on. In a prior review, we closed by telling Marc “go off!”. With “Good Riddance” we repeat: go off!
LA-based singer/songwriter Marc Rangel hails from West Covina, California, delivering R&B music that offers a fresh perspective through detailed songwriting. “Good Riddance” highlights Marc’s skills as a lyricist, having written every track, telling a tell described by Marc as a topic of betrayal and self confidence.
Throughout, the lyrics are stellar, memorable and deliver a clear point of view. Further, aside from just storytelling in the track, the overall sequence of the project also tells a story, starting with missing a lover, to toying around with getting back with them, then being disappointed in what they have\ to offer, before finally leaving them. This overall story arch, in combination with those excellent lyrics and infectious beats, makes this R&B project a straight through listen.
Kicking off with “Song Cry” we start with bitterness, as Marc tells this former lover to basically f**k all the way off. Like the rest of the project, “Song Cry” delivers lyrical excellence that makes this cut a repeat listen.
“Not My Business” takes things into a bit of soul, led by a melancholy piano where Marc starts to recognize that their former lover is actually still interested. Forever in their power, Marc decides to let them come over. This is our favorite track.
In “Love You Down”, the former lover has indeed come over and Marc is ready to get down. “If You Miss Me” shows that this love making has now gotten into Marc’s head—they are catching feelings. It’s a bittersweet song of regret and forgiveness, where Marc drops the confidence and bravado for just a moment to see the raw emotion—the cracks in the armor.
The hazy and sultry “Closure” remains vulnerable, as Marc suggests that they and their lover bookend the relationship with some resolve. Marc needs it, and hopes that their lover can provide it. This is a Jazmine Sullivan feeling cut. In “Knew Better” we learn that the lover couldn’t deliver that closure, in a track that feels like a requiem. In album closer “Too Damn Pretty”, we continue those Jazmine vibes with a return to confidence, where Marc realizes they are too good to be dealing with this mess.
A relatable opus, we find it fitting that Marc tells us they need closure, and ultimately supplies it themselves.