Goodbye Work
Self-Released, 2025
9/10
A folk/country outfit from Minnesota, The Gated Community celebrate their 2 decades of making music together with these collaborative and timeless tracks.
The flowing and warm melodies of “Hand In The Air” opens with Rosie Harris’ heartfelt and expressive voice guiding the sincerity, and “Goodbye Work” follows with Cody Johnson’s frisky voice alongside Harris’ swift banjo and no lack of vocal harmonies.
Deeper into the listen, “What I Hate” welcomes Nate Knutson’s poetic pipes amid folk friendly acoustic strumming, while “Bunker” is a fuller, intimate moment thanks to Paul Hatlelild’s skilled drums, Sumanth Gopinath’s emotive keys and Knutson’s moody guitar.
Further still, Hatlelid sings on “Petty”, which carries some bluegrass spirit and an infectious energy, and “Losing My Wages” exits with a bare and dreamy demeanor thanks to the strong attention to ambience.
An effort that’s lyrically as substantial as it is musically, the bluegrass, Americana and old-time traces sure are appreciated, as The Gated Community continue to make fans out of anyone who listens.
Travels well with: Morningbird- Echoes In The Meadow; The Jayhawks- XOXO