Caleb De Casper outdoes himself on single “Good Boy,” an infectious, danceable gem about a fatal same-sex attraction.

Who is Caleb De Casper? He’s an artist you need to check out – that’s who! He describes himself as “glamour horror.” Based on his single, “Good Boy,” that seems like an accurate description.  His bio goes on to state the following:

He currently haunts the clubs and venues of ATX, digging out of trash cans and eating raw meat.

Wow – just wow.  He sounds like one hell of a personality.  Or better yet, he just sounds hellish.  It makes the music captivating, to say the least!

“Good Boy”

“Good Boy” kicks off with incredible zip.  Hard-hitting, danceable drums initiate things before the full-fledged, spirited production work truly sets the tone.  From the start, it seems that Caleb De Casper has a clear set of goals – objectives he wants the listeners to take away.  One of those objectives is a sense of the theatrical.  Often, when we listen to a record, we can picture a visual in our minds, whether or not there’s an accompanying video clip.  In the case of “Good Boy,” De Casper lyrically and vocally paints a picture that the listener can view in their mind.

Another objective of De Casper is delivering throwback vibes.  While there are plenty of interesting elements in modern music, some of the best inspiration remains the past.  De Casper captures this perfectly on “Good Boy,” describing it as a reincarnation of the disco era, with …music that says, ‘I just came here to dance.’  Definitely, he checks off that box.

Another objective is the concept – the theme of “Good Boy.”  According to De Casper, “the lyrics tell the story of a fatal same-sex attraction.” Woo! That’s deep! Lyrically, he accomplishes his tale, with nuanced vocals to match.  The Fatal Attraction hits listeners early on in the first verse, as De Casper sings:

“Tell me I’m the only one, who can turn you on / Even though we always ride around with your feelings off.  / Tell me I’m the only one who can light your fire / Even though the way that you act, leaves my matches tired.”

Killed it. He brings it all together on the chorus, which is infectious…in a somewhat creepy, sort of way!

“I can be your good boy (I can be your good boy) / You make me a bad boy (you make me a bad boy).”

Lyrically, the chorus may not be poetic, but it gets the job done, perfectly capturing the obsession which De Casper has established narratively.  That obsessiveness continues on the second verse, growing more intense with its suggestiveness.

“Tell me I’m the only one who can make you scream / When we’re lying underneath the sheets and you’re not being mean.”

Suggestive it may be, De Casper keeps classy, which is part of the charm.  He doesn’t have to cross the line to effectively illustrate his point.  Finally, the profession of love arrives, courtesy of a familiar phrase: “I love you.”

Final Thoughts

All in all, Caleb De Casper has something here.  “Good Boy” is enjoyable from the jump, easily maintaining the listener’s interest throughout its course.  It is well produced, thanks to its danceable beat, strings, piano, synths and 70s cues.  Vocally, De Casper delivers a compelling, energetic performance.

Credits:

Released May 16, 2017; Music and lyrics by Caleb De Casper; Audio Engineering by Louie Lino of Resonate Studios, Austin TX; Mastering by Evan Kleinecke of Fifth Street Studios, Austin TX

Caleb De Casper • Good Boy – single • Caleb De Casper • Release: 5.16.17

Photo Credit: Cover Art by Keith Womak