Jess Grant is out with a new album called Highway 99, and one of the stand-out tracks is “Good Drugs.” This song immediately caught my attention with its clever, tongue-in-cheek lyric: “If you’re gonna do drugs, only do the good drugs, never do the bad ones, even if they’re fun.” It does raise the question, what counts as a good drug, and what counts as a bad one? Which ones make the cut and which ones need to be cut out?
Grant breaks it down simply: “If you need a needle, if you need a spoon, if it’s gonna leave you dead too soon, it’s a bad drug.” He points to mushrooms,“fungi” as an example of one of the “good drugs,” the ones that might expand your mind rather than wreck your body. (Please proceed with caution though because mushrooms do not react well with every body chemistry.) “It’s a good drug when you wake up somewhere that you know.” The lyric is both sobering and dryly funny, giving the track a unique mix of vulnerability and grit.
Musically, “Good Drugs” leans into a classic rock sound, driven by ballad-style piano chords that shine brightly across the track. There’s a melancholic edge to Grant’s vocal delivery, you can really hear the ache in his voice as he reflects on the damage drugs and alcohol have caused in his own life, and in the lives of people he loves. It’s honest and heavy, but there’s also care woven into it.
What I appreciate most is that this song doesn’t preach total abstinence. Instead, it takes a harm reduction approach, acknowledging that full sobriety isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. The song doesn’t shame people and isn’t highly critical of the behaviors of others. The message is more about knowing your limits, choosing wisely, and taking care of yourself. That nuance adds a lot of weight. The song instead focuses on self-care and self-respect and it focuses mostly on safety.
Grant’s influences include Joni Mitchell, David Bowie, Elton John, Ian Anderson, Graham Parker, Joan Jett, John Hiatt, and Steve Earle. He began writing songs in the 1970s and released his first record in 1982, and his years of songwriting shows with his talent throughout this record. His experience gives Highway 99 a grounded, lived-in sound that still manages to stay fresh and relevant even while pulling from more classic sounds.
Listen to Jess Grant’s “Good Drugs” and entire record on Spotify now:
Written by Ryan Cassata
Submit a single, here.
Submit an EP or LP, here.
Submithub Coupon. here.
The post “Good Drugs” vs. Bad Drugs? Jess Grant Breaks It Down on New Track appeared first on ROCK THE PIGEON.