Jessica Griffin’s unique songs have been a distinctive presence in indie pop for several decades. The Would-be-goods’ story began with a chance meeting with A&R man Mike Alway which led to Jessica writing sleeve notes for él Records. With his encouragement she started the Would-be-goods, recording a first album of her songs, The Camera Loves Me (1988), with The Monochrome Set as backing band. Its charming, witty take on 50s and 60s pop anticipated the genre of ‘twee pop'. In 1992, again with the Monochrome Set, she released a more exotic album, Mondo, for the label Trattoria, based in Japan, where she had developed a cult following. The 2002 album Brief Lives was recorded with Heavenly guitarist Peter Momtchiloff and friends, and the Would-be-goods began to perform live, enlisting drummer Debbie Green (Headcoatees) and bassist Lupe Nuñez-Fernández (Pipas). This line-up released The Morning After in 2004. Andy Warren (Monochrome Set), who played on the band's first two albums, took over from Nuñez-Fernández on bass for the fifth album, Eventyr (2006): the title, taken from Hans Christian Andersen, reflects the atmospheric storytelling of the songs. During the 2021 lockdown Jessica wrote and recorded a new song daily for 173 days, working with just a title supplied by Peter. Twenty of these home recordings were released as EPs on Bandcamp and later compiled on a CD, The Night Life. A new full-band album, Tears Before Bedtime, was released on Skep Wax in February 2026.
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Would-Be-Goods plays elegant jangle pop and twee pop characterized by witty lyrics and 1960s-influenced chamber arrangements released on labels like Skep Wax.
The band is fronted by singer and songwriter Jessica Griffin alongside musicians such as Peter Momtchiloff.
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