Franklin Gotham’s “Caroline,” the standout second track from their new Good Times Bad Times EP, delivers an indie-pop gut-punch wrapped in sun-drenched melancholy. The D.C. trio channels the raw emotionality of Tom Waits through a filter of Nada Surf’s breezy vulnerability, crafting a track that feels both intimately confessional and anthemic.
With its haunting melodies and lyrics steeped in romantic aftermath, “Caroline” captures the particular ache of unresolved love – the kind that lingers like a phantom limb. The band’s signature blend of pop-infused Americana and folk-rock urgency (think The Replacements meets early Mumford & Sons) gives the track its irresistible momentum, while the wistful self-awareness in the delivery suggests Morrissey if he’d traded his trenchcoat for beachside catharsis.
A perfect distillation of Franklin Gotham’s “sunny sadness” aesthetic, “Caroline” solidifies their place as purveyors of alt-indie that’s as emotionally sharp as it is refreshingly melodic. College playlists just found their new bittersweet anthem.
Franklin Gotham’s ‘Caroline’ hits like a smile through tears—melodic, melancholic, and masterfully crafted. It’s the kind of song that lingers long after the last chord, wrapping heartbreak in sunshine and giving indie-pop its next essential anthem.
