Splitting her childhood between England and Singapore, lead vocalist and songwriter
Jessica Griffin would go on to form
the Would-Be-Goods in the late '80s after a chance meeting with
the Monochrome Set's
Mike Alway. The meeting turned into
Griffin writing songs and album liner notes on commission for El Records. Eventually, the relationship would allow
Griffin the opportunity to record an album of her own penetrating, entirely British pop narratives with
the Monochrome Set backing her as
the Would-Be-Goods. With the release of the landmark
The Camera Loves Me in 1988,
Griffin and her band (the lineup of which included her sister
Miranda) were catapulted into the upstart twee pop movement, even though they suffered from lack of promotion. Worse, as the band never performed live,
Griffin fell into obscurity and didn't record another album for five years, returning with
Mondo in 1992. After working in the fashion world for a few years,
Griffin would return to front a new
Would-Be-Goods lineup (including seminal twee pop guitarist
Peter Momtchiloff, formerly of
Heavenly) with 2002's
Brief Lives and a series of live dates as a fantastic return to form. For 2004's
The Morning After, drummer
Debbie Green (formerly of
Thee Headcoatees) and bassist
Lupe Nunez-Fernández (of
Pipas) were added to the lineup. Upon
Nunez-Fernández's departure from the band,
Andy Warren (who as a member of
the Monochrome Set had played with
the Would-Be-Goods) joined and helped the band record 2008's excellent
Eventyr album.
–
Matt Fink & Tim Sendra, Rovi