Review

By Ben Avery | 30/06/2026

There are debut albums that cautiously introduce an artist, and then there's The Go-Jo Variety Show, a gloriously overstuffed, candy-coloured explosion that barrels through the speakers with all the subtlety of a confetti cannon. After spending the past two years charming the internet, dominating TikTok and becoming Eurovision's most deliciously eccentric export since a dancing banana, Go-Jo has finally delivered a debut that embraces chaos rather than trying to tame it. From the opening moments, Marty Zambotto proves he understands exactly what makes Go-Jo tick. These songs are unapologetically big, bursting with hooks that refuse to leave your head and choruses seemingly engineered to soundtrack festival singalongs and late-night drives alike. Pop is often criticised for playing it safe, but The Go-Jo Variety Show thrives because it rarely sits still long enough to become predictable. Of course, the already-beloved singles are here. Eurovision anthem "Milkshake Man" remains every bit as gloriously ridiculous and irresistibly catchy as it was on first listen, while viral breakthrough "Mrs Hollywood" still sparkles with effortless charisma. "Supersonic", "Nervous" and "Sweat" continue the momentum, showcasing Go-Jo's knack for marrying slick production with melodies that lodge themselves permanently in your brain. But it's the deeper cuts where the album really earns its stripes. "Rainbow Woman" is a genuine standout, building from breezy pop into an euphoric climax complete with an outrageously satisfying saxophone solo that feels like the moment the whole record finally lets loose. Elsewhere, "Turn the Music Down", "Loverman", "Sunday" and "You Got It Hey" prove there's far more depth here than the novelty label some critics have lazily attached to Go-Jo since Eurovision. Musically, the record bounces between glossy pop, funk, indie flourishes and disco grooves without ever feeling disjointed. Instead, it mirrors the personality Go-Jo has cultivated online: playful, unpredictable and impossible to dislike. Every transition feels like another curtain rising on a different act in the same wonderfully bizarre show. If there's a criticism, it's that The Go-Jo Variety Show occasionally mistakes relentless energy for pacing. At 16 tracks, a little restraint could have elevated the emotional peaks even further. Yet that's almost beside the point. This is an album designed to entertain first and overthink later. For an artist who built his reputation on personality as much as punchy pop songwriting, Go-Jo has achieved the hardest trick of all: he's made a debut that lives up to the hype. Weird, joyful and bursting with confidence, The Go-Jo Variety Show doesn't just introduce Australia's newest pop star, it throws him centre stage under the brightest spotlight imaginable.