In an period when rock’s uncooked spirit is all too typically filtered by way of shiny, overproduced layers, Go Time!’s X emerges as a defiant rallying cry—a report that not solely echoes the previous glories of untamed rock but additionally challenges our fashionable complacency. Within the custom of rock’s most uncompromising critics, I discover in X an album that roars, stumbles, and finally soars, pushed by the conviction of 4 battle-hardened musicians.
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Frontman Scott Niekelski, dealing with vocals, guitar, and keyboards, anchors the album with a voice that’s each rugged and honest. Alongside him, Steve Grzenia on drums and backing vocals kilos out rhythms with the type of urgency that recollects the uncooked energy of early rock ’n’ roll. Paul Schmidt’s guitar work dances between blistering solos and delicate, haunting licks, whereas Mark Marketti’s bass supplies the earthy underpinning that ties the band’s sonic narrative collectively.
The album opens with “Value Time Dedication,” a observe that instantly grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. It’s a boisterous, unrelenting opener that units the tone for what’s to comply with—a reminder of the visceral affect that rock music can ship when it refuses to compromise. The track’s relentless guitars and pounding drums evoke photographs of sweaty basement gigs and back-alley punk reveals, a far cry from the sanitized choices of latest rock radio.
Then comes “What I Wanted,” a observe that takes a detour into extra playful territory. Right here, Niekelski’s vocals soften barely, and the band toys with surprising textures—there’s even a short, virtually tongue-in-cheek look by a kazoo. It’s an audacious alternative, one which underscores Go Time!’s willingness to experiment, but it by no means detracts from the track’s inherent rock sensibility. This isn’t a calculated gimmick; it’s an embrace of the absurdities of life, laid out over a gradual, assured beat.
“Turning Tides” is a examine in brevity and affect. In simply two minutes, the observe bursts with a kinetic power that manages to encapsulate the album’s stressed spirit. It’s a brief, sharp shock of sound—a reminder that typically much less is infinitely extra when each word is honed to perfection. The observe’s concise execution is a testomony to the band’s skill to strip down their method with out sacrificing depth.
Halfway by way of the album, “Sophisticated Fact” gives a extra reflective counterpoint. The track’s layered guitars and plaintive lyrics delve into the complexities of life and relationships with a way of honesty that’s each jarring and delightful. It’s in these quieter moments that Go Time! reveals its depth, reminding us that even amidst the chaos of life’s battles, there’s a profound magnificence within the uncooked reality of our experiences.
“Broken Items,” one other standout, lays naked the emotional toll of life’s inevitable struggles. Right here, the interaction between Schmidt’s expressive guitar work and Marketti’s grounding bass creates a soundscape that’s each mournful and defiant. It’s an emotional catharsis wrapped in a hard-rock veneer, and it’s unimaginable to not be moved by its sincerity.
X is, in some ways, a love letter to the enduring energy of rock. It carries the load of Go Time!’s historical past—a historical past steeped within the gritty realities of life on the street, private well being battles, and the resilience required to beat them. In an age the place “dad rock” is commonly dismissed as relics of a bygone period, this album reminds us that true rock isn’t about age—it’s about spirit, ardour, and the refusal to bow to conference.
For these prepared to immerse themselves in its uncooked power and heartfelt authenticity, X is nothing in need of a revelation. It’s an album that calls for to be heard, its each chord a declaration of riot in opposition to the banal and the mediocre. Go Time! has delivered a report that stands as a robust reminder of what rock music can and ought to be.
Mindy McCall
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