I have some fallbacks when it comes to listening to music. If I ever don’t know what to listen to, I revert back to early 2000’s pop-punk. Although this isn’t a fault (because let’s be honest, the pop-punk from that era is pure gold), it’s something I’m trying to avoid this year. My goal is to spend more time with new music rather than my old nostalgic playlist so, when I woke up this morning and put my fallback playlist on, I knew it was a day I should fill with some new music and, after listening to “Jamie All Over” by Mayday Parade for the fifth time today, I knew it was time. Come on Goings, no pressure or anything, but work some magic and get me out of this nostalgia-filled cloud!
“Phone Numbers” took over my house and I was instantly intrigued. This opening tracked seemed to blend everything I love about math-rock (which isn’t much if I’m being honest) with a more classic indie rock sound. Maybe it was just because of my morning binge of nostalgic pop-punk but I was also getting some of those old-school vibes in this opening track. Regardless of the influences that can be heard throughout this track, it’s obvious that Goings has a sound that’s super original and distinct while being somewhat familiar. I loved it and this all-too-quick opening track already had me sold on this band and this album.
The beginning of “W Blue-Sky Lives” has a dark tone to it but, within no time, I was being reminded of Motion City Soundtrack. The dizzying lines of notes played on multiple instruments at once was full of energy. Even when the more hushed vocals came in and slowed things down a little bit, there was no lack of energy. The chorus of this track made this one an instant favorite of mine. Full of energy and an ear-wormy dizzy of notes, this track had me at hello and got a few listens before I was able to move onto “Trying/Dying”.
I feel like every song so far on this album has just drawn me in with such ease and “Trying/Dying” is no different. The beat takes a bit more of a light-hearted feel which is only enhanced by the sound of a woodblock. I feel like you really hear the depth of the vocal talent in this track. Although it’s clear on the previous songs, it really just comes to the forefront. The vocals are versatile and never seem to stay in one style very long. Just like the vocals, the styles between tracks shift dramatically and the shift into “Haircut 1000” is no different. The tempo lays back and the whole vibe of the song is just a little jazzier and less calculated feeling.
“It’s For You” is not only the title track of this album, but it’s also another favorite of mine. There’s a sensitivity with the words and complicated guitar patterns in this track that I hadn’t heard previously. I adore how the feeling of this track changes depending on what you’re focusing on. If you’re focusing on the lyrics, it’s a heartbreaking song full of emotion but, if you’re focusing on the guitar work, it’s a dazzling pattern of notes that whisks you away from your own head. I really enjoyed that this track was followed up with the thirty-nine-second “palate cleanser” that is “Voicemail”. This quick snippet is haunting but it also gives you a chance to catch your breath before the band comes back in full force with “Nothing Without You”.
“Nothing Without You” is one of those songs that has mass appeal to it. It’s a great song, don’t get me wrong, but I feel like the band just kind of toned down the dizzying guitar work and emotion with this track. That being said, the ay it leads into the slower track “Elevator” is pure magic. “Elevator” had me drifting off within minutes. Something about the vocals and the bass line just brought me a strong sense of calm that I didn’t realize I needed right now, but was thankful to get. At five and a half minutes, I kept waiting for something to happen in this track and was a little bummed when it stayed pretty flatlined until I was caught off guard by the epic ending. It was everything I had wanted in this track, it just took a while to get there.
“Algorithm (Aidan’s Odyssey)” is another five-plus minute song that ends this album beautifully. Again, this track was a bit more flatlined than the beginning of this album but it works because Goings still puts their unique spin on the track. This one faded out and left me (and the cats) in silence but it wasn’t long before I started digging into more tracks from Goings to re-soundtrack my house with their original sound.
My Favorite Track(s): “W Blue-Sky Lives”; “It’s For You”
For Fans Of: Mathrock; Subtle nods to pop-punk bands of years gone by; Dizzying guitar work
Daydream-ability: 5 out of 10
What My Cats Thought Of It: Artie laid right next to my arms; Autumn tried to eat the tape off of the Chewy box that just got delivered
How Badly I Want To See This Performed Live: 7 out of 10
My Overall Rating: 7.2 out of 10
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