After nearly fours years since their last release, Turnstile has returned with their fourth studio album NEVER ENOUGH, accompanied by a 50-minute film that premiered in theaters across the country on June 5th. The record is their first since founding member Brady Ebert departed the band in 2022 and was replaced by guitarist Meg Mills.
Ever since streaming platforms took over in the early 2010’s, the music industry transformed entirely. Listenership became more personalized, playlists replaced albums and “genre” as a concept has become indescribable.
Although a “genreless” space for music makes it more difficult to categorize, it allows the artist to create freely without the fear of having to fit within a specific sound.
On NEVER ENOUGH, Turnstile blends numerous sounds ranging from brash punk rock to colorful ambient instrumentals while maintaining a consistent soundscape from track one-to-fourteen.
The record kicks off with the title track “NEVER ENOUGH”, which was released as the lead single to the album on April 8th. The track establishes a strong melancholic motif of loss of self-worth and honesty that is sprinkled throughout the entire record. The echoey “never enough” refrain, hypnotic guitar riffs and synth-lines sounds like the feeling of sitting on the beach on a warm summer day as your toes dry up in the sand after a long day catching waves.
The band reminds the audience why they are currently regarded as one of the best punk-rock bands in the world on tracks like “SOLE,” “DREAMING,” “DULL,” “BIRDS” and “SLOWDIVE.” While each track features hard-edged electric guitar melodies, the vulnerable songwriting sets the collective apart from other punk acts. If any of these songs are played on their upcoming European tour, the crowd will be sent into an outburst.
There are multiple genre-bending tunes on the album, including the nearly seven-minute rollercoaster of “LOOK OUT FOR ME.” The song kickoffs with intense guitar riffs that are enhanced with timely drum breaks. As the guitars and drums disappear, they are replaced by an infectious synthloop that transforms into a house instrumental that provides an unexpected groove to the record.
“SEEIN’ STARS” includes a funky rhythm that somehow works out perfectly while blending in a memorizing guitar melody that will place any listen in a trance. The track features background vocals from Paramore’s Haley Williams, who is dating lead singer Brendan Yates.
The album concludes with a heartfelt goodbye on “MAGIC MAN.” Yates provides a sense of letting go to allow for change internally and his relationships. The stripped back production is taken over by his attention grabbing vocals that tie a stunning bow on the record.
NEVER ENOUGH will be remembered as one of the most important and impressive “rock” albums of the 2020’s. As the genre struggles to reinvent and redefine its sound and subject matter, Turnstile will continue to push the needle for what it means to be a “rock band” in the modern age of the music industry.
