Turnstile : "NEVER ENOUGH"

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 One of the year's most anticipated albums. Even Charli XCX was declaring it would be Turnstile summer at Coachella. It opens with the lead single and title track, which has the hooky chant of its title as the chorus. "SOLE" is a more energetic take on pop punk, perhaps not as explosive as their old, more hardcore direction. But the kids at Coachella don't know the difference. "I CARE" is much happier, with a skip in its step, and took a few listens for me to process.; It does not have the same depth as the first two songs. The trumpet fanfare gives a more Spanish accent. This one took a few listens to grow on me, punk but on the happier side of the genre. 

The songs are short and sweet, with "LIGHT DESIGN" riding the line between where they have been and where they are going. "DULL" is fun and has more of a punch. "SUNSHOWER" is an angrier take on making happy hardcore. "LOOK OUT FOR ME" finds them dialing in Andy Summer's guitar tone in places, the overall dynamic balance between their two side might be best captured on this one. This album is more subtle than 'GLOW ON" which grabbed me on first listen. I was initially inclined to think the follow-up was not as urgent energy-wise, but I think I am going to hold off on final judgments til I have sat with this one for a minute. 

"CEILLING" is more of an interlude than an actual song. "SEEN' STARS" carries a more subtle new wave-inflected mood. There is a uniform sound to many of these songs, with varied layers of electronic ambiance dripping from it. Much like the title track, this one drifts and drones over a repetitive melody that unfolds with more layers, and this time, the guitars play a larger role in how it plays out. 'BIRDS" from synth ambiance to Bad Brains-like punk. I like the groove they find for "SLOWDIVE" which reminds me of "Sweet Leaf" and not shoegaze like its namesake. 

"TIME IS HAPPENING"  is more like the intro for the last song, which feels marginally more like more of a fully realized song than just an ambient lead-up. But it's also so atmospheric that it is almost there and rather anti-climactic. It is for this reason and the general tone of the album that "GLOW ON" was a 10, and this album is a 9.5, which still puts them at the top of the game; the hype and expectations were as viral as what happens here. 

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