Never Enough cover

Never Enough

Released

This follow-up to 2021’s breakthrough GLOW ON finds Baltimore hardcore quintet Turnstile at a crossroads. The level of visibility it brought was unusual at this level for any rock band in the 2020s. Founding guitarist Brady Ebert left in its wake. Turnstile’s music has become further away than ever from hardcore orthodoxy, and on first listen, NEVER ENOUGH sounds unsure of itself and at times like a retread of past glories. But the album’s array of strengths is revealed after multiple listens. After it sinks in, NEVER ENOUGH evokes a meditative state, luxuriating in ambivalence, grief and uncertainty. Tracks like “SUNSHOWER” and “LOOK OUT FOR ME,” structured as a punk-inspired first half and a second that heightens ambience and electronics, pulling into focus and sounding deliberate rather than meandering. Album highlight “LIGHT DESIGN” does both simultaneously, riding waves of modulated guitar to a post-hardcore dream pop hybrid. Turnstile appears not to know where to go, but fuels some of their best music with that doubt, and standing still is working out fine for the moment.

Joshua Levine

Recommended by

Suggestions
Elephant cover

Elephant

The White Stripes
The  Good Is a Big God cover

The Good Is a Big God

Domenico Lancellotti
Evil Heat cover

Evil Heat

Primal Scream
Precious Art cover

Precious Art

Rozwell Kid
Wolf Songs for Lambs cover

Wolf Songs for Lambs

Jonathan Fire*Eater
Black Love cover

Black Love

The Afghan Whigs
Bay Dream cover

Bay Dream

Culture Abuse
Marigold cover

Marigold

Pinegrove
Big Blue cover

Big Blue

Dead Soft
Time Indefinite cover

Time Indefinite

William Tyler