The anticipated second full-length album from the SoCal Post Punk outlet, Movements is set for release on Friday, September 18th through Fearless Records.
Looking back, it has been three years since Movements crash landed onto the scene with their 2017 debut album Feel Something. In the time since the band was first conceived, they have done a lot of living and growing up. Vocalist Patrick Miranda states, “I’ve learned a lot about myself in the last five years. Those lessons influenced my writing style in terms of how I incorporate my experiences into the lyrics. There’s more I want to be able to portray. There are more themes I want to talk about. Our preferences have changed. The changes come through the records.”
These thoughts in mind, “In My Blood” introduces us to a stripped version of Movements. Featuring haunting melodies and vocals that lull you into tranquility, soon after, you are thrown into the fire with “Skin To Skin.” Rightfully picked as one of the key singles, “Skin To Skin” feels like a paintbrush to the skin covering you with chugging riffs and hypnotic beats that remain with you long after it is done. Side note, the band joking it is the ‘horniest song they’ve ever written.’
Moving on, “Don’t Give Up Your Ghost” is guaranteed to also get stuck in your head with its repetitive mantra and catchy moments. An obvious pick for the first single, it captures the spirit of the record while confronting the darkness of suicide and the hopelessness that accompanies that sinking feeling. “It’s told from the perspective of a person who is dealing with a friend who confides that he or she has attempted to kill themselves” Miranda said. “However, this person has been there as well and has even made suicide attempts too. The person tries to console the friend and let them know they’re not alone. It’s about giving up when there’s so much more the world can offer. Even though you’re in a certain place right now, it doesn’t mean you’re going to be in the same place forever.”
Words to ponder, the album as a whole drips with sincerity and a full-bodied sound that shows maturity. Similar to Feel Something, No Good Left To Give has songs that feel like hits to the gut in the most beautiful way possible. For example, tracks like “Tunnel Vision,” “Garden Eyes,” and “12 Weeks” all give off an immense energy that could fill a room tenfold. Additionally, they all share battles of mental illness, despair, and sacrifice. This is while “Living Apology” is a tale on fragility and “Santiago Peak” is a soaring love letter to their hometown.
Then there are songs like “Seneca” which is a buzzing distorted story of love loss calling out to the one that got away. Equally compelling, “Moonlight Lines” is passionate with an overlay of spoken word monologue about feeling alive before the soothing title-track takes you on a piano laden journey. Lastly, “Love Took The Last Of It” wraps things up beautifully with the notion of finding your place amongst life’s curveballs.
A natural follow up to Feel Something, No Good Left To Give is the perfect representation of Movements’ growth across varying layers. Reflecting on their evolution, both as people and as musicians, Movements wanted to reveal the emotional turmoil of relationships, loss, and intimacy while emphasizing mental health. Accomplishing such, this album is a heartfelt story that touches on life’s epic highs and grittiest lows. Furthermore, it showcases the band’s ambition and dedication to being as honest as humanly possible with their audience.
This album is like Feel Something’s moodier older sibling. It represents Movement’s evolution while tackling all of their dark, messy parts, but while still managing to illuminate glimpses of hope. In a time when many are burdened with feelings they cannot express, No Good Left To Give says the words they cannot. That is why Cryptic Rock gives this album 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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