Turnstile: Never Enough

I feel like Never Enough may just be a giant troll. It sells itself as this post-hardcore mosh pit bonanza but ends up in large chunks sounding like some Frankensteining of The Police, Destroyer and something just a bit more electronic. Even, at times, throwing unidentifiable percussion sounds into the mix that can only mean to annoy the crap out of our ear holes. And some soft FM instrumentals that can only be meant to equally irritate the hardcore fans wanting more wall-of-sound guitar. A troll. 

And while I’m not a metal guy, this production has to even be over-the-top for that crowd. The absolute compressed-sounding everything. The down-the-well echo meant to just drown everything in reverb and pedals. The digressions and half weirdness. I’m not sure I’m getting what they’re putting down. This all must be intentional, though, as people freakin’ love this record. More accolades than a Honda dealership. Accords? You know what I mean. But it makes me wonder if this weird subgenre always sounds like this. Always flattens the guitars so they sound like synths. And on most songs put enough effects on the drums so they sound electronic and pong-y. I’ll never know. 

Thing is, there are a lot of elements to like here. I’m definitely not a strict hardcore guy, but I imagine some of the jazzier moments and the keyboard interludes aren’t going to thrill those people. And then there are the folks who hear the Maroon 5 nature of “Seein’ Stars” and think this band has moves like Jagger. When, in fact, that’s just the way they were apparently feeling that day. Because this isn’t an Adam Levine joint, even if it might sound like one in isolated areas. And when “Slowdive” starts out with what has to be a Black Sabbath melody you have to wonder what kind of devil is in here just messin’ with people.

But this whole album is like that dish at the ethnic restaurant that at first you’re kind of repulsed by. Or, at the very least, confused by. So you take a second forkful because you’re just not quite sure what that taste was. And then you chew it and you go from revulsion and confusion to interest. Maybe what at first you thought was sour or bitter or off is actually intentional and melds with the other flavors around it in a way that is almost good. And after a while you’re just going at it like a regular diner, realizing that you might actually enjoy this thing. Or maybe it’s not until you go back to that same restaurant and order that same meal because it intrigued and mystified you. But were also still a little confused by the whole thing. Never Enough is that for me. An album I can put on, and as long as I don’t think too hard about it and let my pet peeves and confusion get the best of me, I’ll actually find myself nodding along. Even if I’m still not convinced the whole thing isn’t a giant goof.