Turnstile have spent their career building a sound that refuses to sit still. On Never Enough Versions, their fourth album, the band lean further into the noise-rock side of their hardcore roots while keeping the pop hooks sharp enough to cut through. It is a record about excess, addiction, and the pull of things that never quite fill the hole they promise to fill. The title track sets the tone: there is never enough, and the band seems to know it.
Never Enough Opens With a Warning
The album opens with “Never Enough,” a track that builds from a slow, tense crawl into a full-throttle explosion of guitar feedback and shouted vocals. It is the thesis statement, a song about craving that never stops asking for more. The chorus lands with a hook that buries itself in the ear, but the verses are where the tension lives. This is not a gentle record, and the opener makes that clear.
“Sole” follows with a lighter touch. It is the shortest track on the album at 3:25, and it feels like a breath between storms. The song leans on a melodic bassline and cleaner guitars, letting the vocals carry the emotional weight. It is a moment of clarity after the opener’s chaos, a reminder that the band can write songs that are both loud and tender.
“I Care” picks the pace back up. It is a mid-tempo burner that shows off the band’s knack for writing choruses that stick. The lyrics deal with caring too much, which is a different kind of excess than the title track’s hunger. It is a song about feeling overwhelmed by love and responsibility, and it earns its place next to the opener.
“Dreaming” is a short, punchy track that clocks in at 2:36. It is a burst of energy, all riff and drive, with little room for filler. It does not overstay its welcome, and it keeps the album moving forward without slowing down.
“Light Design” is the quietest moment on the record. At 2:10, it is a breather that lets the instruments breathe. It is a track about the way light shapes space, and it uses that metaphor to think about how small details define relationships. It is a nice change of pace, though it is not one of the album’s strongest moments.
Dull Through Sunshower
“Dull” is a track about being bored and restless at the same time. It is a slow-burning build that finds its release in a final push of energy. The title is a joke, but the song is anything but dull. It is a reminder that restlessness can be productive, even when it feels like a curse.
“Sunshower” closes the first half of the record with a burst of color. It is a track about the strange beauty of rain falling while the sun still shines, a moment of contradiction that the band captures perfectly. The chorus is the most memorable moment on the album, a hook that could anchor a radio hit if Turnstile ever decided to chase one. It is a highlight, and it sets up the heavier second half.
Look Out for Me and Ceiling
“Look Out for Me” is the longest track on the record at 6:44, and it earns its length. It is a sprawling, epic piece that shifts from quiet verses to a massive chorus. The song deals with the fear of being left behind, and it finds a way to make that fear feel communal rather than solitary. It is a track about looking after others, even when you are barely holding on yourself.
“Ceiling” is a short, atmospheric interlude. At 1:13, it is a palate cleanser, a moment of reflection before the record moves into its final stretch. It is a track about limits, both physical and emotional, and it sets a somber tone for the last few songs.
“Seein’ Stars” picks the pace back up. It is a track about seeing something beautiful in the midst of chaos, and it finds a way to make that image feel uplifting without losing the album’s sense of dread. It is a song about finding meaning in the mess, and it is one of the stronger tracks on the back half.
“Birds” is a track about freedom and escape. It is a song about wanting to fly away from everything, and it captures that longing with a melody that feels both sad and hopeful. It is a solid track, though it does not reach the heights of the album’s best moments.
Slowdive Through Magic Man
“Slowdive” is a track about drowning in memory. It is a song about the past pulling you under, and it finds a way to make that feeling feel urgent without losing its melodic charm. It is a slower track, and it gives the album a chance to breathe before the final push.
“Time Is Happening” is a short, urgent burst. It is a track about the passage of time and the way it moves faster when you are not paying attention. It is a song about being present, and it delivers that message with a sharp, direct energy. It is a strong track, though it is not one of the album’s defining moments.
“Magic Man” closes the record with a burst of energy. It is a track about the dangers of charisma and the way it can blind you to danger. It is a song about trusting the wrong people, and it ends the album on a note of warning. It is a fitting closer, a reminder that the excess of the title track is not something to be celebrated, but something to be wary of.
What Works and What Doesn’t
The album’s strengths are its hooks and its intensity. Turnstile have never been a band that plays it safe, and this record proves that they are not interested in doing so now. The hooks are the reason the record works. When they land, they land hard, and they stick in the ear long after the song ends.
The weaker moments are the tracks that feel like they are coasting. “Light Design” and “Ceiling” are competent, but they do not grab the listener the way the better tracks do. They are not bad songs, but they are the ones that get skipped on repeat listens.
The record also benefits from its sequencing. The shorter tracks act as palate cleansers, allowing the longer tracks to breathe. The album never overstays its welcome, and it keeps the listener engaged from start to finish.
“Never Enough” is a song about craving that never stops asking for more.
A Record Worth Hearing
Never Enough Versions is a strong album from a band that has been getting steadily better with each release. It is a record about excess, and it does not shy away from the contradictions that come with it. The title track sets the tone, and the rest of the album delivers on the promise.
The hooks are the stars of the show, and they are the reason this record will be remembered. The band has found a way to balance noise and melody, and it is a skill that few punk bands have mastered. This is a record that rewards repeated listens, and it will likely hold up as one of the best albums of the year.
It is not a perfect record. There are tracks that feel like filler, and there are moments where the intensity dips. But those moments are rare, and they do not detract from the overall experience.
The Verdict
Never Enough Versions is a confident, ambitious record from a band at the height of its powers. It is a record about excess, addiction, and the pull of things that never quite fill the hole they promise to fill. It is a record that knows what it wants to be, and it delivers on that promise.
The album’s highlights are numerous, and they are spread throughout the tracklist. The hooks are the stars of the show, and they are the reason this record will be remembered. The band has found a way to balance noise and melody, and it is a skill that few punk bands have mastered. This is a record that rewards repeated listens, and it will likely hold up as one of the best albums of the year.
The weaker moments are real, but they are easy to overlook. The record never overstays its welcome, and it keeps the listener engaged from start to finish. It is a record that demands attention, and it delivers on that demand.
The album’s sequencing is a strength. The shorter tracks act as palate cleansers, allowing the longer tracks to breathe. The album never overstays its welcome, and it keeps the listener engaged from start to finish. It is a record that demands attention, and it delivers on that demand.
| Track | Length |
|---|---|
| Never Enough | 4:47 |
| Sole | 3:25 |
| I Care | 3:53 |
| Dreaming | 2:36 |
| Light Design | 2:10 |
| Dull | 2:19 |
| Sunshower | 3:40 |
| Look Out for Me | 6:44 |
| Ceiling | 1:13 |
| Seein’ Stars | 3:07 |
| Birds | 2:22 |
| Slowdive | 3:33 |
| Time Is Happening | 2:07 |
| Magic Man | 3:14 |
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- Never Enough4:47
- Sole3:25
- I Care3:53
- Dreaming2:36
- Light Design2:10
- Dull2:19
- Sunshower3:40
- Look Out for Me6:44
- Ceiling1:13
- Seein' Stars3:07
- Birds2:22
- Slowdive3:33
- Time Is Happening2:07
- Magic Man3:14
