Review by Shannon Shumaker
Music is a strange, beautiful thing. It allows artists to wear their hearts on their sleeves and open up to complete strangers while giving listeners the chance to find comfort and community in their shared experiences with someone they might not ever meet. Music at its core serves to make people feel something, and Movements have tapped into just that on their full-length debut album. On the aptly titled Feel Something, the Southern California quartet opens up in hopes that someone will connect with it.
By discussing difficult topics such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and even alzheimer’s disease in such an open and transparent manner on Feel Something, Movements are reminding listeners that they’re not alone, and they begin the journey right away with the powerful opening track, “Full Circle.” This first song documents the feeling of an empty, endless routine and the desire for something more. Touching quickly on the subject of depression, the band wastes no time establishing just what this album is about, which makes “Full Circle” an incredibly striking and vulnerable opener.
From there, Movements only continue to dive deep, delivering powerful, relatable lyrical content with stunning instrumentals. “Colorblind” stands out right away, posing the question, “Is there something wrong with me?” – a feeling that many listeners will connect with. This song touches on failed relationships and feelings of inadequacy, personifying love in sweeping metaphors and standout lines like “I’ve known its face / But only watched it leave.”
One song later comes “Daylily,” a much needed hopeful track and a promise that things will get better. Surrounded by heavy subject matter, “Daylily” actually feels like the good days that vocalist Patrick Miranda sings about in the track. Delivered alongside warm, inviting guitar work, lines like “But the sunrise will come again / And you’ll be just fine,” are very comforting. This of course contrasts beautifully with the following, “Deadly Dull,” one of the most heartbreaking songs on the album.
There’s a song for everyone on Feel Something, whether you’re still learning how to cope with your daily struggles or have finally started to figure things out. “Deep Red” is for those who find comfort in a significant other that shares their struggles. Despite the underlying fear that something bad will happen or the other person may decide to leave, “Deep Red” feels incredibly warm and comforting – it’s like a sliver of hope, a crutch to make things a bit easier. Then, contrasting with “Deep Red” is “Under The Gun,” which is spearheaded by gritty, aggressive vocals and bitter, angry lyrics.
It would be a shame to discuss the powerful lyrical content on Feel Something without also mentioning the spectacular songwriting as well, though. Throughout each track, the instrumentals serve to compliment Miranda’s vocals and further the emotional story that he weaves. Just the most subtle change in guitar tone helps to tell a story. For example, in “Under The Gun,” when Miranda sings, “I let go when the love was lost / Tried to mend, but I paid the cost,” the gritty guitar and bass are replaced with something softer to compliment the vulnerable vocals before kicking right back in. The sound of “Submerge” really does make you feel like you’re underwater, too.
Although the closing track, “The Grey” isn’t the most uplifting note to end on, an overly positive end also wouldn’t feel right for Feel Something. Instead of sugar coating things or offering false promises, “The Grey” offers listeners with some of the most personal lyricism on the album which touches on what you can do to feel better with each day. By ending with the line, “All I can do is hope for a change,” Movements offer listeners a bright future and comfort in knowing that they’re not alone.
LISTEN TO: “Colorblind” or “Daylily”
STAY CONNECTED WITH MOVEMENTS: https://www.facebook.com/MovementsCA/