Feel Something - Movements
Have you ever been walking on a cold and cloudy winter day and just felt the emptiness and meaninglessness of life? if so, Movements is for you in the best way. There is a certain comfort in the sound of this genre of music. For so many people, the angst that is a hallmark of the teenage experience turns existential as we age into adulthood. While that all sounds sappy, it feels so true when experiencing a band like this in person and watching as the crowd moves and cries to these tracks.
For Movements, this 2017 album Feel Something cemented them into the modern scene of emo and post-hardcore acts alongside bands like Pierce the Veil and La Dispute. It is their first full length project that became a success shortly after release and got a resurgence of relevance nearly ten years later due to sweeping communities across social media.
The first track we get that opens us into the ideas of the album is track, "Full Circle", which is a piece that paints a picture of unrest and angst:
Toss and turn in this concrete bed
And in the morning I'll try again
Pray for something to ease my dread
End up with trembling limbs instead
and continues with how endless being hopeless often feels:
It comes in waves and I'm pulled below
It's not subjective, it's clinical
Drown myself in the undertow
Of all my imbalanced chemicals
And the cycle comes full circle
This is a strong start to this project that continues into the next two tracks that explore the insecurities that can ruin a good relationship or that can keep you in a bad one. The production on these first tracks are dark and gritty with the vocals that speak to that looming angst for life that is so present in this genre. Luckily though we are given a break from the dark with our first hopeful and definitely the most popular track "Daylily".
The lyrics here approach the good things to look forward in life, this track speaks directly to the listener this time and provides a new perspective to have looking forward- reminding us of the good times that will come again.
And I think it's time you had a pink cloud summer
'Cause you've gone too long without a smile
I think it's time you found another reason to stay for a while
You should stay for a while
The production here is more upbeat and clean without feeling out of place with the other track in this album. the vocals are clearer and and more confident, and this leads to this track being very sing-alongable especially in concert where everyone knows all the words and are focused on being present with the band.
The next few tracks here continue building on what has been said and felt so far and they are pleasant enough in the album as part of the experience however not as memorable and unique as we've had up into this point. This changes with the second break in the moodiness with the track "Fever dream", an acoustic track with soft vocals that is filled with melancholy and blues.
As we start to wind down this album, my favorite track is the second to last one called "Submerge". Starting with slower pace that builds into a grand showcase of emotions. We start with simple guitar and vocals and layer on the the drums and bass. The thing that i really like about this one is that no one part of it feels overwhelming or demands too much attention. With lyrics like,
If I took it back and tried again
Would these themes repeat in my head?
Settle for a failure in the end But these words still feel like drowning to me
An elegy is all I'll ever be
we get a reflection on all the emotions that have been portrayed up until this point. We are asked to question on the value of sitting and ruminating in our emotions if it all it leads to just drowning in our thoughts. A poignant thought that reminds us that we must also live in the world instead of just lamenting over it.
Overall this album is such a strong start for Movements that created a fanbase that will prove to grant them a foothold in the scene. I would say that anyone should give this album a chance, but its best experienced first alone with headphones, but then you should experience the tracks on here by going to their show and observing just how much community there can be when someone feels seen.
Because as it turns out, we are all alone in the world together.
8/10