"NOT ON STRINGS ANYMORE. IT'S THESE THINGS THAT I LIVE FOR: MY LONELY DEZIRES. NOT MACHINE ANYMORE, IT'S THESE DREAMS THAT I LIVE FOR. MY LONELY DEZIRES GLOW ON..." - LONELY DEZIRES, TURNSTILE
When Turnstile announced that they would be doing a pop up in Los Angeles for their new record “Glow On” it was a no brainer to attend. When we found out the band was hosting the pop up at the skate & street wear company Babylon LA (private skatepark out back & all) founded by members of legendary hardcore punk band Trash Talk, and that one of our all time favorite vegan restaurants Burgerlords would be gracing everyone with food it was imperative that we made it to this event.
The driving urge to attend was heavy, “Glow On” had been released that morning and it was on in constant rotation that morning and on the drive up there. They defy the conceived boundaries of what people think of when they hear of the hardcore genre, and the current state of the hardcore punk movement, Turnstile brings the joy back into creating music. The record is infectious. It’s pure creativity that is filled to the brim with the heavy rhythm that’s become unmistakeable for Turnstile. It was no wonder that when we arrived prior to Babylon opening their doors there was already a pretty decent sized line going down the street and wrapping around the corner. Without a second of hesitation, we got right in line and were happily among the many waiting to celebrate release day with the band & friends. It was crazy, for still being in a pandemic Turnstile brought out a loyal fanbase eager to grab the new record, merch, and share a day of skating and good music.
Once in Babylon it was clear that Turnstile was doing this for the fans more than themselves. You go into an intimate room that had friends running the counter, band members in the mix, and even other artists there to support such as Stevis Harrison (Fever 333, The Chariot), offering to help people with sizes and choosing what merch to grab. Once you got your fix (for us it was a shirt and record) you step out into the back of Babylon where there was a live DJ, charity dunk tank, complimentary food via Burgerlords, and a beautiful private skatepark complete with locals ripping the bowl apart.
The entire event was more of a block party than a pop up, and for some reason we weren’t surprised. When you listen to Turnstile you are filled with the urge to dance, skate, vibe, or whatever you get off doing. The same went for their pop up, it was a punk's paradise.
At just under 35 minutes "Glow On" is at the depth level of a novel, while it looks short on the surface, there are numerous layers to unpack, enjoy, and dissect that only gets better with each listen. That isn't to say that just because the album is short in run length means that the tracks are similar. While you'll find a lot of what makes Turnstile themselves, you also find a more experimental side of the band. "Glow On" is what you get when you take a hardcore punk band and let their outside musical preferences bleed into the tracks, its explorative but not in a way of being messy or chaotic. Turnstile's ability to flip the atmosphere and be as much of a shoegaze band as they are a hardcore band without losing sight of themselves is applaudable. When you spin "Glow On" you are giving your attention to Turnstile and allowing them to take you on a journey through their perspective.
From tracks like "BLACKOUT" and "FLY AGAIN" which showcase punchy guitars, thick bass tones, explosive vocals, an ethos of punk, and a little bit of world percussion. To "ALIEN LOVE CALL ft. Blood Orange" and "UNDERWATER BOI" which induce a trancelike state through their blend of tropical-esque shoegaze/alternative. Turnstile's recent record showcases the bands ability as artists to adapt and grow as a band through a pursuit of creativity and freedom.
Beyond that the record is just straight up catchy. Turnstile has become not only one of our favorite bands currently but they are up there in our all time lists. If you’re unfamiliar with the band choose a track at random from “Glow On” and were confident you’ll be instantly hooked.
Tracklist:
01. MYSTERY
02. BLACKOUT
03. DON’T PLAY
04. UNDERWATER BOI
05. HOLIDAY
06. HUMANOID / SHAKE IT UP
07. ENDLESS
08. FLY AGAIN
09. ALIEN LOVE CALL (FEAT. BLOOD ORANGE)
10. WILD WRLD
11. DANCE-OFF
12. NEW HEART DESIGN
13. T.L.C. (TURNSTILE LOVE CONNECTION)
14. NO SURPRISE
15. LONELY DEZIRES (FEAT. BLOOD ORANGE)
Turnstile is: Brady Ebert - Guitar
Daniel Fang – Drums
Brendan Yates – Voice
"Freaky" Franz Lyons – Bass
Pat McCrory – Guitar
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