I absolutely love the stream of progressive rock/pop bands surfacing over the last few years. Ok Goodnight is part of that wave, along with bands like Exploring Birdsong and Kalandra, unafraid to inject pop sensibility into their progressive rock aura. They just released stop/go on June 12th, and it’s truly a grower of an album.
Ok Goodnight come to us from Boston, MA. You may remember my review for 2023’s excellent The Fox & the Bird. Anyways, the lineup includes Casey Lee Williams on vocals and lyrics; Martín de Lima on keys, guitars, and orchestrations; Augusto Bussio on drums and guitars; and Peter de Reyna on bass. The entire band provides backing vocals. You’ll also hear Eve on a guest guitar solo, Ella Wilhelmina on sax, clarinet, and flute, and Rodolfo Moreno on saxophone.
The band plays progressive/art rock that balances heavy riffs and swooning atmospheres with pop sensibilities, catchy choruses, and a fresh point of view. Now, their previous album was definitely heavier and featured a wider range of loud/quiet dynamics, but this album feels more like the band, if you know what I mean. It feels like they’re finetuning their sound into their own brand, their own signature, something completely them. So, there are still heavier moments, but much of the album leans into a groovy, bluesy, alt indie sound. And I’m here for it.
I’ll be honest and say that I’ve been dwelling on this album for a couple months now. It does sound different from their past work, so it wasn’t what I expected. But once I dropped the expectations, I started to “get” the album in all its color, quirk, and glorious emotion. Yes, I really like where they’re going with this sound.
stop/go has ten tracks and they are consistently good. I like the first half a little better, but my favorite song is in the second half. Go figure. The opener “No Sound” has really grabbed me lately with its fiery bass groove and beloved walls of distortion, but it’s Casey’s vocals that really seal the deal. “22” was one song I liked instantly for its expressive atmosphere, and I absolutely love its balance between pensive and explosive. “Top of the Bottom” has become a favorite for its incredible rhythm section, massive guitar solo, and razor-sharp heaviness. It will worm its way into your brain.
The next two tracks are fascinating to me. “The Game” is mostly reserved, though if you listen closely, the band is still playing quite vigorously. It has a squirrely, surreal feeling to the chorus, almost clunky in the most purposeful, brilliant way possible. And then “Spiral” continues that feeling, being somewhat darker and even more introspective. I absolutely love the distant dirty saxophone-scape and the bluesey “chamber” aesthetic.
The second half begins with the ballad “Call Me Away”, a lush and truly beautiful vocal musing from Casey. I love it. But then the album launches into the madhouse of “The Show”, a sinister piece with wicked voiceovers and groovy theatrics. It’s absolutely bonkers and brilliant. Of course, my favorite song overall follows, that being “Humpty Dumpty”. This sound charges forward, galloping like a crazed steed, powering along with incredible bass, exquisite saxophone energy, and waves of evocative vocals and guitars. It’s deliciously unnerving in certain moments and is just so damn good.
The last couple songs are great, too. “The People” is equal parts classy and stilted, spined crystalline. It really works once you understand it. The closer “Where I’m From” goes the opposite way, leaning into the emotion, the reminiscence, the feelings of belonging. I love how warm the song seems, how it casts a golden glow, and instead of ending the album with a crescendo or raging climax, it gives us hovering nostalgia. I love the way I feel as the album ends.
Ok Goodnight should really make a splash with stop/go. It has so much youthful energy, but somehow feels wise and full of memory, too. The album is fervent, untamed, even glamorous, all while remaining grounded and gritty. I’m so glad I kept giving this album my time.
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Find Ok Goodnight online:
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The PROG Mind 