Review: “World Keeps Turning” by The Byways
In a time where many of us are left weary and broken-hearted, sometimes what we need is some fun and relatable folk rock to lift our spirits and embrace the changing times. If you relate to this, you need to listen to the new EP from The Byways, World Keeps Turning.
The sophomore release of The Byways comes in a very different format than the four piece folk band they had become known for. With World Keeps Turning, the two brothers of the band – Alex and Matt Goettel – wrote and conceived the album from separate towns, staying safe amidst the threat of COVID-19 while also taking on a hefty challenge. Making a cohesive EP is already no easy feat, but doing it bit by bit while away from your bandmates? Now that’s something worth celebrating.
Track Review
The EP begins with the upbeat swinging of “Real Love,” which tells a story of desire and loyalty – or perhaps, lack thereof. The song keeps a modern and danceable tune without giving up the band’s folk rock background. The handclaps used to keep the beat reminds me of live music performances where the audience claps along to be a part of the music, which makes the song immersive, making you feel like you’re really there listening to The Byways play.
Moving onto Matt’s song, the vibe changes to something more somber and soulful. “Broken Hearted Man” is something that all of us can relate to. The song was a necessary change of tone to keep things from being too upbeat and poppy to the point where the EP would come off as fake. The song is truthful and relatable, which is what folk music should be.
When everything seems to be changing on a dime, “Stay or Go” is the perfect anthem to change. This song feels like it should be played around a campfire with good friends, and listening to it leaves me longing for better times. It reminds me that change must happen, no matter how uncomfortable it is, and no matter whether we choose to stay or go.
“Lately” rounds out the EP by bringing it back to the start, as I immediately thought this song sounded like the other side of the story that was told in “Real Love.” Both bring up loyalty, but seemingly on different sides of the same argument. This song also brings back the funky and danceable vibes that “Real Love” began with. Leaving the EP off by coming full circle thematically leaves the listener on a pleasant note, and encourages us to just let the whole thing play again.
Verdict
Despite each song being recorded remotely, this EP stays true to the band’s original music and vibe. The Goettel brothers rose to the immense task of creating a cohesive work that feels like The Byways, even from separate recording studios.
Perhaps a crucial piece of the puzzle was the production of the EP, which was done by Steve Brown. The final work was easy to understand and enjoy as an artistic work as well as a fun, folky set of tunes. One of the best aspects of these songs was the instrumental breaks that allowed the music to truly shine.
I can only imagine how great these songs will sound when they’re played in a music venue or a bar for a live audience that can interact and up the energy of the music even further. This EP was made to be performed, not just listened to, and that is what I believe makes it true to the band’s original format.
