Review: Good Shoes – No Hope, No Future

Pessimism wins out in the end for this indie punk band from England. It’s no wonder they chose a title like No Hope, No Future for their barrage of short, catchy tunes. The album starts off with a pop punk hook in “The Way My Heart Beats.” It’s almost hard to believe the song screams cynicism —that all relationships are doomed to fail in the end. Same problems, different people, or at least that’s lead singer Rhys Jones’ motto. The music catches up with the theme on “Everything You Do.” Jones’ voice reflects the somber mood of the slow screeching guitars. Fear not, that uptempo pop returns for the rest of the album but don’t expect to feel so lively if you pay attention to lyrics. “Time Changes” offers a bleak outlook on getting older but it manages to stay cheery with a dance rock rhythm and fast hi-hat riding.

The songs on No Hope, No Future fully embody the album title. Sometimes it’s hard to understand why a band chooses a certain album title. Or you listen to the music and there is nothing cohesive from one song to the next. Good Shoes manages to make a record that makes sense, that shares one theme. But even that doesn’t save this album. While the music itself may put a happy little smile on your face, the cheerless outlook overshadows it. You can get away with a few good listens until you wonder if this band truly is that hopeless. Although I enjoy listening to all things dark and dismal, I prefer the music to coincide with the lyrics. Happy music plus sad lyrics equals an uncertainty in one’s emotions and a mediocre album.