19 Feb 2025
Don’t say no to All Systems Go.
While browsing new releases this cover caught my eye with a cute ghost chilling on the couch in a therapist’s office. I did a deep dive on this New Jersey group and my heart sank when I read they lost one of their bandmates not too long ago. After learning this the title Finding Closure makes a lot more sense to me. This is a short 4 song EP, but according to the band this is just a sample of what is to come.
All Systems Go embodies the classic pop punk sound. The opening track title “Hey Crabman!” is a reference to early 2000’s TV show My Name is Earl. It’s a catchy tune about finding your purpose while knowing you’ve made a lot of mistakes to get there. “Everything Going Well is a Bad Thing, Right?” talks about a break-up. I love the line “remember me when you’re famous.” Did the band come before her? Was she tired of being second? It is never easy dating someone in a band. Seems like she was letting him down easy with that one.
“Empty Hearts and Open Regrets” has a fabulous line- “what I’ve done is not who I am.” This embodies that sense of remorse we get after we’ve done something we are not proud of and how it stirs up all the dreaded fear and anxiety that stems from it. Rounding out the EP is “Survivor’s Guilt” An obvious ode to losing their friend and bandmate. This one hits with powerful lyrics that really stirs up the agonizing saddness we feel when we lose someone close to us. When they sing “…taught me loss and taught me living,” it epitomizes that feeling of being thankful for having known someone, but then the gut punch of realizing they are gone.
It looks like the band consistently play weekend shows around the Mid-Atlantic region, if you’re in the area check them out!
