Go Time! “11” (LP)

Following many years of recording and performing, Chicago natives Go Time! return with 11, their tenth full-length release, a milestone that highlights both their longevity and creative energy. The lineup consists of Scott Niekelski (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Steve Grzenia (drums, backing vocals), Paul Schmidt (guitar, backing vocals), and Mark Marketti (bass), continues to deliver the tight musicianship, memorable songwriting, and high impact performances that have defined the band from the start. Since first emerging in 2009, Go Time! have carved out a steady presence in Chicago’s rock environment with a straightforward, high-energy approach. Across so many albums, they’ve managed to grow without losing the edge that made them stand out early on.

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11 is delivered around during a period marked by personal challenges, including health issues and loss within the band’s circle. Rather than slowing them down, those experiences shaped the record’s tone and depth. 11 comes blazing out of the gate with the first track “Influencer” ticking all the boxes for a fast and frenetic opener that showcases the band’s tendency to rock with the best of ’em. This song has a slight ring of Americana to it, with some folk accents, but mostly it’s a straightforward romp with a punkish attitude to get the album underway.

“Dead Before Dawn” follows with an even more punk vibe, where you can imagine something like the Police and Bob Dylan combined, which is just one way to describe the music of Go Time! 11 has an 80s sort of rock style vibe and overall attitude, mixed with a 60s/70s folkish songwriting quality. The epic (at times) guitars are what make it rock the most, and the lyrics/vocals bring that throwback sound on tracks like “Expectations Falling, “What’s Stopping You” and “Fragments Of Yesterday” which also come with a fantastic sense of nostalgia to round it out.

“R D A” finds 11 approaching the lyrical sweet spot, with some excellent lyrics and the slap-back percussion never ends on “Game Of Extremes” where the guitar starts to burn even harder, and the storytelling reaches a peak. Things get a chance to slow down and take a slightly deeper approach on the acoustic led “Fear Of Forgetting” with its undertone of the current times and how things easily get forgotten. “Too Soon” takes everything right back to the pocket with some more sonically tasteful guitars, completely refreshing the 11 factors in one fell swoop.

“Easy” touches on the subject of war being won, while the tempo slightly changes on “Worthless Endeavor” to a jangly guitar sound with a retro vibe, going almost rockabilly. “Turn Off Your Mind” goes even harder with an atmospheric backdrop, and “Stabs You In The Back” adds some soul and more depth to the picture. “In The Dark” includes more great lyrics, and the 11 disc closes on a top note with “Always On High” bringing this long fifteen track album to a brilliant end. The final conclusion is an album full of life’s challenging struggles bringing past and the present together to forge the future of this long running band.

Mark Druery