The Brooklyn resident, guitarist and singer-songwriter Liz Hogg penned these 10 songs in just 20 days across September and October 2024, and her classical training and alt-rock experience is much appreciated for this diverse sophomore solo album.

The playful percussion and background ambience of “Things I Said Before” starts the record, as Hogg’s bright guitar tone aligns with fuzzed out moments as well as the funk friendly bouts. “Wonder When” follows with Daniel Siles’ scrappy drumming and harmonic singing, as a charming brand of alt-rock unfolds with modern sensibilities. “Paper” lands in the third spot, and uses an interesting technique with Hogg just vocalizing the word “I” for the first half of the song, amid crisp drumming and a mesmerizing climate.

Moving into the middle, “Belly” showcases Carlo Truly’s playful bass lines and garage rock influences via the humorous wordplay about a lover’s belly, while “Master & Commander” offers a gentle moment shimmering guitar and a distinct dreaminess that surrounds heartbreak. “Curl,” another excellent track, then swirls with a pretty demeanor that’s rich and, at times, intimate, plus a meticulous guitar that won’t go unnoticed.

Landing close to the end, “Instructions For The Physical World” is strong on atmosphere and a bit thicker in its delivery, which recruits keyboards. Then “One Thread” exits with much influence from The Beatles via the retro spirit and lovely textures.

Hogg’s very specific songwriting process meant each track had to be written in one or two sessions, much like John Lennon’s strategy, which adds to the organic personality of the record. It’s certainly a pop affair at its core, but indie, classical, experimental and punk flavor is also very much a part of the intelligent wordplay and healthy amount of hooks found on Goodbye World Hello Something. 

Rating: A-

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