At 20 tracks in total, Eight Ball is a mammoth offering, from Chicago based, fusion rock band, Go Time. The band describes themselves as power pop, which is certainly accurate, but it’s actually a bit understated. Eight Ball, is their latest effort, and it’s a dense and lengthy LP. Go Time, which is admittedly a great name, is comprised of former members of the band, Prairie Town. All involved, are said to be veterans of the Chicago music scene.

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/gotimeband

Scott Niekelski seems to be the driving creative force behind, Go Time. He is listed as composer, as well as guitar and vocals, and is described as a “prolific” songwriter. Go Time’s songs are well constructed, and they show versatility as far as arrangements, and employing additional instruments. The guitars are definitely featured front and center, in the mix. Along with the vocals, the guitar tone is the most distinctive thing about the band’s sound.

Up first is, “Fairy Tale Scenario.” The drums are really snappy on this one, and stand out as one of the most impressive aspects of the track. The fills are punchy, and expertly timed, giving this one an up tempo rocker feel. Your fairy tale scenario/not what you had planned/proceed with caution/can’t finish what you began. It alludes to someone having their rose colored glasses, forcibly removed by the cold sting of reality.

“Carrying The Load” is a song that takes its time, settling in. With a bit of a walk down on the chorus, this one has something of a Tom Petty flavor to it. Weight on your back/watching the road/coming off the tracks/carrying the load. It’s open for interpretation, but it made me envision the ten of wands card, in the tarot deck. Someone overburdened with responsibility, and weighed down by the acquisition of their own personal success, at the expense of their spiritual and physical health.

On “Critical Task”, we hear the band slow it down, just a touch. The result is positive, as the bass gets a chance to really shine, here. You can hear the solid groove, that provides a liberating foundation for the track. For whatever reason, I could hear fumes of Fastball on this one, with Dylanesque style vocals, spread on top. “Critical Task” if it refers to the task of penning a good song, was a task that was accomplished in this instance.

APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/album/eight-ball/1550477083

There is a lot to dig into on Eight Ball, and make no mistake, Go Time shows true compositional craftsmanship.  It would have been easy to stick to a formula, but they obviously like to push themselves, and provide an unpredictable listening experience. “Critical Task,” for example,  utilizes a synth track, that allows it to stand out, on only the third track in. It was ambitious of Go Time to load this album with 20 songs, but you have to trust their judgment, when they show such a great deal of competency. Go Time are playing like sharks, and this game, just got interesting

John McCall