Welcome to Goon Island, the sophomore album by the British punk rock band XX Teens, is a wild ride from start to finish. With raucous guitars, pounding drums, and snarling vocals, the album is a frenetic mix of punk, garage rock, and post-punk influences.
The album kicks off with the high-energy "Darlin'", which sets the tone for the rest of the album with its driving rhythm and catchy chorus. "Only You" and "Round" are similarly catchy, with infectious hooks and sing-along choruses that are sure to get stuck in your head.
But Welcome to Goon Island is also a darker and more experimental album than XX Teens' debut effort. "The Way We Were" is a haunting ballad that showcases the band's more introspective side, while "Onkawara" is a frenzied instrumental that feels like a sonic assault.