Album Review: Locket – ‘All Out’

Posted: by The Editor

There is this very specific feeling I got exploring wooded areas as a kid – an electric errieness that made me feel alive and afraid at the same time. Maybe it is the album art work of a bunny hiding behind eye-budding roses, the release being in the midst of the chilling autumn with Halloween creeping up, or the twilight instrumentals that brings me back to this wondrous experience; either way Locket’s debut album All Out is an ethereal encounter full of imagery that is likely to have you thinking of somewhere or someone, too. The emotionally twinged narratives offer a sort of permission to dust off old memories, maybe say hi to the skeletons in your closet, and just sit and take a breath because despite all that you made it here. 

I think the context of this record can make you appreciate it that much more. Locket used to be a different project called Safe To Say which went on hiatus over 2 years ago for various reasons. It’s hard to take a step back to focus on yourself but boundaries don’t hold us back, they protect us and our energy. The music industry is an easy space to get jaded in and I believe breaks are such an important act of self-care no matter what your role might be. With that in mind, what’s really beautiful about this release is it was written out of pure love for creation and expression without really knowing if it was ever going to be put out into the world. Thankfully, Locket is sharing their vulnerable art with us while still acknowledging where they’ve come from with pride – just a locket you wear lovingly on your neck.

“Out Of Sight” opens the records, immediately taking up space and commanding attention as the lyric, “is anybody loving us back?” echos even as the next track begins. I found it fitting that the album was recorded in an old church in Ottawa and various basements over the course of several months. The record carries the soul of those spaces; full of shadows and ghosts of what/who still haunts us from the past. Some songs such as “First Blush” carry a bone-chilling quality and showcase how the production on this record allow it to truly tell stories as the songwriting and instruments bleed from the same vein. While the record is darker and heavy-hearted at times, it coexists with catchy lines and riffs as well as Brad Garcia’s appropriately varied vocals. “Hunnie” is an immediate standout track, a soothing lullaby of a love song. Everything on the record seems so intentional – the soft to almost jolting explosive parts on “Other People”, the incredible driving bass work by Travis Morrison followed by spacey guitars parts on “Sunshower”, the addition of piano to “All Out” . Locket really is a team effort; Cory Bergeron who plays guitar also helps record and mix, Brad who sings / plays guitars also directed the music video for Hunnie which drummer JJ Sorensen edited. The record wraps up with “Even If It Kills Me” which leave off with “I hope you take your time, and learn to be okay” that I like to think is calling back to the line “is anybody loving us back?” as a response that at least we have ourselves. 

All Out is a brilliant collection of songs that I think could become important to a lot of people. Regardless, the integrity and passion put into the creative process of making this record is evident. If you liked Safe To Say you’re going to love Locket and if you haven’t heard of either this is the perfect time to give them a chance.


Disappointing / Average / Good / GreatPhenomenal


Hannah Hines | @hannah_unlost


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