August Album Recommendation: Set It Off's Duality

Have you ever been angry? Of course you have, but I'm talking about a different kind of angry. I'm talking about a rage that guts you, leaves you red on the outside and empty on the inside. I'm talking about the kind of fury that consumes you entirely. Whether it be at a person, at a situation, or at the world, have you ever felt so furious you could just cry?

Well, I've found the album for you. Set It Off's Duality is a cycle of shared pain and healing. It makes for a great workout, a great character inspiration, and everything in-between.

Side note: I saw Set It Off a couple months ago, and I swear, I walked away from that show a different person, an almost healed person. Hearing these songs live and screaming along with Cody gives the word therapeutic a whole new meaning.

Released in 2014, the band's sophomore studio album has a sound I can only describe as a little pop punk, a little musical theater. Duality somehow managed to bend genre into a meaningless concept, which resulted in this album entirely based around feeling.

Speaking of feeling, this LP feels like we've been invited into the darkest parts of the songwriter's mind. He is completely vulnerable and exposed, something that so many artists struggle to do, yet makes the art otherworldly. So, let's take a look at just what Set It Off has given us with Duality.

"The Haunting":

The opener to this album was actually the first Set It Off song I ever heard, and let me say, what an introduction. We've got less than three seconds before the creep factor sets in with the eerie chimes and Cody's crystal clear voice telling us to "Come on in."

Right off the bat, it's evident we aren't in for an easy ride and as the track goes on, it twists into something vengeful. "Baby's got a thirst for blood," and "Turn an enemy just to watch them burn alive," he sings, and the cinematic nature of this track is unreal. I close my eyes and I swear I'm living in The Nightmare Before Christmas. This song is a textbook example for creating mood and setting the scene, that's for sure.

"N.M.E":

No More Excuses, I guess I should tell you what that stands for. Not only is it an acronym, but it's a genius play on the word "enemy." That's right, we're following up with another angry song about being wronged, this time by a friend's girlfriend. Here, we get a sense our narrator is begging his friend to take a look at his relationship and "escape, skip town, you're better on your own." We've all had that friend who can't see things for what they obviously are. This one, this theatrical little bop, goes out to them.

"Forever Stuck in Our Youth":

I, for one, am terrified of growing up and being forced to settle down. I'm not sure that's in the cards for me. Clearly, this guy is struggling with that too. Complete with one of my favorite lyrics, "Grab a bucket and a mop cause I'm a mess," this song is all about the joy of living in the moment, until you can't anymore. This one's not really that deep, but "I don't owe an explanation" is a good motto to have, especially for anyone chasing a dream and trying to beat the odds.

"Why Worry":

For someone like me who is utterly terrified of failure and the future, this song is a game-changer. We spend a lot of time worrying about things we don't have control over. This song is an uplifting reminder that "you're the only one standing in your way" and "worry's never helping." This functions as a little breather on the album. We came out of the gates pretty angry, but we're on the up-and-up by this track and the previous one. It adds much-needed levels to the course of the LP.

"Ancient History":

A sweet little song about the dangers of nostalgia. Anyone who's missing closure will really appreciate this one. It'd make for an interesting character inspiration too, especially when put in the context of the rest of the album. This song feels slightly out of place, a little too care free for where we are on this journey, but I'll forgive that, solely because of Cody's growl on the bridge.

"Bleak December":

Now this is the Set It Off I fell in love with. Opening with a twisted little giggle and jumping right into a funky beat, you can tell this track is the definition of pissed. "Bleak December" is such a specific image, one that is so visceral and cinematic, listeners can't help but picture the situation. "You've been running from yourself for way too long," and "I really, really, really want to know you," tell us our narrator isn't heartless, as he may appear to be with so much anger on the album so far. If anything, he's desperate for honesty and sincerity, but without that, he's got to "hit the road."

"Duality":

Title track time! I'm going to be real with you: this song brilliantly sums up the entire message of the album and the sole reason I'm okay with it not ending the LP is because of the song that does. There is this intense darkness in all of us, whether we want to admit it or not, and this track sheds light on that fact and encourages accepting it. It's all about recognizing those flaws and learning to live with knowledge we are not perfect.

"I am human and that's all I've ever wanted to be," our narrator tells us in the bridge. We suddenly see how we can go from a track like "The Haunting" to something as care free as "Forever Stuck in Our Youth."

Dark in tone but upbeat musically, this song is the definition of duality. There are two sides to every song, every story, every one of us.

"Wolf in Sheep's Clothing":

Anybody remember that band The Academy Is...? Well, this absolute banger features singer William Beckett, and my lord, what a story this song tells. "This is about you," our narrator tells us from the jump. This is a direct callout, and I love it. Playing with nursery rhymes, twisting them into something dark and evil, this track is the epitome of feeling betrayed. Listening to it is like being repeatedly stabbed in back and it makes you want to do something about it. It's about revenge. It's about karma. It's about being hurt. Most of all, though, it's "jazzy."

"Tomorrow":

Deciding how to follow "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" had to be one of the most difficult decisions on this album, yet, "Tomorrow" is exactly the right choice. Another message song, this one reprieves us from the anger and hurt for a second and reminds listeners that the things we do today will create our tomorrow. Featuring another one of my favorite lyrics, "We're the authors of our lives," this track feels like a light in the dark. It feels like hope.

"Bad Guy":

While the story of this song is pretty evident, our narrator's ex is trashing him, I think the song as a whole is what's important here. Following the themes of Duality, the verses and choruses flip flop between happy and hurt. It's a bittersweet track at its finest and although it doesn't necessarily add much to the story we've been told, it's catchy and furthers our relationship with the narrator.

"Miss Mysterious":

Confession time: I'm a sucker for reprises. It must be the musical theater kid still trapped in my body, but the only rock song that does callbacks better than "Miss Mysterious" is Fall Out Boy's "What a Catch, Donnie."

This track is jarring when compared to the rest of the album. This is where we're being left, on this softer note that almost feels the beginning of acceptance. In a way, this album appears to follow the stages of grief, just spending an exuberant amount of time on anger for sure.

I'll forgive the use of the cliché, "If you love someone, let them go," because of how strikingly beautiful the outro is. We're left reminded of the journey we've been on with our narrator from the beginning, as many of the previous tracks are called back to in the final lines. This is the closure we've been searching for the whole LP. We can walk away knowing our narrator, and in turn, ourselves, will be okay.

Set It Off doesn't get half of the recognition they should, but this post is my way of trying to change that. They've got some other great albums I totally recommend checking out, especially this year's Midnight. That one's a whole other story, one I'm so glad they're telling.

Have you listened to Set It Off? What do you think? Have suggestions for next month's album review? Send me a message! Thanks for reading and let me know what you think of Duality.