Album Review
AND THE ADJACENT POSSIBLE
BY OK GO
by Joe Vickrey
Photo by Piper Ferguson
OK Go dominated the world in the 2000s as early adopters of YouTube with their exciting and incredibly choreographed music videos. My biggest frustration is that so many people have put more emphasis on their visuals than their music – which I’ve always considered to be equally as impressive. As a kid learning to use a computer, I found their then newly-released single “A Million Ways” and I’ve been hooked since. Returning with their fifth full length LP, And the Adjacent Possible has been one of the highlights of my 2025.
OK Go’s albums can range from guitar albums to keyboard driven albums, but And the Adjacent Possible has such a unique feel to it that I can’t really quite pin it down to a genre or leading element. There are some wicked guitar moments, groovy basslines, bouncing percussion, catchy melodies, horns, synths, and the list goes on. The best way I can describe the album is that it feels like celebration music.
“Better Than This,” and ”Love” both capture that joyous nature with their larger-than-life pop parades. The rhythm driven “Better Than This” especially stands out as a bulletproof banger. You could try to pick the song apart if you wanted to... but you’d have to stop dancing first.
Even the glass-half-empty outlook on “A Stone Only Rolls Downhill” feels upbeat and nonchalant. In its shoulder-shrugging chorus, “And I wish I could say it would all be alright,” I can’t help but welcome the relaxed approach to the unsure nature of the future. It’s an absolute lazy river anthem filled with tinkling percussion, congas, and momentary phased drums that steal my heart.
The record’s hushed moments shine just as bright as the orchestrated tunes. “This Is How It Ends” carries itself like a 60s soul tune. It’s crooned gently over a gorgeous brass section and arpeggiated plucks. It’s a style I haven’t heard the band lean into before, but they absolutely nail it while keeping it so very them.
For folks who may only know the hits, “Take Me with You” may be the closest connecting point to some of the band’s earlier work. Uptempo guitar hooks and an offbeat chorus melody should feel like home, but the real star of the show is the doubled bass guitar. It swirls in the mix and feels nothing short of magical. I believe they did this trick on a track or two in 2014’s Hungry Ghosts as well, but it’s nice to hear it more in the spotlight this time around!
Ending on “Don’t Give Up Now” feels like a lullaby for adults who hate their jobs and had the car break down again… Or is it just me projecting? Either way, it’s a wonderful, comforting track that ends on the collection on such a sweet note leaving the listener refreshed.
This may be OK Go’s first record in eleven years, but it was worth the wait. The group sounds as youthful and energetic as ever, and yes, their music videos are still sick. Most importantly, And the Adjacent Possible is fun. It’s exactly what I want from them, but more grandiose than they’ve done before. I’m going to savor every moment of this album cycle, and eagerly wait hearing these songs live this summer.