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The Portland-native Justin Hopkins has composed a band for himself with three other guys, Jeff Bethke, Corey Britz, and Donald Barrett.  They collectively call themselves Justin Hopkins and the Guilt, a name that alludes a great deal to Hopkins’ style of music and his first full length album, Vol. 1 Here Goes Nothing.

In keeping with the trend of being a rock star, most of the tracks on Vol. 1 Here Goes Nothing deal with risky women and the longing for true love.  The lyrics feel like they’re coming from a real place and though almost every song deals with potentially dangerous women, each seems to tell a different story.  All that said, it’s really no surprise that at the end of Hopkins’ thank you list on his album booklet he makes a point to mention his ex girlfriends.  Hmm, bitter much? Maybe, but isn’t it the juicy vengeful stuff that makes music worth listening to?  Yeah, I think it is.

The album’s fourth track, Someday, is a meditative song about the idea that someday the man in the song will be good enough for his potential lover.  Hopkins’ belts out, “Someday I’ll be good, someday I’ll be good for you.  Someday I will run, right out of their arms, right into you,” the touching lyrics are really enough to make you want to be good too.

The track, Hurts So Bad, is an account of the pain behind love.  The song details the agony of true love in perfect soul-rock style and it’s really something anyone who has ever been in love can identify with.  One track on Vol. 1 Here Goes Nothing that doesn’t fit into the theme dangerous love affairs is Daniel (We Failed You), the story of a man betrayed by those around him.  The intense lyrics in this track further the reality that this music isn’t trying to simply be easy listening; there are real stories behind every song.  It’s this type of story telling that almost places Justin Hopkins and the Guilt in the country music genre, but it’s their rock and roll music and vocal style that keep them at home in alternative rock.

Every track on Vol.1 Here Goes Nothing has something different to offer and really, they’re all good.  This is the type of music that you don’t just listen to, you actually hear the lyrics.  The rock and roll soul musical style works perfectly too.  Justin Hopkins’ voice is mesmerizing, his music is flawless, and his lyrics are thought provoking.  Overall, Vol.1 Here Goes Nothing is one of the better rock albums I’ve heard in a while.