I’m not gonna lie to y’all: I’m typing this post sitting on my couch with the pot of coffee next to me, trying to work up the motivation to do the things I gotta do. It’s been a running theme throughout the week in these dog days of summer. So “Motions” from Nuclear Family Band hits hard, and despite the song being about “going through the motions”, it’s helping kick my butt into gear.
This is the second time we’ve mentioned Nuclear Family Band in 2026, having reviewed “I Know” in May. The quartet of guitarist Susie, bassist Alex, vocalist Matt, and drummer Matt bring back their funky sound lush with ’70s glam on this second single from their upcoming second album. (Lots of uses of the word “second” here; probably has something to do with the endless passage of time.) Speaking of time, Alex’s bass thumps dutifully throughout the track along with Matt’s drums, creating an infectious beat that gets my sleepy behind moving.
There’s also a nice little synth effect just over the beat but under the guitars and vocals, which almost acts like a signal to activate dormant brain cells. Vocalist Matt’s voice has a bit of a chorus effect on it – almost in the vein of Lennon’s or McCartney’s on any later Beatles track – which offers a bit of dreaminess or feeling “out-of-body”. It makes sense with the song’s theme: When you’re going through the motions, both your body and mind are on autopilot, and everyone’s voice echoes through your head.
“Motions” is about getting through the day even when it’s hard, having to mask feelings and keep up appearances. I know that even after two cups of coffee, I’ll need to get out there and run errands and interact with people and pretend I’m not shriveling up like a slug in salt. It’s a universal feeling to which everyone can relate, which makes “Motions” a song that – between the beat and the lyrics – will appeal to a lot of folks. There’s an organic feeling to the track, as if it knows it’s tapped in to the human condition. If you don’t wake up and feel like you’ve got to put on a face to get through the day, I might need to check your pulse.
Nuclear Family Band’s second album is coming soon, and we’re very excited to hear what else it has to offer. In the meantime, take a listen to “Motions” below.
Written by Will Sisskind
