After more than two decades together, Framing Hanley continues to prove they have plenty left to say. Formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2005, the band first made waves with their gold-certified cover of Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” before establishing themselves as one of modern rock’s most emotionally honest voices. Following a hiatus from 2015 to 2018, the band returned refreshed, and Do You Feel Guilty Being Okay? feels like the natural continuation of that journey.
The album also marks the band’s first full-length collaboration with drummer Richie Wicander of Fire From the Gods, whom vocalist Kenneth Nixon has credited with helping reignite both his passion for music and the creative spark behind this record. That renewed energy is evident throughout the album.
The title itself immediately grabs your attention. Rather than focusing on surviving trauma, the record explores what comes afterward: the guilt, healing, and uncertainty that can accompany finally moving forward. Nixon has described Framing Hanley as a form of therapy, and those emotions are woven throughout these twelve tracks without ever feeling forced.
Opening track “Gimme Gimme” wastes no time establishing the album’s direction. Layered keyboards remain present throughout the song, adding texture without overpowering the guitars. A really cool breakdown closes the track, serving as an energetic introduction to what lies ahead.
The first single, “The Reckoning,” remains one of the album’s strongest moments. The music video, directed by Embryo, perfectly complements the song with simple yet effective storytelling, making it easy to understand why it surpassed 1.7 million YouTube views in just over 80 days. The slow-motion cinematography adds another level of intensity without distracting from the performance.
Musically, the song showcases everything that makes Framing Hanley successful. Crunchy guitars drive the verses while Kenneth Nixon delivers one of his strongest vocal performances on the record. His delivery during the lines,
“Snake eyes, yeah you’re a high roller.
I am the devil on your shoulder.
You cannot run from me.
I am the reckoning.”
demonstrates both confidence and range while perfectly matching the song’s darker atmosphere.
“Pulling Petals” immediately grabs attention with its heavy bass presence. Echoing background vocals create depth, giving the track an almost haunting quality while maintaining the band’s signature melodic approach.
“Lovesick” continues the emotional momentum before leading into one of the album’s more upbeat moments.
“Centerfold” injects fresh energy into the record with an upbeat tempo and excellent vocal harmonies. It’s another reminder that Framing Hanley understands how to balance heaviness with melody.
“Mean It” explodes from the opening seconds and never lets off the gas. Fans may recognize it from its earlier release as “Mean It (Photographs and Gasoline, Pt. 2),” while “Lost My Smile,” “Sweet Tooth (Lovely),” and “Poor Lil Me” also appeared as singles before the album’s release. Rather than feeling recycled, each track fits naturally within the album’s flow and helps create a cohesive listening experience instead of a collection of unrelated singles.
At just forty-two seconds, “Don’t Hit The Killswitch” serves as a brief transition before launching into one of the album’s biggest sounding tracks.
“Call My Name (KLZS)” delivers an incredibly full sound. Layer after layer builds without becoming cluttered, creating one of the album’s richest sonic experiences.
“Lost My Smile” is powered by outstanding drumming that continually pushes the song forward. The lyric “I try to be strong” captures the vulnerability found throughout much of the record while maintaining its driving momentum.
“The Ever-Afters” offers another change of pace before the album slows considerably for “Sweet Tooth (Lovely).” The slower tempo allows the emotion to breathe, while the lyric “whiskey on my breath” perfectly matches the mood. Kenneth Nixon’s vocal delivery carries a rough, weathered quality that almost makes it sound as though he has whiskey on his breath himself, adding another layer of authenticity to the performance.
Closing the album, “Poor Lil Me” provides an emotionally satisfying finale. The passion behind Kenneth Nixon’s scream of “They pulled the rug from right under our feet” is impossible to ignore and leaves a lasting impression as the record comes to an end.
One aspect that impressed me most is how complete this album feels. Between the keyboards, layered harmonies, crunchy guitars, driving drums, a solid rhythm section, and polished production, there is very little empty space. Every instrument has purpose, yet nothing feels overcrowded. The production creates a massive sound while still allowing each performance room to breathe.
One of the album’s greatest strengths is its variety. Every song contributes something memorable, whether it’s layered keyboards, crunchy guitar riffs, heavy bass lines, soaring harmonies, driving drums, or another emotionally charged vocal performance from Kenneth Nixon. Do You Feel Guilty Being Okay? never feels predictable and rewards listeners who experience it from beginning to end.
With Do You Feel Guilty Being Okay?, Framing Hanley has delivered one of the strongest albums of their career. It honors the band’s past while embracing their continued evolution, proving that more than twenty years after forming, they remain capable of writing modern rock that is both emotionally honest and musically engaging. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, this is an album well worth experiencing from start to finish.
For More Information
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FramingHanley/
FRAMING HANLEY – THE RECKONING
