_{By Abi Falin}

Full Circle Boys’ sound has always made the most sense in motion. After all, their identity was initially built through five people moving in sync. Their debut album, YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS, carries that same feeling. Across ten tracks, the record builds on the sound the group has been developing since their formation, moving between upbeat dance-pop and slower moments. Each song feels like it has a place beyond AirPods, meant to be experienced as much as listened to.

The first time I heard the album, I was driving down I-15 with my three-month-old in the backseat. I couldn’t help thinking that this could be one of the boy bands she’ll grow up listening to, the same way my generation grew up listening to the Jonas Brothers and, later, One Direction. That sense of familiarity is part of what makes Full Circle Boys’ music so immediately accessible.

But what really draws me into the record is the sense of movement. Songs like “BLEACHERS” and “POLITE” make the most sense when you know that the Full Circle Boys were dancers before they were singers. With the songs’ catchy beats, it’s easy to imagine the music as part of an engaging onstage performance. The songs build energy without becoming overwhelming – especially “BLEACHERS.”

The album becomes even more interesting when it slows down. I love the synthwave sound of “SOPHIE.” It feels like a late-night drive through a city shining with neon lights, with an unmistakable ’80s influence in the production. I’d love to hear more stuff like that from them, leaning into what could make them different as a boy band.

YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS is a solid debut. It’s energetic and infectious. But it doesn’t feel like the finished version of Full Circle Boys. Band member Jagger Moon said in an interview with PMM earlier this year: “We’re still learning. We’re still growing. We’re still figuring ourselves out.” I’m excited to keep listening as the Full Circle Boys make their songwriting as recognizable as their stage presence.

Make sure to follow Full Circle Boys on Instagram. You can listen to “SOPHIE” below!