Leaving

Leaving is the 2013 debut full-length from Philadelphia's Grayscale, representing a formative era for the band. While later albums like Adornment and Nella Vita would see the group embracing high-fidelity pop sensibilities and funk-influenced grooves, Leaving is firmly rooted in the DIY emo and pop punk traditions of the early 2010s. Recorded before their signing to Fearless Records, the album features a raw production style characterized by thinner guitar tones and more aggressive, unrefined vocal performances. The tracklist includes early fan favorites like 'Sunday' and '618 Carpenter Street,' which showcase the band's early knack for combining specific local imagery with universal themes of growth and departure. Critically, it is viewed as a bridge between the 'sad boy' emo tropes of the era and the more sophisticated alternative rock they would eventually master. It remains a cult favorite among the band's core fanbase for its unvarnished honesty.