Album Review: Your End of the Bargain, Woodridge

Album cover for Woodridge’s “Your End of the Bargain,” blending vintage style with bold, hand-drawn lettering.

This is the second album by the Manhattan grown-fan-favorite band, Woodridge. Your End of the Bargain was released September 5th, 2025. Full of life, sound, and raw emotion, this album did not disappoint. The song titles originate from Manhattan local favorites, old memes, and coastal vibes that set the tone for the song. 

Justin is the lead guitarist and writes the songs. After sitting down in an interview with the band, he tells us, “It’s kind of an alternative rock album. The inspiration comes from Nirvana and the Lumineers. Folk punk songs were what we were going for.” 

Folk punk is exactly what they delivered! This album is full of amazing acoustics and empowering vocals, with a real and raw sound to it. The songs Georgia Peach and Malibu 1992 really dive into the bass and guitar with vocals to enhance the storyline of the song. 

If you listen to the lyrics of the album, you’ll find some hidden easter eggs. The song Johnny Kaw describes the local scenery in Manhattan and the feeling of being a college kid stuck in a college town. Juneberry (Lanie Kaw) is a play off of Johnny Kaw. Both Juneberry (Lanie Kaw), along with I’m a Villain, not a Monster and You’re the Monster discuss the cycles one feels during a negative relationship. Mainly with feelings of frustration and toxicity, you can feel the emotion and true dissolution of the situation. 

If you were to ask about why they chose the song titles, you’d be surprised at the creativity.  

Juneberry (Lanie Kaw) is a play off of Johnny Kaw. The band had a friend named Johnny who was dating a girl named Lanie, so they helped incorporate that in and tie the two together. I’m a Villain, not a Monster, and You’re the Monster is a joke and stems from a meme the band saw years ago online. Wallace was written by a friend of the band, Peter Wallace, so what better way to attribute credit than naming the song after him. 

All of the songs on the album were written in the span of a year, yet it took a while to fully come together. Finishing up the different instrument parts, finding a space to record, the recording process, lots of time, and logistics went into the album. 

A total of three years in the making, Your End of the Bargain is making a splash in Manhattan. Having regular gigs at bars in downtown Aggieville, making appearances at house parties around town, as well as specialty shows in Lawrence, Woodridge, is definitely making a name for themselves. Want to stream the newest album? Follow Woodridge on Spotify or Apple Music.

Want to be up to date with shows and new releases? Follow @woodridge.mhk on Instagram.