Carl, Leigh, and Alistair recorded the Album Kicking Goal, Banging Gongs & High Fives All Round and embarked on a national tour with Label-Mates Sounds Like Chicken that included shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth.
[5] Wishful Thinking also have shared stages and toured with bands such as MXPX, The Getaway Plan, In Fiction, Angelas Dish, Kisschasy, Rufio, Gyroscope, Relient K, The O.C.
"[6] Jasper Lee of Oz Music Project opined that it "oozes of punk pop goodness that echoes heroes of said genre such as MXPX.
The band's strength lies in their combination of consistent punk power chords with a lyrical depth underpinning their spiritual beliefs.
"[7] Steph Brincat of Oz Music Project reviewed the group's second album, Kicking Goals, Banging Gongs & High Five All Round, rating it at four out of five due to the "classic pop-punk sound that we have all come to know and love, without making it sound horrible and generic, and I assure you that I am not being sarcastic or ironic.
"[8] In December 2018 Wishful Thinking were featured on Radio Station Triple J's Short, Fast, Loud program of Great Australian Bands that had broken Up.
This led to a reunion tour in June 2019 that saw Wishful Thinking reforming as a four piece with original member Lachlan Jackson returning to the band on guitar.