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Album Review: Wallpaper. - Ricky Reed is Real


Wallpaper. is a band deeply rooted in the late night party scene with low radar hits fittingly titled "STUPiDFACEDD", "BEST SONG EVER," and "I Got Soul, I'm So Wasted." Initially started as a side project of frontman Eric Federic, the group has been successful. They have been publicly praised with the attention of MTV, signed a major record deal with Epic Records, and recently began a cross country adventure on the Vans Warped Tour. Their third album, Ricky Reed is Real, builds on the eccentric funk influences and laboriously constructed auto-tuned elements of the last album to create what Wallpaper. calls "pop music for the 99 percent".

The first single, "Good 4 It," continues where the previous album left off with club-demolishing beats and pulsing electronic synths easily making it a summer party anthem. As a vocalist, Eric Frederic, assuming the stage persona of Ricky Reed, finds himself relying on auto-tune to reach the pitch-perfect notes his lyrical inspiration doesn't allow him to reach. In this case, as is the case for the rest of the album, it seems to work in his favor by providing slickness to the polished and upbeat tempos. Other notable party hard songs "Puke My Brains Out" and "Last Call" center on pounding bass lines and catchy choruses. Their lyrics may be meaningless, but they never fail to possess a certain ambiance that only makes their listener forget what they are doing and start rocking out. 

It's perfectly suiting that Wallpaper.'s strongest track, "Let's Get Away With It," stays with the late night partying vibe they're known for. It's a promising, radio-friendly track that encourages people to paint the town red and forget what expectations others have for them. "The Underdog" sums up the personal struggles Eric Frederic has encountered while following his musical passion with cry out lyrics like "I was born the underdog with mud on my teeth and paws. Climb my way up to the top." The track "Geek Out" enlists seasoned rapper E-40 to describe an out of body experience where someone is just freaking out. 

It's hard to criticize the faults of an album when the primary focus is helping people escape their typical lifestyle filled with worries and problems in order to party. If anything some people will dislike the often overwhelming, ear splitting electronic punches some of theese songs pack. However, for a Saturday night out with friends, Wallpaper. is the new cornerstone for the late night party-rocking scene. 

 Grade: B




2 comments

  1. Unknown
    July 24, 2013 at 12:27 PM

    The good for it music video is really really cool, I love the idea behind it and I think it was very creative! http://smarturl.it/Good4ItWallpaper Check it out!

  2. Anonymous
    August 6, 2013 at 9:53 PM

    Love this song make sure you check out "Life of the Party" http://smarturl.it/LifeofthePartyWP

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