If the
sophomore album from We Are The In Crowd is any indication at what their future
looks like, then listeners are in for much larger attitude coupled with a lively
new presence. It’s only been a little over 2 years since the group released
their debut album, Best Intentions, and
it seems as though they immediately went to work at channeling their
determination and strive for chart domination into an even stronger second
album. These pop-punks called in the help of Panic! At The Disco producer John
Feldmann to craft their sound into something a bit outside the comfort zone of
full on punk music while still maintaining the bursting energy associated with
one of their live concerts.
From the
moment you start listening to Weird Kids,
there is a distinct feeling of surprise and curiosity. There appears to be an
ongoing theme that encapsulates the idea of human strength and knowing that We
Are The In Crowd are very in touch with their fans this can only be interpreted
as a positive message.
Starting
the album off is opener “Long Live the Kids,” a signaling track that starts off
slow and mellow, but then swells into an all out jam with band front woman
Taylor Jardine’s powerful vocals taking over the guitar-ridden track. In
similar fashion to the band’s older material, they continue the “call and
response” effect between both Jardine and fellow vocalist Jordan Eckes,
especially prominent on the song “Come Back Home.” This one allows Eckes his
chance to shine by showcasing his smooth tone and also shows how well the
harmonious blending of both singers’ voices works in the group’s favor. Almost
equally pleasing is their combined vocals on “Manners,” which lyrically
discusses a couples issues with each other by bluntly saying “What
goes around comes around. Now it's right back here to haunt you. We tried (I
earned my wings teaching guys like you). Oh we tried (to keep your mouth shut,
so keep your mouth shut).”
Across the ten track offering, the top song is
arguably “The Best Thing (That Never Happened),” the first song released from
the group to commemorate their latest venture. Without a doubt, this song
contains a catchy hook and rhythm unlike anything they've previously crafted,
but above all, its whole atmosphere and vibe serve as a reminder that
experimenting with sound can be a welcomed change. The album doesn’t even
falter into oblivion when it tries its hands at hard-hitting, darker material
like in the touching tribute to Jardine’s deceased father in “Windows In
Heaven.” This goes to prove the band’s versatility in creating heart warming
tributes as well as party anthems, which is often a characteristic that’s
difficult to meaningfully convey.
Almost every new artist tries everything in their power to avoid the elusive sophomore slump when going to work on their second
album. Luckily for We Are The In Crowd, they were not only able to avoid the
slump entirely, but overall they were able to expand and diversify their sound
to please a wider audience beyond the confines of pop-punk enthusiasts.
Grade: B+
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