We The Kings - Review

We The Kings - Review

Track Listing:

1.Secret Valentine

2. Skyway Avenue

3. Check Yes Juliet

4. Stay Young

5. Whoa

6. August Is Over

7. The Quiet

8. Don't Speak Liar

9. Headlines Read Out

10. All Again For You

11. This Is Our Town

I won't lie to you. The number of similar sounding pop-punk bands out there simply astound me. I mean, o.k., if the formula was used by about 4 prominent bands I would understand, but for goodness' sake, there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of bands that use the same formula of generic pop-punk, lyrics about failed relationships and overused chord progressions (Guys, think of something besides I, IV and V please). And so we arrive at the self-titled debut album for Florida-based four-piece We The Kings. Hooky choruses, upbeat drums, bouncy bass lines... just your average run-of-the-mill punk band, no?

Not quite. (You knew I was going to say that didn't you?). While lacking in lyrical depth, the music certainly does possess way more catchiness than other punk bands... the it factor when it comes to success in the overcrowded pop-punk scene. We the Kings consists of Travis Clark (vocals, guitar), Hunter Thomsen (guitar), Drew Thomsen (bass) and Danny Duncan (drums), and has been dubbed as "the modern day Jimmy Eat World". Big words, indeed, for a band started in middle school. However, they live up to it on the debut album. We the Kings show everyone else that sometimes simplicity is the best method on songs such as the unbelievably catchy first single "Check Yes Juliet". Simple guitar riffs, a simple drum pattern and a thumping bass line make this a shoo-in for one of the best pop-punk singles of the year. However, the album is not just simplicity, though, showing glimpses of Hunter's technical ability on the guitar on tunes such as "Secret Valentine" and "Stay Young"

Indeed, the musical technicality of We The Kings defines their style. While not necessarily groundbreaking, the group seem to have found a formula to create pop songs that are catchy, simple, and yet not generic like every other band out there. There is not much more to say than that. The guitars hit hard without sounding too distorted, while Duncan is a tight drummer in the line of Switchfoot's Chad Butler. Drew Thomsen, the quiet antithesis of the other three flamboyant band members, knocks out bass notes that perfectly complement the guitars of Clark and Hunter, all the while emphasising Duncan's bass drum beats.

Tight as the band is, however, I did begin to feel a slight tediousness as the last quarter of the album began to play. Even for a band like We the Kings, who so skilfully manipulate the style of pop-punk, they are not invulnerable. Songs such as "Whoa", "Headlines Read Out" and "The Quiet" are still generic pop punk, but not as catchy and frankly a bit boring to listen too because there is simply nothing attractive about them. However, these are exceptions to the general excellence and originality with which the music is played.

The lyrics are the real Achilles heel of the album, though. While their music may possess some irresistible charm to it, the lyrics penned by the band are synonymous with pop-punk bands, with most, if not all of those bands crooning about girls, relationships, parties and the like. It is fortunate that We the Kings manage to be catchy in a musical sense, because these lyrics would not survive long in the cut-throat music business. Examples include "I'm crushed, black and blue, but you know I'd do it all again for you" on All Again For You and "Never looking back at what we've done, we'll say, it was love, 'cos I would die for you on Skyway Avenue" on Skyway Avenue. These two songs more or less summarise the lyrical themes towards which the album is geared. One aspect that was quite annoying for me was the fact that most of the songs dealt with the listener in the second person, always talking to "you". It felt very one-dimensional, and I cannot help but wonder how much greater the album might have been if Clark had stopped to think a little deeper into the intricacies of life and write from different perspectives, rather than just belting out aimless "Let's Rock!!" and "You're the most beautiful girl I've met" tunes. Having said that, the large majority of the pop-loving audience do not really appreciate deep, indecipherable lyrics, such as are present on songs from bands such as Saosin and U2, and this may have been a subtle inclination towards the mainstream audience that the band wants to break into.

Overall, the album was an enjoyable 40 minute listen for me, although I had to refrain from pressing the skip button on below-par tracks such as those mentioned above. The strongest tracks are without a doubt the first three, although tunes such as "Stay Young" and the raw, passionate album closer "This is our Town", which speaks about the band's appreciation for their home town of Bradenton, Florida. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys simple, catchy power pop. Watch this band, because they are set to be one of the prominent punk acts of the next few years.

Rating:3.5/5

- Josh Yuvaraj