On February 18th We Are The In Crowd's second full length will officially be released but until then there's a stream over on MTV. Over the past few weeks they've put out a few tracks from WEIRDkids and each one has been completely brilliant. With each new song I was thinking they've put out the best from the album but it just kept getting better. The second this stream went up I was all over it and let me tell you - this album is 100% their best work yet.
Opener 'Long Live The Kids' starts with a melodic simple piano beat and Tay Jardine's lowered vocals. Strings and drums build momentum in the background before the song kicks off and turns into something of an anthem. Delicious growly vocals come from Tay as she sings 'I wanna scream, I wanna live' but perhaps the most important part of this song is the message 'You can't tell us no' which is iterated with fist pumping gang vocals.
Moving into fast paced 'The Best Thing (That Never Happened)' the level of sass that comes from this song could give Honey Boo Boo a run for her money. Quite possibly the best break up song to ever exist with insults flying everywhere - 'so toxic you ain't nothing but a prick' and 'you'll crack just like the rest when I break your fucking jaw' being my personal favourites - the catchy beat held up by Rob Chianelli on the drums will have you pressing repeat for a long time to come.
'Manners' is the first song on the album where Jordan Eckes' vocals take a main role in the song. We're used to the vocals going back and forth between the two, arguing, well - both sides of the story. Instead Jordan is supporting Tay, the chorus has her bellowing 'we tried oh we tried' whilst Jordan sings 'I earned my wings teaching guys like you to keep you mouth shut, so keep your mouth shut' it's a different dynamic between the two and it works. Musically it's tame, with speed and sound picking up for the chorus until the last time round where you'd have to be Usain Bolt to keep up.
Currently my favourite song from the album, 'Come Back Home' is softer than what we're used to by the five piece and carries a slight country vibe. Acoustic guitars and kick drums start the songs with Jordan opening it which seems surprising when you first listen. The harmonies between Jordan and Tay on the verses are some of the most stunning i've heard and the chorus is a kick in the gut - 'and your brand new friends they won't care about you when the party ends.' This song gets it.
'Attention' feels like a bridge between Best Intentions and their newer material. With heavier drums and bossy vocals from Tay the song sums up the album and in a way the band themselves. Without a doubt the most punk song on the album 'Dreaming Out Loud' is a huge step from their older music. They've always been walking the pop line of pop-punk but on this track they've thrown that out the window and wrote their punkiest song yet with rough choppy chords being the highlight. Flipping the coin 'Remember (To Forget You)' opens with electronic synthesized music and becomes a pop tune with an excellent bridge 'we're drowning in jealousy of people we wanna be' where Jordan exercises his own growls.
Showing their development from the last couple of years 'Don't Worry' is another side to WATIC previously unseen. String arrangements and almost folksy 'uh e uh oh's' lead the song into a chorus that explodes with 'don't you worry about a thing' and a quick trip down the punk road before returning to the strings. The bridge is another cracker with fantastic lyrics and vocals from Tay ending in those much loved gang vocals which also appear at the end of 'Windows In Heaven' where Tay's stunning vocals boast just how much her range has grown. Going from gorgeous low vocals to breathy spine tingling highs her emotion in the song pours out into the most mature song they've written yet.
Closing the album is another punky effort where each member stands out in what they do. 'Reflections' is the perfect closing to a refreshing album about growing up and learning to be you. 'Destiny is overrated so I think i'll write my own' is the ultimate summary to what We Are The In Crowd stand for and i'm guessing with this incredible versatile effort from the quintet they're writing their way to musical stardom.
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