We Are The in Crowd – Weird Kids
Review by Jessica Klinner
It’s been nearly three years since We Are The In Crowd released their debut album, Best Intentions. Since the release, the members of WATIC have grown and matured like most people do in a three year time span. Best Intentions was a great first album and really helped the band gain a solid fan base, but it seemed like there was some hidden potential just waiting to be found. The band needed someone to come along and challenge them to go above and beyond the standards they had set for themselves. They found their saving grace in producer John Feldmann (Panic! At The Disco, All Time Low, Four Year Strong). While “Kiss Me Again” and “Rumor Mill” from Best Intentions are great songs in their own respect, a certain depth is missing from the catchy tunes. Feldmann really helped the band step into their own and bring a voice to their music. WATIC just finished up a UK headliner with Neck Deep and Save Your Breath, and they have barely any time to recover before heading out on their first US headliner on February 21st with William Beckett, Set It Off, State Champs and Candy Hearts. The lineup of the headliner brings together an array of sounds that can be found on WATIC’s sophomore album, Weird Kids.
“Long Live The Kids” starts out as a soft piano ballad, but by the second verse, it transforms into a full-fledged pop rock song. It’s such a great opener because it really incorporates the themes and sounds that appear throughout the rest of the album. The whole song is an anthem, a cry to hold on to your youthful spirit. It shows that the album will be vulnerable and still give fans a pop-punched sound.
I’d hate to be whoever inspired the album’s second track, “The Best Thing (That Never Happened).” Lead singer Tay Jardine is sassier than ever singing, “I’m the best thing that never happened to you.” The song may sound upbeat and sweet, but Jardine cuts deep while passionately delivering the bold lyrics.
“Manners” brings back the dual vocal approach that many WATIC fans fell in love with in their earlier releases. Jardine and vocalist/guitarist Jordan Eckes take turns singing lines in the verse, allowing the song to take on different perspectives. The chorus stands out with Jardine belting out lyrics and Eckes yelling a response in the background in a pop punk fashion.
“Attention” was first released as a lyric video on the Hopeless Records YouTube channel last August. It’s the type of song fans would expect from the band, but with a much more developed sound and meaning. This song also hits on the album’s theme of wanting to move on yet feeling drawn to the past especially in the lyric that says, “I know the way I wanna be, but I’m trapped in who I am.”
“Remember To Forget You” begins with Eckes singing a tribute to George Strait’s “All My Exes Live In Texas.” The chorus of the song stands out among others on the album because of the vocal harmonies between Jardine and Eckes. It’s a beautiful duet that will make you want to grab a friend and create your own rendition of the song. Karaoke, anyone? Again, the song features incredible lyrics like, “We’re drowning in jealousy of people we want to be,” and “I’m so sick of being everything to everyone but me.” This is one of the hidden gems of the record.
The album takes an extremely emotional turn in the last few songs. “Don’t You Worry” is a really beautiful tribute to Jardine’s sister who struggled with and overcame substance abuse. Jardine’s emotion can really be felt when she sings, “Don’t tell me you’re fading. You’ve got so much that you can be. Don’t tell me it’s hopeless. You’ve got a reason to believe.” The entire song is such a wonderful display of love from Jardine to her sister, and it’s also a great song for anyone dealing with a personal crisis. Alright, now it’s time to get the tissues ready! “Windows In Heaven” is another personal song for Jardine. It’s about her late father who was also a musician and a heavy influence on her personally and musically. It’s the most emotional song the band has ever produced, and it hits home for anyone who has lost a loved one. On both songs, Jardine delivers an incredible vocal performance and allows listeners to get a glimpse inside her personal struggles. It’s a risky move to put such personal songs out there, but WATIC couldn’t have decided to be more honest at a better time in their career. It shows their audience that they struggle like everyone else and allows them to connect with their fans on a more intimate level.
The final track called “Reflections” ends the album on an upbeat note after the last two tracks take listeners on an emotional roller coaster. It’s appropriately titled because it reflects back on the album and gives a great conclusion with lyrics like, “Destiny is overrated so I think I’ll write my own.” The song sends listeners back into the real world with a positive message about being hopeful for whatever the future holds.
Feldmann really pushed WATIC to step out of their musical comfort zones and create an album that is not only fun, but powerful. Jardine and Eckes have never given a better vocal performance. Weird Kids possesses the best of pop music mixed with the best of punk rock. Not only are the lyrics more honest, but also the vocals are crisper and the instrumentals are sharper. It’s easy to tell that the band poured their heart and soul into this album. If fans were beginning to doubt where the band was taking their sound, it’s time for them to come back home. This album will give new life to WATIC and their fan base. Every song is incredible and possesses an emotional energy only obtained by the members being on the same wavelength and executing their individual parts. Weird Kids strikes at the heart of WATIC and stands as a testament to their growth as a band since releasing Best Intentions. The songs are still catchy, but resonate on a deeper level than a head bob or a sing-along.
Overall Rating: 5/5
Recommended Tracks: “Manners” and “Windows In Heaven”
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