We The Kings: We The Kings
We The Kings release their self-titled debut album
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Monday, 08, Sep 2008 02:45
Virgin Records, out now.
In a nutshell...
Bright-eyed, bushy-tailed infectious pop-punk
b>What's it all about?
Eleven tracks of power-pop goodness from a band hailing from the USA's sunshine state aka Florida. Featuring the singles Check Yes Juliet and Secret Valentine, the album is produced by S*A*M and Sluggo (The Academy Is... and Gym Class Heroes).
Who's it by?
We The Kings are lead singer and guitarist Travis Clark, drummer Danny Duncan, bassist Drew Thomsen and Hunter Thomsen on guitar. Formed while still at high school, the Bradenton, Florida foursome released a number of independent records before emerging with their self-titled debut. The band have recently toured in Britain supporting The Academy Is... and are about to head on a co-headlining jaunt across the US with the Fueled By Ramen quintet.
To read the inthenews.co.uk interview with We The Kings, click here
As an example...
"They'll tear us apart if you give them the chance/Don't sell your heart/Don't say we're not meant to be." - Check Yes Juliet
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Zip I'm afraid to say, though with any luck the alt-rock and punk press should throw them some plaudits.
What the others say
"Aimed squarely at the hearts of pre-teen girls and boys with jeans that are tighter fitting than that of their sisters, We The Kings' self-titled debut could easily become the soundtrack to any youngsters awkward journey through adolescence." - The Music Magazine
"The breezy lyrics and cheery pop riffs describe a teenage summer full of hopes, tears and love." - Rock Midgets
So is it any good?
Songs about relationships? Check. Catchy choruses? Check. Impossibly good-looking? Check. Yes, Florida upstarts We The Kings subscribe to the typical pop-punk image and how they pull it off well with tunes which will ingrain themselves in your brain no matter if you like it or not. Luckily for you listeners out there the band knows how to write one hell of a pop song ,with recent single Check Yes Juliet and Skyway Avenue proving to be particular highlights.
All Again For You especially demonstrates the band's penchant for songs about high-school romance as well Travis Clark's vocal range, while Whoa, with its unsurprisingly whoa-ing chorus, is bigger than Simon Amstell's hair.
One complaint - and the record's main sticking point - is the overall lack of variation - be it musical or lyrical - which consists of songs about falling in love with girls or being dumped by them, wrapped up in catchy hooks and barely more than three minutes long. That said, pop-punk has never claimed to be the most inventive of musical genres and album closer This Is Our Town is a rather delightful piano-driven mini-epic. Add the fact that during their stint supporting The Academy Is... WTK performed a rather impressive cover of Feel Good Inc by Gorillaz - there is the impression the Floridian band are genuinely talented musicians.
If you're already a fan of the likes of Fall Out Boy and Hit The Lights (like I am) chances are that you'll adore We The Kings. If not then there's little here that's going to convert you. Hopefully when it comes to their next album they can break a little bit away from the shackles of pop-punk and offer something that is slightly more inventive - though just as infectious and fun - as this debut.
7/10
Ashley King