We The Kings - We The Kings

Band: We The Kings
Album: We The Kings
Genre: Pop Punk
Label: S-Curve

Tracks:
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


Sometimes you hear an album, or even a single song, and you just know it's something special. I don't know if it's the beats, the lyrics, or the simple commercial appeal of We The Kings, but as soon as I heard, "Check Yes Juliet," on MTVU I knew I had found the something special. Shortly thereafter, we here at Under The Gun were blessed with a copy of the band's debut self titled album, which was released in October 2007, and, needless to say, we were impressed. This band isn't another group of guys with one catchy song and 10 filler tracks, but rather a young band that's onto something big.

From the first 15 seconds of We The Kings' opening track, "Secret Valentines," you can almost see tweens and teens going nuts at this summer's Warped Tour [which the band is playing every date of] while sweating in ninety degree weather. It's a perfect way to set a tone for the album. Travis Clark, lead vocalist for the band, has a voice that screams commercial appeal. It's not too high or low, but rather a perfect medium that allows for everyone to feel like they can sing along, and with these hooks, you're going to want to sing as loud as you can. "If the first song wasn't enough to hook a new listener, the follow-up, "Skyway Avenue," won't hinder that person from falling in love with the Kings. This track showcases lead guitarist Hunter Thomsen's skill at making a catchy riff while the lyrics, albeit typical of pop punk music, weave a lovely tale of a couple running away together [aka the old World vs. Us]. "Check Yes Juliet," the band's lead single, is, simply put, the perfect pop song. I haven't heard a pop punk song crafted so perfectly since All Time Low's "Dear Maria, Count Me In," and before that, I don't even know the last song to hit so many right notes. Not only are the lyrics perfect for sing alongs, but the beat laid down by Danny Duncan is undeniably dance inducing. Now, after three stunning tracks at the beginning of the album, We The Kings have set the bar pretty high for what is to follow and they don't disappoint. "August Is Over, the halfway point on the album, keeps the disc moving along swiftly with great harmonies, yet another dance inducing beat and all this while the lyrics speak of it being the saddest song he'll[Clark] ever write. A slightly calmer tone is taken at the beginning of "Don't Speak Liar," but Duncan's drum work keeps the song going as it builds to a hook that is undeniably catchy before returning to the more moderate pace. It's songs like this where every member showcases their talents best. I already mentioned Duncan's talents, but Calrk and Thomsen have amazing harmony and Drew Thomsen's bass paves a perfect groove for the song. The closing number, "This is Out Town," begins with Clark and a piano setting a somber tone, but the song itself is not melancholy in the least. It's a love song to the band's hometown, but is easily approachable from anyone who, as I think most of us do at somepoint, realize that even the horribly small towns we come from shaped us to who we are today. The song takes an epic leap from soft to full blown band with strings about halfway through as the entire band shouts, "This is out town," before it dies down once more for a finale. It's a great closing track as it shows us that the band is capable of even greater things than everything they've already shown us and leaves us anxiously waiting to see where they go next.

The self titled debut from We The Kings is destined to be the summer soundtrack for thousands of teens this year. From the single, "Check Yes Juliet," to the stunning, "This is Out Town," We The Kings have, on their debut album, found a way to craft almost entirely perfect pop songs without falling into too many cliches. The lyrics do lack in the creativity at times, but I'm sure with all the hooks and the beats that keep you moving, most won't even notice. We The Kings are the future of pop punk genre. It isn't a question of if they'll break out, it's only a matter of time.


*Written By: James Shotwell*
Grade: 8.5/10
MYSPACE