The line between what’s pop punk and what’s just pop is becoming increasingly more obscured. With 5 Seconds of Summer as cover stars on alt-mags, 20 year old former teenage anarchists going mental over Busted reunions, and You Me At Six being heard at all hours on mainstream radio, it seems like it’s the perfect time for Waterparks to make a splash in the scene.
Already riding on a huge wave of momentum, the three-piece from Texas have so far this year released a huge single titled ‘Crave’, completed stints on the Slam Dunk Festival and Warped Tour and supported the likes of Good Charlotte and Sleeping With Sirens. They’re certainly getting their name out there to a specific audience if nothing else.
Their debut album ‘Double Dare’ sees Waterparks blur these genre boundaries. One moment they’re sounding bubblegum sweet and utterly disposable, the next they’ll come out with bursts of energy and hooks that could easily threaten the big players on the scene.
Opener ‘Hawaii (Stay Awake)’ wastes no time in giving you a clear impression on how this album is going to go with slickly produced, massive choruses and dumb lyrics that lack any kind of emotional depth. Waterparks’ colourful, blast from the past sound is like catching your little brother wearing your old oversized Blink-182 shirt: it’s not cool anymore but you let him off because it’s cute that he’s trying to fit in.
Singer Awsten Knight sounds like a younger Brendon Urie. He clearly shares the same level of imagination, which only makes you excited about where Waterparks could go from here. Similar to Set it Off (but n), the more layers they add, the more distinct they start to sound as the album progresses. The band have a ton of electronic elements to their sound (they call themselves ‘electro punk’ but that just makes you want to facepalm instantly). There are moments where a genuine edge comes out. ‘Made in America’ for example ups the tempo to rapid speeds and ‘Dizzy’ arrives with a surprisingly abrasive bite.
‘Little Violence’ is a weird attempt at being aggressive and it comes across horrendously. Sometimes the adolescent level of depth this album offers can get on your nerves but you have to give it a pass when you realise you’ll be singing along for days, maybe even weeks to come.
They might not be bringing anything new to the table and ‘Double Dare’ might be lacking the grit that bands like Neck Deep and State Champs are offering, but there’s still a huge place for a carefree and creative band like Waterparks in pop punk. Their debut shouldn’t be dismissed for its dumbness; it should be championed for being a nostalgic reminder that the scene doesn’t have to be all serious. Sometimes stupid songs about stupid things is all we need.
Louis Kerry