warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

'Talking Is Hard' By Walk The Moon: Album Review

Vanessa Batyko |
December 3, 2014 | 9:32 p.m. PST

Staff Reporter

Twitter/@Walkthemoonband
Twitter/@Walkthemoonband
Charming romance, self-confidence, and childhood innocence: three things that practically all humans pursue and admire.

These are the veins that run through Walk The Moon’s latest album, "Talking Is Hard." Whether you’re cruising down Sunset Blvd. with your speakers bumping “Different Colors,” or gazing into your girlfriend’s eyes with “Come Under The Covers” softly playing in the background, Walk The Moon’s second release is a feel-good, story-telling, fist-pumping album suited for just about anyone’s ears. I can almost guarantee that you’ll be foolishly smiling and unintentionally bobbing your head when you hear vocalist Nicholas Petricca’s exuberant voice through your headphones. 

READ MORE: Walk The Moon At The Hollywood Palladium: Review

On the other hand, the album’s mood-lifting ability is probably one of its biggest drawbacks. The album is reminiscent of puppy love and childhood games, with innocent and basic lines such as, “Why don’t you stay with me and be my sidekick?” In the song, “Down In The Dumps”, Petricca sings, “You can throw all the fits and the tantrums you want, but I won’t let you bring me back down.”

Although the lyrics are sentimental and “cute,” Walk The Moon doesn’t seem to put very much consideration into the diction of their songs. If you’re searching for an album with poetic, compelling lyrics, you may want to set this CD aside for someone who simply wants to dance to some upbeat tunes.

Now, don’t get me wrong here: the album showcases some of the band’s best song compositions yet. With dreamy synths, captivating choruses, powerful drumming, and blissful falsetto segments, Walk The Moon brings us an album that rings true to the group’s spirited nature.

Bassist Kevin Ray and drummer Sean Waugaman work together to create a firm, invigorating, and unique backbone for every song on the album. And as always, Eli Maiman never fails to execute original guitar riffs that will be stuck in the heads of listeners for days.

Currently signed to RCA Records along with Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, and Justin Timberlake, Walk The Moon has come a long way since independently releasing their first album, "i want, i want" (featuring their number one crowd-pleaser, “Anna Sun”) in 2010. The neon-clad, face-paint-wearing indie-pop band has sure made a name for themselves, touring alongside fun., Young The Giant, and Panic! At The Disco. 

These four enthusiastic guys will be going on a national tour with the Griswolds for the next few months. And believe me, a live performance by Walk The Moon is something that you don’t want to miss. Each band member uses up every ounce of energy he has in order to create a phenomenally engaging (and admittedly sweaty) show. And by the time you leave one of their concerts, you’ll know all of those energetic, catchy songs by heart.

Most Noteworthy Songs: “Different Colors,” “Shut Up and Dance”

Reach Staff Reporter Vanessa Batyko here. 



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.