I was introduced to the band Walk the Moon and their new self-titled album yesterday from a friend at their label, RCA, and let me tell you…. it’s catchy as hell! Walk the Moon is a four piece band from Ohio who has done a lot of self promoting by putting out their albums independently and touring extensively with their own money. This is their first proper release and debut album for RCA Records. Prior to this release the band put out the album I Want! I Want! in 2010, The Other Side: B-sides and Rarities in 2009, and the EP The Anthem in 2008.
Their single “Anna Sun” is blowing up the radios everywhere! Its a catchy, danceable, synth driven, spacey, wild ride of a song with a chorus that everyone will be singing this summer. The album reminded me of bands like Young the Giant, Two Door Cinema Club, and at points Panic! At the Disco which makes sense because they have toured with all of those bands.
The opening track “Quesadilla” is most likely my favorite with its heavy drum opening and spacey synths, you’re put into a dancing upbeat mood right away. Another song that gets stuck in my head is “Tightrope”, with its guitar and bass opening and keys melody that gets stuck in your head for days, “Tightrope” reminded me of an upbeat Killers tune.
The album as a whole does get somewhat boring though, especially after 11 tracks of songs that all sound very similar. There is a nice break from the poppy dance anthems to the slow and serious “Iscariot” with lyrics like “I never imagined you dead/ But tell me, are you even aware”. The song is clearly there to break up the album so that it isn’t all pop dance rock. The closer “I Can Lift A Car” is the perfect example of a pop rock ballad with its crescendo throughout the song and its repeating choruses at the conclusion of the song.
Walk the Moon’s album is definitely something to put on your summer playlist and a band you should check out if they come to your town. In the end, the album does get a little stale since the songs are all very similar but still very fun.
Walk the Moon – “Walk the Moon”
Rating: 2.5/5
Key Tracks:
“Quesadilla”
“Lisa Baby”
“Shiver Shiver”
