State Champs Living Proof: More Pop Punk Perfection
This blog has been pretty quiet for a while and for that all I can do is say sorry and blame education! But, I've finished now and I am going to try and get back into some sort of routine with posts and this week there'll be two in one week #miracle! We're starting off with an album review of State Champs Living Proof album that was released on 15 June. I'm a massive State Champs fan and have been for about a year and a half so I've been waiting for this new album for ages!
Starting with Criminal was a really smart move because it started the album off really nicely and also set a great tone for the entire album. It was fast tempo and high energy but wasn't too heavy and could really be listened to by anyone. One of the things you'll notice about State Champs and their songs is that they always let Derek's voice shine and this song is no different. It showed his amazing tone but also his wide vocal range, he has to be one of the best vocalists in pop punk today!
It was a great song to start off an amazing album and it didn't let up throughout. Fast tempo songs like Frozen, which has a great emotional sentiment and story too it that is emphasised by Derek's voice, Dead and Gone, Cut through Static and Safe Haven keep this pure pop punk feeling out and they make it seem like the guys really thought about creating songs which would be amazing live! The songs that have this more energetic feel to them are all so different and no two songs anything like each other!
But, that doesn't mean that the whole album's all like this because we have some real emotional, heart wrenching tracks that contain a core pop punk essence but are essentially ballads. The Fix Up is one of those songs that shows the fact that State Champs aren't just doing the same thing throughout. The intro to the song perfectly shows off Derek's velvety voice and, even with it's simple melody, it's so effective and gives the song purpose and emotion! This doesn't mean it's boring because halfway we get a tempo change which keeps the song raw and able to draw a listener in. Unlike the other songs, Time Machine is a pure ballad and, with the vocals of Mark Hoppus, it shows a different side to the band and, by not emphasising heavy instrumental sections, the melody carries on this heart wrenching story to create this song that is perfect for days where you want a song to be sad too!
Even though all of the songs above were epic, I had a few that I was just obsessed with and I could listen to them all day. One of them is Crystal Ball which was released before the album came out and really is the epitome of perfection from the concept to the lyrics to the melody. It starts off at a much slower tempo then the other songs but it builds throughout and just has that feel that you want music to have at a club - it just makes you want to get up and dance, I mean I bet it's going to sound amazing live! Lightning and Our Time to Go are two others from the album which are favourites of mine! Lightning is completely different from all the other songs and I fell in love with it straight away with it's magical lyrics, use of instruments and crescendo at the end which gives it a pop punk edge but keeps that pure emotion through Derek's voice. Like all the songs, Our Time to Go is pure, lyrical genius like the line 'Feel the crash of the waves, Wash away all the thoughts, That come at you like monsters at night,' is magical and so relatable for so many people! Ending with Sidelines might not have been my choice but, with it's melody not being too fast tempo or slow, it was a great way to end an amazing album!
Overall, this album was exactly what I expected from State Champs! It was easy to listen too but that didn't mean it was one dimensional, there were so many layers to each song, like Mine is Gold, and each was both melodically and lyrically amazing! They kept the core of what State Champs is with amazing lyrics, beautiful vocals and catchy melodies with punk influences and breathtaking bridges. Sometimes I get disappointed by second albums, but not this one!
Starting with Criminal was a really smart move because it started the album off really nicely and also set a great tone for the entire album. It was fast tempo and high energy but wasn't too heavy and could really be listened to by anyone. One of the things you'll notice about State Champs and their songs is that they always let Derek's voice shine and this song is no different. It showed his amazing tone but also his wide vocal range, he has to be one of the best vocalists in pop punk today!
It was a great song to start off an amazing album and it didn't let up throughout. Fast tempo songs like Frozen, which has a great emotional sentiment and story too it that is emphasised by Derek's voice, Dead and Gone, Cut through Static and Safe Haven keep this pure pop punk feeling out and they make it seem like the guys really thought about creating songs which would be amazing live! The songs that have this more energetic feel to them are all so different and no two songs anything like each other!
But, that doesn't mean that the whole album's all like this because we have some real emotional, heart wrenching tracks that contain a core pop punk essence but are essentially ballads. The Fix Up is one of those songs that shows the fact that State Champs aren't just doing the same thing throughout. The intro to the song perfectly shows off Derek's velvety voice and, even with it's simple melody, it's so effective and gives the song purpose and emotion! This doesn't mean it's boring because halfway we get a tempo change which keeps the song raw and able to draw a listener in. Unlike the other songs, Time Machine is a pure ballad and, with the vocals of Mark Hoppus, it shows a different side to the band and, by not emphasising heavy instrumental sections, the melody carries on this heart wrenching story to create this song that is perfect for days where you want a song to be sad too!
Even though all of the songs above were epic, I had a few that I was just obsessed with and I could listen to them all day. One of them is Crystal Ball which was released before the album came out and really is the epitome of perfection from the concept to the lyrics to the melody. It starts off at a much slower tempo then the other songs but it builds throughout and just has that feel that you want music to have at a club - it just makes you want to get up and dance, I mean I bet it's going to sound amazing live! Lightning and Our Time to Go are two others from the album which are favourites of mine! Lightning is completely different from all the other songs and I fell in love with it straight away with it's magical lyrics, use of instruments and crescendo at the end which gives it a pop punk edge but keeps that pure emotion through Derek's voice. Like all the songs, Our Time to Go is pure, lyrical genius like the line 'Feel the crash of the waves, Wash away all the thoughts, That come at you like monsters at night,' is magical and so relatable for so many people! Ending with Sidelines might not have been my choice but, with it's melody not being too fast tempo or slow, it was a great way to end an amazing album!
Until next time my musical chums,
Bye for Now
xx
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