State Champs - Kings of the New Age (May 13, 2022) • Page 6

Never in a million years expected Tenpenny to do a pop punk song.

 

Is he popular? I'd never heard of him before this album

 

He’s broke out the past 2 years or so in the country scene.

 

Now you see why.

 

I'm really glad I let this sit with me for a while before talking about it, because it's grown on me immensely over the last week or so. I still think from front to back their debut is still their strongest, with 'Around the World and Back' JUST behind. But this is comfortably in front of 'Living Proof'.

'Eventually' is probably a top 5 track of all time from this band - just fantastic. Other standouts are 'Here to Stay', 'Act Like That', 'Just Sound', and 'Some Minds Don't Change'. The last one in particular is SUCH a quintessential pop punk closer, I just can't help but smile when it plays because it hits every note I want it to from a song like that.

Not a single one of the features really does anything for me unfortunately, and there are some songs that sound like they could've been written in their sleep ('Sundress' and 'Where Were You' come to mind).

Overall, this has slot quite comfortably into my rotation and it's a really great addition to their catalogue. Missed out on their UK tour sadly, but hopefully I can see them live again relatively soon - after Derek's voice heals...

 

I agree with every word here. Especially the first three songs you mentioned. All of them could and should be heard by larger audiences. I am excited to see Act Like That as a potential song of the summer. That chorus can’t be contained.

 

Popping back in to say that 'Half Empty' has really grown on me.

 

The more I listen to it the more I realize that Act Like That is an absolute bop and the star of the album

 

I honestly think Mitchell's bridge part is the best thing on the whole album, and he's not even in the band haha

 

I truly wonder how much they would have to rework it, if at all, to get on country radio.

I don’t love that necessarily, but a great song is a great song and if it gets them ears and eyes and dollar signs, in 2022, get that fucking money.

 

I know Invicta was mentioned, and Half Empty feels closest to that style. I enjoy it

 

Apparently the album didn't even chart on the top 200. ATWAB charted at #30 and LP at #28. I wonder if the long promotion cycle/long wait in general affected anything

 

That's pretty surprising. I thought it would be much better than that.

 

I love Invicta...I like the comparison with that song, and maybe even 'Fake It' too.

 

Finally listened to this, and mildly disappointed based on how much I liked the singles. It reminds me of Around the World, which also started off strong (love those first four songs on both albums) and then I just don't like much else on either record. I still think Just Sound is my favorite here.

I echo people saying they still love TFT the most, the record doesn't sound good to me (not a fan of the tones/drum sounds) but the songwriting still captures me the most.

 

I did a discography run over the weekend. Still love TFT but ATWAB and LP fall off after the first few songs. This new album might be my favorite.

 

You'd think a music magazine would have better audio recording quality. This sounds like butt. Derek's voice is also really rough.

 

They sound a lot better in this acoustic set at Paste Studio

 

oh god, derek...this just won't get better unless he rests.

 

The quality isn't great but Derek's voice sounds really banged up here too

 

I know this isn't an original critique, but whenever Derek performs live, his whole face turns red as a tomato and he starts struggling to breathe. Great vocalist, but it's clear he has no professional training to take care of his voice long-term.

 

Are they the douchiest looking band of all time?

 

They all look fairly punchable

 

fantastic contribution guys

 

The sunglasses indoors is a little corny but they all look like pretty regular guys to me lol