If The Ready Set, Cobra Starship, and Never Shout Never had a child, it would be Waterparks. Every song this band puts out reminds me of the energy I first felt when I first dove into this genre of music, and debut album “Double Dare” is just another bop from these Houston natives. With four singles released before the set date of November 4, 2016, and a 24-hour early release on all major music sites, Waterparks is officially going to take over today’s music scene.
A huge downfall in many albums released by bands of the Pop-Punk genre is the fear that every song will sound the same as the one before. Thankfully, “Double Dare’s” extreme diversity is a breath of fresh air for old and new fans alike. Every song has its own unique sound and message for fans to enjoy. Some personal favorites include 21 Questions, Dizzy, and Plum Island.
While Waterparks pays homage to past works in their song “Little Violence” with lines such as “…my friends are always mad, we’re mad all the time” and “I ripped into you with my blacklight”, in reference to their first EP “Blacklight” and song “Mad All The Time”, these connections to the past do not take away from the new and unique sound that is presented throughout the album. The fact that “Little Violence” is a punk song making fun of punk songs is also an added bonus that shows off the band members’ quirky personalities and desire to be different from those who have come before them.
“Double Dare” is the kind of album that makes you want to blow out the speakers in your car while driving around on a summer night, or dance around your room as you get ready for your day, yet it also makes you want to cry a bit when you really listen to the lyrics. Waterparks has the ability to write dark lyrics behind an upbeat tempo, intriguing the listener to come back for more. Check out track 2, “Gloom Boys” for a prime example of this.
Though many may argue that Waterparks’ fame will be short lived, “Double Dare” is an album that has something for everyone to love. 2017 is sure to be the year Waterparks takes over this world of music, and I could not be more excited to be along for the ride.