ALBUM REVIEW: Life Is A Movie – Right On, Kid

RIGHT ON, KID have wasted no time in paving their own way in an oversaturated genre. The pop-punk band from Albuquerque, New Mexico opened for FOO FIGHTERS at a show when they only had two EPs released, the latter of which, When Words Are Enough, hit the Billboard Heatseekers chart at #61. Now, releasing via Manic Kat Records, Life Is A Movie is the band’s debut album. Comprising 11 songs, will the album follow the success of their EPs?

Introspective is the first and shortest song at only one minute and 14 seconds long. It starts with a spoken-word poem before launching into a high-energy song that smoothly transitions into Stay Close. An energetic albeit slightly generic pop-punk song, Stay Close is the type of song you’d think of when the genre is mentioned; fun and ready to get the crowd hyped at a live show. Nothing more, nothing less.

Thankfully, Head Sick improves upon the pop-punk sound and it feels more polished. The same can be said for Indigo. The production on the album is smooth and brings out the best on the songs. This is easily seen on Expressionless, a WATERPARKS-esque song that is one of the highlights.

Interlude is a gorgeous acoustic song that fits in the album neatly. Despite the rest of the songs so far being fast and heavy, this one feels like a warm welcome and does not slow down the album. The energy picks up on Blame It On Luck and 9/22, but it’s Come Back Into View that is the surprise. A tender slow song, it has everything; heartfelt guitars, gang vocals and a feeling of community.

With the changing pace of songs, this album should sound like it’s all over the place. However, the pacing is not affected at all. Each song flows into each other effortlessly. Cold Nights, Blank Stares brings the album full circle, with a slow start that builds up intensely to a rip-roaring crescendo. It’s another highlight of the album and truly shows how talented the band are.

Overall, Life Is A Movie is a stunning debut album that showcases the talent of one of the most exciting up-and-coming bands in pop-punk. Despite some slightly generic pop-punk songs at the start, it is a charming album full of joy-filled songs and some touching acoustic tracks. The production is excellent, and the album’s coherence shows that RIGHT ON, KID know what their sound is. Judging by the quality of this record, RIGHT ON, KID are about to become a big name, especially among fans of AS IT IS, MODERN BASEBALL and REAL FRIENDS.

Rating: 8/10

Life Is A Movie is set for release on September 17th via Manic Kat Records.

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