Band members Nicholas Petricca, Kevin Ray, Sean Waugaman and Eli Maiman

Like most Walk The Moon releases, the band’s newest album Talking Is Hard is easy to dance to. The band has continued with their goofy brand of synth-heavy pop songs, but for this their second full-length they have added a guitar-driven older edge. At times the record seems fit for a ‘70 discotheque or ‘80 dancehall; the band channels an older era (paired with what leadman Nicholas Petricca calls “cheese factor”) for songs like “We Are The Kids.”

“We Are The Kids” is like the synth-centered pop rock answer to Taylor Swift’s “22.” It has that same we-are-young-and-reckless vibe. However, instead of taking TSwift’s route of making fun of exes and dressing up like hipsters, the men of Walk the Moon shout at cops, howl at the moon, rip holes in their shirts and get mud on their sneakers in this slower jam. The glittery guitar and overall underdog attitude make this one of the strongest tracks on the record. The album’s lead single “Shut Up and Dance” is equally as fun and bright. It’s also absolutely infectious. It indeed makes you want to shut up and dance. The boy-meets-girl storyline bares resemblance to “Anna Sun” off the band’s debut record Walk The Moon and proves that lyrically Walk the Moon can still be terribly sweet and charming. Musically, Kevin Ray, the band’s bassist, wrote a wonderfully potent part for “Shut Up and Dance” and the synth gets a great solo halfway through. The song has a great energy that makes you want to jam along, no matter how embarrassing your dance moves are. The snapbacks and Say Anything reference make the music video equally as fun.

The band continues the throwback with “Sidekick.” In the band’s Spotify commentary for the album, Petricca aptly describes the “funky disco-vibes” and “bubbly synthesizers” of the song. He also admitted that the song is a “semi-embarrassing true story,” which makes this adorable little love song all the sweeter. The song has this really positive, upbeat tone. “Work This Body” is equally as feel good and uplifting. The opening claps and energy of the track showcase the album’s motivating side. The pounding, constantly changing percussion make it the track to work/workout to, but be warned you may break into dance instead of a run.

Walk the Moon have always been encouraging and cheery with their music and Talking is Hard continues on that trend, but at times with a more political edge. “Different Colors” and “Up 2 U” are the band’s more serious songs. They aren’t straight forward social commentary, but lyrically they definitely hedge into that territory. However, they don’t feel out of place amongst all the talk of dancing and “kissing on the kitchen floor.” Their strength stems from the fact that they don’t losing the energy.

“Portugal” and “Avalanche” are gentler sounds. The latter still has plenty of synth and beat, but it’s a song you can listen to sitting down. Compared to other songs on the record, which make you want to jump up and dance-along, it’s tamer. In “Avalanche” Petricca drifts through the upper half of his vocal range. He also hits hard lyrically. With lines like “you grow up when I’m not looking / we grow apart without knowing,” he makes the song sweet, but also kind of decimating. During the song’s breakdown, Petricca sings “no matter what you want / somebody else wants it just as bad / no matter what you got / somebody else has got it worse / no matter when I got to you somebody else got to you first.” It’s a simple sentiment, but as usual Petricca hits right on the mark. His lyrics have always been well-crafted and concise and “Portugal” may be lyrically some of his best work.

Talking might be hard for Petricca and the rest of Walk the Moon, but making music worthy of dancing is definitely a strength. Talking is Hard makes you want to go to the thrift store, buy a really bright windbreaker and dance with reckless abandon. It’s definitely an album worth picking up in physical form. You might even want to complete the throwback, dust off the ol’ walkman and dance.

Talking Is Hard

-Zoe Marquedant