We the Kings

iTunes Review

Much in the vein of All American Rejects or Cobra Starship, Florida's We the Kings are masters of easy-to-digest melodies and song construction, inspiring pop-rock fans everywhere to fist-pump and pogo in their polo shirts til the sweat stains set in. A joyous energy drives this foursome, lifting potentially downer lyrics such as, "If you jump, I will jump too / we will fall together / from the building's ledge / never looking back at what we've done," to the level of celebration rather than devastation, which is saying something. Alt-rock fans looking for some kind of edge won't find it with We the Kings, who happily (one assumes) create honest, unpretentious, pop-rock that belongs on commercial radio, blasting from cars cruising in summer light or pulsing through iPod headphones on crowded buses. Opening track "Secret Valentine" has soaring vocal hooks and simple, see-saw guitars that tell you exactly what's ahead, and along with the suicide-pact contemplation "Skyway Avenue," serve as the heart of the album. This is a self-issued debut that's both solid and promising.