This album? Might be better than therapy! Texas-based band Waterparks are back with their sixth studio album, JINX. A quintessential theme of Waterparks is that within the madness of the current state of the world, they’re going to tell you how they feel. Along with a colorful aesthetic and sharp lyricism to link all 13 tracks together.
The band comes out swinging with their first track, “TELL ME WHY,” which not only feels cinematic, explosive, and graphic. Additionally, the track has an all-star cast of features. Mark Hoppus, Danny Elfman, Eric Nally, and Dillion Francis all make their mark in the brutally blunt song. “RED GUITAR" follows up by reminding us that talent only really gets you so far in life and being a superstar comes with a hefty cost.
They aren’t the only stars that make appearances in the album; Timothée Chalamet is name-dropped in “IF THESE LYRICS WERE CONFIDENTIAL." The song is a tongue-in-cheek jab at the music industry with typical Waterparks’ style clever lyrics and unserious hot takes. I don’t live in LA, but if I were to describe LA’s vibe, I’d use this song.
The band doesn't stray far from their typical alternative pop/rock sound in JINX. "PROWLER" will let you know that. The song does a fantastic job of concretely setting a boundary that bands in the past maybe haven’t set so well. “I’m a singer, not a savior,” is repeated throughout the song. It is a much-needed reminder that rock stars are in fact people too, and are not here to fix you. “TASTE LIKE TANGERINE" sonically reflects how Waterparks has evolved with their signature sound while also challenging themselves to push their own boundaries. “MIRAGE” is also a continuation of the slower songs that are always featured in any Waterparks album. Along with the song itself, the lyric “Why does time heal everything but me?" gives an introspective, sincere, and genuine insight into the mind of Waterparks.
“BETTER THAN THERAPY” and “NOBODY BUT YOU” show off the romantic side of the band. The sentimental, mushy, gushy, lovey, dovey side showcases how cute yet absolutely terrifying falling in love can be. I absolutely love when the band does talk about how psychotic and out of control love can make them feel. “PLAYING MUSIC,” specifically the lyric, “I’d spend seven days in the same clothes ‘cause you said you liked my outfit a week ago," is enough to show anyone that Waterparks will bend over backwards for the people they love.
“ANY MINUTE NOW” and “GIRLS NEED GUNS" are the final two songs of the album. “ANY MINUTE NOW" brings this sound of nostalgia with a theatrical ending, leaving you speechless. The song reminds us that it doesn’t matter where you're at in life. Everything is a mess and imperfect. “GIRLS NEED GUNS" brought an incredibly special guest out, Ginny Knight (Singer Awsten Knight’s mom). The song features a heartfelt phone call between Awsten and Ginny about her experiences with women’s reproductive rights in America. Mentioning how she was a teenager when abortion was legalized in America and what expectations of womanhood have been like for her and her peers. She notes the positives of the modern women’s rights movement while acknowledging we still have a long way to go.
If you’re already a fan of Waterparks, this album reinforces what makes Waterparks so special and lovable. If you’ve never listened to Waterparks, this is a great introduction album. This album absolutely screams Waterparks and tells you exactly what this band is about. They’re honest, charming, raw, keep you guessing, and always stand up for what they believe is right. This album is a great follow-up to Intellectual Property and perfectly fits right in with the band's discography. Stream JINX and check out their website for more!
