Talking Is Hard [LP]

by Walk the Moon

Overview

The second major-label-issued full-length outing from the crafty Cincinnati-based quartet, Talking Is Hard finds Walk the Moon doubling down on their predilection for neon-streaked '80s dance music with a 12-track slab of twisty, pulsating, yet always melodious Phoenix-, Jukebox the Ghost-, Bleachers-, and Foster the People-inspired indie pop that's as clever as it is tooth-decay inducing. Produced by Tim Pagnotta (Neon Trees, Matthew Koma) and mixed by Neal Avron (Weezer, New Found Glory), Talking Is Hard is a fevered road trip-ready mixtape in search of the perfect summer party house, albeit a domicile filled to the rafters with pretty, feathery-haired youths who have been poured into Calvin Kleins and are smoking Capris and knocking back vodka-spiked juice boxes instead of craft beer. Nowhere is that flair for John Hughes ephemera more apparent than the album's first single, "Shut Up and Dance," a pulsing, closing credits-ready anthem that oozes upbeat millennial enthusiasm, yet contains just enough angst to evoke a Breakfast Club post-lunch therapy session. Opening cut "Different Colors" also does a nice job of balancing the two persuasions, offering up a nice mix of Bastille-influenced, swirly electro-pop atmosphere and dense, heavily arpeggiated retro-fitted indie rock. In fact, that pretty much sums up the bulk of the album, with exceptions arriving via the slick, R&B-infused "We Are the Kids" and "Aquaman," the latter of which may have actually been recorded in 1984, but Walk the Moon are good enough at what they do and deliver their product with such confidence and verve that it's easy to forgive them their trespasses. ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	12/02/2014
Label:	Rca
UPC:	0888430980914
Rank:	33954

Tracks

1. Different Colors
2. Sidekick
3. Shut Up and Dance
4. Up 2 U
5. Avalanche
6. Portugal
7. Down in the Dumps
8. Work This Body
9. Spend Your $$$
10. We Are the Kids
11. Come Under the Covers
12. Aquaman

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Walk the Moon   Primary Artist
Nicholas Petricca   Vocals,Keyboards,Percussion
Eli Maiman   Guitar,Vocals
Sean Waugaman   Vocals,Percussion
Kevin Ray   Bass,Vocals

Technical Credits

Walk the Moon   Composer
Matt Radosevich   Composer
Neal Avron   Mixing
Tim Pagnotta   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Erwin Gorostiza   Creative Director
Mauro Rubbi   Drum Technician
Ryan McMahon   Composer,Programming,Vocal Producer,Instrumentation
Shervin Lainez   Photography
Joe LaPorta   Mastering
David Wolter   A&R
Meghan Foley   Logo,Art Direction
Brian Phillips   Digital Editing
John Ryan   Composer
Captain Cuts   Producer
Nicholas Petricca   Programming,Group Member
Eli Maiman   Composer,Programming,Group Member
Sean Waugaman   Composer,Group Member
Ben Berger   Composer,Programming,Vocal Producer,Instrumentation
Scott Skrzynski   Mixing Assistant
Jarett Holmes   Engineer,Programming,Digital Editing
Kevin Ray   Composer,Group Member
Allen Casillas   Digital Editing
Jason Matheny   Graphic Design
Nicholas Petricco   Composer
Ryan Gillmore   Digital Editing