Smile Kid

With their 2007 debut, We the Kings modeled their sound after groups like Jimmy Eat World and The Academy Is, mixing slickly produced pop songs and bleeding-heart lyrics to tuneful effect. The approach may have been familiar, but songs like "Check Yes Juliet" still packed one hell of a sugary punch, and the Kings became emo royalty as a result. Smile Kid arrives two years after that album's release, bringing with it another batch of hooks and a polished, compressed sound courtesy of producers S*A*M & SLUGGO. Frontman Travis Clark knows his audience well, and his summery songs appeal to everything that emo pop fans find holy. The guitar riffs are anthemic, the melodies are supersized, and the lyrics rarely stray from such carpe diem sentiments as "Let's make champagne rain down from the sky, let's toast to the night!" Older listeners might not get it, but the Kings' fans should find plenty to smile about with this release. ~ Andrew Leahey, Rovi