Riddlin Kids - Hurry Up and Wait

Last summer some friends and I took a trip to Texas to see the final shows of the Toadies. The Riddlin' Kids were the opening band for the shows we saw, and we were all impressed with their live performance. At the time they weren't signed, and I knew it wouldn't be long before they got picked up. Six months later I get a CD in the mail from none other than the Riddlin Kids who are now signed to Columbia. I felt that I need to mention this story because that week in Texas was one of the greatest experiences of my young life. For that reason, it is hard to separate this band from those shows, and my opinion of them is somewhat biased. With that little disclaimer out of the way, Hurry Up and Wait is a great pop-punk album chock full of songs that won't leave your head for days. If you are into SUM 41, New Found Glory, etc, then this album is right up your alley. If you aren’t, well then stop reading because you probably aren't going to like this record. The opening track "Crazy" sets the tone for the whole album: nice guitars, pleasant vocals, and an overall sound that pop-punk fans have come accustomed to. Lyrically, you aren't going to be blown away, but you shouldn't be disappointed either. Most songs feature the typical topics of girls, relationships, and well...girls. One thing that I feel sets this album apart from some of the other pop-punk acts out there is that the Riddlin' Kids have a little bit more of an edge to their sound. Tracks like "Pick Up the Pieces" and "Can't Think" put a little spunk in their punk, and help to break up the sound. Then there are tracks like "Tina", which has Blink 182 written all over it, and "Follow Through", which I imagine you will hear on your radio one day soon. The album ends with a surprisingly good cover of R.E.M.'s "End of the World...". However, I think covers are somewhat played out right now, and this particular song is redone a little too often. Overall, I think you can definitely feel the bands energy when listening to the record, as they seem to be really "playing" their songs rather than just laying down tracks for an album. I give Hurry Up and Wait a solid 3.75 manstyle points. As I said before, if you are into pop-punk then I definitely think you will enjoy this album. But if you aren't, then it isn't going to make you a convert. [www.riddlinkids.com]