On Aug. 10 of this year, the semi-popular pop punk band With Confidence released a brand-new album called “Love and Loathing” that features 12 songs, all unique in their own way. Most, if not all, of the songs featured on this album could be treated as a story being told with the main theme focusing around relationships between people, as the album name suggests.

The songs also all represent a different stage of a relationship process or a different feeling that is experienced throughout a relationship. As you progress throughout the album you get to walk through the relationship process with the singer and get to hear his emotions through his journey.  

The most prominent, impactful element I’ve noticed is the lyrics. As I’ve mentioned before, the songs all tell stories and conjure up some heavy hitting emotions to go with them, and it is all possible through the meaningful craftsmanship of the lyrics presented in the songs. Most notably in the song “Paquerette (Without Me)” that covers the stage of a relationship process of acceptance after a falling out. The main chorus goes, “I hope you’re better off without me, In your bed and sleeping soundly, Dreaming in the arms of someone new” explaining how the singer came to terms with his failed relationship and turns his contempt into hope for the other person.  

The lyrics alone can’t make the album phenomenal, but the beat combined with the lyrics certainly can. The beat is the butter on toast that makes it good. The musicians perfectly combine positive, happier lyrics with an upbeat, happy-go-lucky beat or in vice versa with sad lyrics with a slower, lethargic beat. The musicians make their story telling great by adding all these beats that tug at the listeners emotions and make them experience the singer’s emotions on a whole higher level. Ultimately, the beat is what makes the difference between an okay album and a phenomenal one, and this is a phenomenal album.  

In conclusion, this album is definitely one of my favorites of all time. The easy-to-learn, catchy lyrics, the powerful, impactful beat, and the incredible story that the album tells, all combine to create something that any listener is sure to love. I would highly recommend this album to anyone who is interested in music that tells a story or enjoys reflecting on the music they listen to.