Review: Waterparks "Snow Globe"
Waterparks are known for their spontaneous tweets and cryptic messages, so when news of a new album breaks out, one can be certain the fanbase will eat up any clues they can find. It helps that Awsten Knight, frontman and face of the band’s social media, is known for his chaotic online shenanigans. On Thursday, February 25, Awsten Knight abruptly tweeted out the album artwork for their next release with the caption“GREATEST HITS STUDIO ALBUM 4 OUT MAY 21 SNOW GLOBE OUT TONIGHT.” A blunt approach that both closed and opened plot holes of album conspiracies.
What was known? The band’s fourth studio album was called Greatest Hits, finally getting the answer to what the title with the letter “G” would be. We also knew there would be a new single from the anticipated album dropping at most likely midnight for everyone’s favorite day of the week-- Music Friday. Still unknown to us is what Greatest Hits will amount to and what can we expect to see from the everchanging sound of Waterparks.
Before “Snow Globe,” Waterparks had dropped their single “Lowkey As Hell,” the first song to be released after the Fandom era. “Lowkey As Hell” hit creative milestones, showing the growth of the band while still staying true to form. With the announcement of Greatest Hits, I was extremely excited, hoping to see songs similar in style to “Lowkey As Hell.”
I wanted songs that pushed boundaries yet also captured that personal essence lyric-wise that Waterparks is known to nail so well. Unfortunately, my first listen-through was met with disappointment. After a few listen-throughs, the song did slowly grow to be a neutral bop.
I absolutely adored the mysterious piano tune at the very beginning before the main melody falls into play. I had hoped the mysterious piano melody would continue throughout bringing some Ryan Ross and early Panic! At The Disco vibes, however, quickly fell to disappointment when the main melody came into play. Perhaps electro-pop is just not my cup of tea.
Waterparks ‘Greatest Hits’ Album Cover
I loved the calmness yet something just seemed off, and I still can not quite put a name to what, just something. It seemed as if a computer was doing more work than Otto Wood (drummer) and Geoff Wigington (Guitarist) combined, which saddened me since both Otto and Geoff are extremely talented at their respective instruments. I would have liked to see more from Otto and Geoff along with a moderate mix of electronic elements. The lyrics had that perfect personal depth that every good Waterparks song features, vividly describing the emotions going on inside Awsten’s head while being so gentle and graceful.
A lullaby that instead of lulling one to sleep lulls one into a thought-provoking dream state. I found the reference to “7 PM” a fun easter egg, with the hope that future songs will lyrically explore the mental health side of being a public figure and content creator that is growing under the spotlight. Awsten Knight has such an emotionally raw voice, yet with this release, it seemed to be covered up in post-production. I missed hearing that raw grit amidst the pop beats as seen in previous releases. As for the music video, I have absolutely nothing negative to say.
I loved how a video so simple had a compelling story being told with a variety of camera angles, proving that one does not need an extravagant setting and props to have a viewer be moved. The dark atmosphere created with minimal lighting fits perfectly with the mood the lyrics set forth, bringing everything together smoothly. I truly felt as if the trio were trapped inside a snowglobe, and there were not even any snow effects used, just amazing cinematography.
All in all, “Snow Globe” has made quite the statement. A chilling and unique drop that brings forth some positive speculation about what is yet to come. Waterparks have been teasing about a sound change, and while this may not be the single for me, I am truly amazed and intrigued with the direction they are going. Experimenting with new sounds can be quite a controversial subject, yet when done well a sound change can bring forth a breath of fresh air and help the band flourish into their final forms.
From what we have so far, Waterparks have yet to reach their final form, but are surely getting close! This is solely just the opinion of one person, and I very much suggest checking out the new single “Snow Globe” out for yourself, available on all streaming services. Pre-orders for Greatest Hits are available through the band’s website. Be sure to let us know your thoughts on the new era of Waterparks, we would love to hear it!