Album Review: Walk the Moon - What If Nothing

This record has been a long time coming for Walk the Moon. After the Cincinnati pop-rock quartet hit it big in the summer of 2015 with the the classic summer anthem "Shut Up and Dance", the world patiently awaited their follow up. And finally, nearly three years after the release of their sophomore record Talking is Hard, it has arrived in the form of What Is Nothing. And as it turns out, even after taking the longest time to craft new music that they have so far in their young career, Walk the Moon are still in touch with everything that made their first two records great, and have added even more spice along the way.
While What Is Nothing is quite easily the band's poppiest album to date, it's also their most experimental, oddly enough. There's some great variation to be found in the thirteen tracks present here, from radio ready "One Foot" to the six-minute masterpiece "Sound of Awakening". The instrumentals, while not carrying the guitar-led indie flair of their previous sound, are tighter and crisper than ever. Old fans need not fear either, Walk the Moon's sound still carries with it a significant indie atmosphere. This record feels like four guys making music for the fun of making music. No gimmicks or acting. Just pure, unadulterated creativity and joy.
That's not to say there aren't a few missteps. Tracks like "Kamikaze", "All Night", and "Feels Good to Be High" all come and go without establishing much of an identity, leaving the listener to wonder if the album would be even stronger with these weaker spots eliminated. Despite these small flaws, What If Nothing is certainly an enjoyable listen for anyone looking for a pick-me-up, optimistic album to remind them that life isn't all that bad after all.

Rating: B-
Recommended Tracks: "One Foot", "Headphones", "Sound of Awakening"