Review
"From The Outside," Hey Violet's initial step into the album scene, exudes a vibe that one can only describe as the audacious rebelliousness of a teen deciding to wear mismatched socks deliberately. The band's metamorphosis from pop-punk caterpillars to alt-pop butterflies is intriguing—think less mohawks and more synth. Their lead single "Break My Heart" doesn't gently knock on the door of the electro-pop clubhouse; it kicks it down with the confidence of someone wearing sunglasses indoors. Their tunes, particularly tracks like "Hoodie" and "Guys My Age," are a merry dance of pop hooks and grown-up wordsmithery, which may just be code for "we’ve all been there, haven’t we?"
The musical diversity is like a buffet that forgot it was supposed to be thematic. "Like Lovers Do" seems to borrow from a carnival's playlist, building an atmosphere that's one part whimsical, one part the setting for a Stephen King novel. Meanwhile "All We Ever Wanted" could pass for the anthem of an underground club where the password is 'nostalgia'. Critics have tipped their hats off to its bold sidestep from the safety net of pop-rock to the edginess of electro-pop, nodding in particular to Rena Lovelis's vocals that are as powerful as a caffeine fix at 3am. "From The Outside" isn't just a first album—it's the sound of Hey Violet crashing the alt-pop party, bringing enough novelty to excite the seasoned regulars and the newbies alike. - Chloe
