Entertainment (Waterparks album)

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Entertainment
The cover consists of a white background with a purple VHS tape in the center. On the VHS label is the band's name in black as well as the album's name written in purple.
Studio album by
Waterparks
ReleasedJanuary 26, 2018
Recorded2017
Genre
Length33:18
LabelEqual Vision[1]
Producer
Waterparks chronology
Double Dare
(2016) 		Entertainment
(2018) 		Fandom
(2019)
Singles from Entertainment
  1. "Blonde"
    Released: October 20, 2017
  2. "Lucky People"
    Released: December 14, 2017
  3. "Not Warriors"
    Released: January 17, 2018

Entertainment is the second studio album by American pop rock band Waterparks, released on January 26, 2018.[2] It was produced by Benji Madden of Good Charlotte[3] and was their final release under Equal Vision Records. The album debuted at number 85 in the UK and number 98 on the Billboard 200, spawning three singles: "Blonde", "Lucky People" and "Not Warriors".

Promotion[edit]

On October 20, 2017, Waterparks revealed the album's title, artwork, and release date via social media, and released the first single from the record, "Blonde".[4] Pre-orders for the album opened in tandem with the release of the "Blonde" official music video on November 2, 2017.[5][6] The album's second and third singles, "Lucky People" and "Not Warriors", were released on December 14, 2017,[7] and January 17, 2018, respectively.[8][9]

Composition[edit]

Musically, Entertainment has been described as pop punk,[10][11][12] pop rock,[13][14][15] pop,[10][12] bubblegum pop,[16] rock,[17] electropop,[10] and synth-pop.[10] The album also uses elements of post-hardcore and dark pop.[18]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Bring the Noise UK7/10[19]
Dead Press[13]
Dork[11]
GIG Soup86%[16]
New Noise Magazine[17]
Rock Sound[20]
Substream Magazine[14]
Wall of Sound8/10[12]

Phoebe Constable of Dead Press gave praise to Awsten Knight's vocals and the catchability throughout the track listing, concluding that "Ultimately, Entertainment is a consistently strong pop-rock release. [A] bit more variety in places would've been a nice touch, but nevertheless it doesn't stop it being an incredibly fun listen that's bound to be a great soundtrack to the summers ahead."[13] Rob Sayce of Rock Sound praised the band for avoiding the sophomore slump by crafting a record that's "vibrant, surprising and borderline-scarily addictive" with a creative mix of various subgenres and Knight's "uniquely relatable" lyricism, concluding that, "By taking some huge risks and refusing to be to tied to any one lane, they've proved every doubter wrong."[20] Logan White of Substream Magazine felt the album started off strong with its first two tracks and kept the momentum going with surprising forays into acoustic-driven love songs and electronic beats, concluding that "Entertainment is fun, catchy, and even a little bit unpredictable. Waterparks have pushed forward to become the best version of themselves that they can be, proving that they are here to stay."[14] Dork writer Dan Harrison commented about the band's penchant for matching "awkward emotion" with a "day-glo" pop punk soundscape and sugary choruses over salty subject matter, saying "A juxtaposition that's proven effective time and time again, Entertainment may be more popcorn than a three course dinner, but it hits the spot every time."[11]

In December 2018, Rock Sound listed Entertainment at number 5 in its Top 50 Albums of 2018 list, concluding "There was never a dull moment - and who would want it any other way?"[21] Upset Magazine listed Entertainment at number 17 on its Best of 2018 list, with Stephen Ackroyd describing it as "a record that sparkles with star dust at every turn". Ackroyd commented that aspects of the album were "lifted magpie-like", but concluded "True originality is great, but it’s far from everything. Waterparks understand their world well enough to build within it far more effectively than they ever could by leaving it behind".[22]

Track listing[edit]

All lyrics are written by Awsten Knight; all music is composed by Waterparks

Entertainment[23]
No.TitleLength
1."11:11"3:28
2."Blonde"3:21
3."Peach (Lobotomy)"3:33
4."We Need to Talk"3:25
5."Not Warriors"3:32
6."Lucky People"2:55
7."Rare"3:40
8."Tantrum"2:47
9."Crybaby"2:51
10."Sleep Alone"3:47
Total length:33:18

Notes

  • The track "Tantrum" is stylized in all caps.

Personnel[edit]

Credits for Entertainment[24][25]

Waterparks

  • Awsten Knight – lead vocals, guitar, bass, additional programming
  • Geoff Wigington – guitar
  • Otto Wood – drums

Production

  • Benji Madden – producer
  • Courtney Ballard – producer, mixing, engineering
  • Colin Schwanke – engineering
  • Matt Lang – engineering
  • Patrick Kehrier – engineering
  • Bryan Gardner – mastering
  • Jared Poythress – programming
  • Marty Tzonev – cover art
  • Bill Scoville – cover art layout

Charts[edit]

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[26] 62
UK Albums (OCC)[27] 85
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[28] 6
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[29] 14
US Billboard 200[30] 98
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[31] 7
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[32] 13

References[edit]

  1. ^ Sanchez, Itzo (February 9, 2016). "Houston band "Waterparks" signs to Equal Vision Records". The Venture. The Venture Online. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  2. ^ Munro, Scott (October 23, 2017). "Waterparks return with new album and single". Louder Sound. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  3. ^ Rogers, Jack (October 20, 2017). "Waterparks Have Announced Their New Album". Rock Sound. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  4. ^ Dickman, Maggie (October 20, 2017). "Waterparks release catchy new song "Blonde" from forthcoming album, 'Entertainment'". Alternative Press. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  5. ^ Waterparks (November 2, 2017). "Sick. Est. Clothes. And. Stuff. Ugh. Get. It. Now. Entertainment Pre-Order Packages Are Here". @waterparks. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  6. ^ "Waterparks show off their hair cutting chops in "Blonde" music video - News - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  7. ^ "Waterparks drop spirited new single "Lucky People"—listen". Alternative Press. December 13, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "Waterparks Release Msic Video for "Not Warriors" and "Crybaby" With Nylon". Equal Vision. February 13, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  9. ^ Ryan (January 18, 2018). "Waterparks Share New Song "Not Warriors"". Sound Fiction. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d Davino, Bianca (January 26, 2018). "'Entertainment' is Waterparks proving they're pop punk's most creative and boundary pushing act". dontboreus.thebrag.com. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c Harrison, Dan (January 23, 2018). "Waterparks - Entertainment". Dork. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  12. ^ a b c McNab, Heather (January 24, 2018). "Waterparks – Entertainment (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  13. ^ a b c Constable, Phoebe (January 18, 2018). "Album Review: Waterparks – Entertainment". Dead Press. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  14. ^ a b c White, Logan (January 24, 2018). "Review: Waterparks prove staying power with 'Entertainment'". Substream Magazine. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  15. ^ "Album Review: 'Entertainment' by Waterparks". The Sound Board Reviews. January 25, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  16. ^ a b Knapik, Lauren (January 29, 2018). "Waterparks - 'Entertainment'". GIG Soup. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  17. ^ a b Newton, Caleb R. (January 24, 2018). "Album Review: Waterparks – Entertainment". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  18. ^ Wilkes, Emma (June 17, 2021). "Waterparks: "Anything You Can Do To Cross Creative Streams, The Cooler Your Piece Of Art Is Going To Be"". Guitar.com. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  19. ^ Webb, Richard (January 29, 2018). "Album Review: Waterparks – Entertainment". Bring the Noise UK. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  20. ^ a b Sayce, Rob (January 22, 2018). "Waterparks - Entertainment". Rock Sound. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
  21. ^ "The Rock Sound Top 50 Albums of 2018: 10-01". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on December 30, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  22. ^ "The Best of 2018: 20-11". Upset. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  23. ^ "Entertainment on iTunes". iTunes. Apple. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  24. ^ Entertainment (CD booklet). Equal Vision, Equal Vision. 2018.
  25. ^ "Waterparks on Twitter". January 29, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  26. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  27. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  28. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  29. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  30. ^ "Waterparks Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  31. ^ "Waterparks Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  32. ^ "Waterparks Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
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