Watashi Wa is a young band from California with a bright future ahead of them. "What's in the Way" is their second release on Bettie Rocket Records.
Bettie Rocket has a reputation of putting out second-rate music, but this Watashi Wa release is anything but that. Having said that it is probably ten times better than their first release "Lost a Few Battles..."
If you like the Get Up Kids, then you'll dig Watashi Wa. They play energetic pop/emo with plenty of anthemic choruses and catchy hooks.
"What's in the Way" starts out with "The Wrong Kind," which is a song about true love: "Love isn't a long, long kiss or something that make. Love never ever seeks itself." Without being too preachy, it gets the point across with an infectious in-your-face melody.
"Andy" starts off like it's going to be a ballad to a long lost friend, but then it picks up. It also delivers some really honest lyrics about a friend's passing: "Sometimes it's so hard to see the way God sees."
Other notable songs on the ten-song disc include: "The Simple Road Less Traveled," "Here's to Tomorrow," "Look" and "Change of Seasons." The songs are all pretty decent, if you like one you'll like them all.
Almost all of Watashi Wa's songs sound alike, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it would be nice to see them do a ballad, because most of their songs tend to have driving tempos.
"What's in the Way" is a good record and if it were on Tooth and Nail more people would have it in their collections. If you like pop-punk, poppy emo or Vroom and want to sample some of Watashi Wa's stuff click here.
B+
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