Throughout, the contrast is up full. Even the occasionally dark topics on which he touches come out with a tint to them, where colouring over the lines has added his own touch even to the feelings of isolation or identity confusion. And this is where Weird! trips over itself. Admirably, YUNGBLUD says, "I hope it makes people feel like it's okay to feel out of place or twisted or weird, because life is weird-but that's what beautiful about it." But this doesn't always quite marshal itself into songs that are as inspiring and hopeful, or, indeed, quite as good, as you'd wish. The day-glo cutesiness eventually feels like eating an entire birthday cake to yourself and washing it down with three litres of Coke. This is, obviously, some of the point, but for all but those with the sweetest tooth, Weird! is a collection of good moments disappointingly hidden under an avalanche of sugar.
Verdict: 2/5
For Fans Of: Bring Me The Horizon, All Time Low, Waterparks
Weird! is out now via Locomotion/Polydor.
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