Ranking Waterparks albums
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Waterparks is one of my favorite bands of all time. I can only hope that you, the reader, will come to appreciate their music just as I have.
As a music enjoyer, nothing is more difficult for me than adequately ranking albums and songs my favorite artists have released. So, I have decided to take on the impossible task of ranking the five albums released by my favorite band, Waterparks.
For those unaware, Waterparks is a Houston-based band formed in 2011 by Awsten Knight, Geoff Wingington, and Otto Wood. This ranking will be based on pure opinion and include my top three songs. Now, we begin with the task!
Greatest Hits (2021)
Although I may be biased as I have two CDs and one vinyl of this album proudly displayed on my shelf, the title is not a misrepresentation in the slightest— it is indeed the greatest. Featuring songs such as “Snow Globe,” “The Secret Life of Me,” and “LIKE IT,” I believe that the whole experience of listening to this album is almost life-changing. The release of Greatest Hits (2021) signaled the beginning of Knight experimenting with different sounds, and I feel it enormously pays off. Each song flows into the next beautifully, and pinpointing a specific sound is difficult.
Sometimes, my favorite part about listening to Waterparks is hearing drummer Otto Wood shine, and “Numb” is so fun and silly because of this. Also, “LIKE IT” is vastly underappreciated— being one of the lowest-streaming songs on the album on Spotify. With each listen, you notice a new layer to the song, making it more interesting each time.
Entertainment (2018)
Entertainment (2018) is the core of the Waterparks discography. If you have never heard of Waterparks, start with this album and work through the rest of their releases. I wholeheartedly believe there is no skip on this album; songs such as “Crybaby,” “Rare,” and “We Need to Talk” showcase Knight’s songwriting capabilities. I guarantee you will find some of your favorite lyrics within this album, if not from one of those three songs.
Waterparks has many instances of callbacks within their songs, and “Not Warriors” features one of my favorites by referencing two songs on this album, “Lucky People” and “Sleep Alone.” The album is enjoyable to listen to, and Waterparks albums would not exist without the show-stopping Entertainment (2018).
FANDOM (2019)
This is the first Waterparks release during which I was a fan of the band; thus, it has a very special place in my heart. Even so, I am not biased when I say that this album is life-changing. If Greatest Hits (2021) is the first time they experimented with sounds, they excelled with FANDOM (2019). The album opens with “Cherry Red,” which is a work of art in itself, and features the magnificent “Watch What Happens Next” and “[Reboot].”
FANDOM (2019) is one of the first albums I listened to that made me deeply consider how a song sounds. A key characteristic of recent Waterparks is their capability to have smooth transitions between most songs; this makes all the difference. The ending of “I Felt Younger When We Met,” the last song, perfectly transitions to “Cherry Red,” the first song to create a smooth loop. After “Cherry Red,” “Watch What Happens Next” is also flawlessly transitioned. These features make the listening experience memorable; they define the album.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (2023)
While ranked number four, that does not mean this is one of their worst albums; I believe the opposite. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (2023) is their most experimental album; each song has a different sound from Waterparks. Ranking these albums is tricky because of their strength— every Waterparks album is so dear to my heart —they all shine in their own way. Unfortunately, this album is not higher because it is one of the only albums I regularly skip certain songs.
I finally saw them on tour in Tampa during this album tour, and even my mom said it changed her life. The album’s opening track leads to the next song, “REAL SUPER DARK,” with Knight saying, “I’m saying picture that, but like, right before things go dark.” Although this is a small detail, it is a wonderful start to this album. Each song fits into the next and features some of my favorite Waterparks songs ever, “CLOSER,” “END OF THE WATER (FEEL),” and “A NIGHT OUT ON EARTH.” If you love to listen to songs blasting in the car, I highly recommend “A NIGHT OUT ON EARTH.”
Double Dare (2016)
We have almost completed the task, which means this is the lowest-ranking Waterparks album. Like INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (2023), this is not their worst either. Double Dare (2016) is their debut studio album, and it is such a strong debut, especially with the excellent bass line in “Gloom Boys.” Additionally, this album features “Dizzy” and “It Follows,” both of which are spectacular.
Alongside Entertainment (2018), this is one of the other Waterparks albums I feel has a more consistent sound. Due to this, I recommend this album if that is what interests you. Do not let the low-ranking dissuade you from listening; it is a fantastic album and so fun to listen to (and also a great album to scream in the car)!
Waterparks’s discography has a wide range of sounds, making it impossible to label with one music genre. If you like alternative music, I strongly suggest you listen to Waterparks and find your favorite album!
I also know that Waterparks fans and having opinions go hand-in-hand, so if you have any counter-thoughts on this article, come to The Lamron general meetings at 5:00 pm every Thursday in the office!