One of the things that I love about music is how I come to know of an act. Some I remember, but some I don’t. We Are the Movies is one that I remember. It was February of 2016. They were playing a show at a venue here in Columbus called Spacebar. Their energy that night was unmatched, and it still is today. They really pulled me in when they covered Ace of Spades. But the kicker was afterward when I talked to them. They were the most down to earth guys and very welcoming. Almost 3 years later that also has not changed. However, what has changed is their musical ability. This is not the same band I first saw in 2016, and that is truly evident on their latest release, …. or Get Busy Dying.

When I reviewed Get Busy Living…. in 2016, one of the things I mentioned was how that album reminded me of early 2000s Drive-Thru records bands. Well, they have added to that sound. We Are the Movies is still very much a pop-punk band, but they have added to their arsenal. And let me tell you, the world isn’t ready for what these local Columbus musicians have unleashed upon the masses.

We Are the Movies has always had this fun element to them, that’s part of what makes them stand out. They however are also a band that is about doing what makes you happy and enjoying life. That’s what this EP is about. There is a line in the soundbite that kicks off the EP: “I am mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore.” That one line alone sums up the entire EP and what WATM are trying to get across with it. Our world, our country, is in a bad place right now, and we are the only ones that can change that. But at the same time, we need to live our lives the way they were meant to be lived and enjoy them.

And they waste no time getting to that truth. After the soundbite they hit us hard with a ferocious track called, “Living for the Weekend.” Not only is this my favorite track on the record, but it’s one of my favorites of the year. The message here is loud and clear, and I for one love it and needed it. I am constantly a sad lump of coal, and this song motivates me like no other. The name alone applies to my life. I live for the weekend, and that’s it. That’s no way to live life. There is so much more than just two days. But we must make that choice ourselves, and that’s what this song is about. This track could be an inspirational speech on its own, but the one line that sticks out to me is “But I know that I still have the strength to dig up this grave where I buried my dreams, ‘cause I won’t hold me down. I’ll cut the ties that are holding me back.” We truly are our own worst enemies. The other aspect that sticks out about this track is the music itself. It has an easycore feel to it, but don’t think for one minute these guys are.

The first single, “Incomplete” is a straight up banger. Pop-punk in 2018 does not get any better than this. Pop-punk is known for its songs about relationships and this is no different, except the girl just happens to be a vampire. If you have a Halloween or spooky playlist, this song will fit right in. Nick Thompson from Hit the Lights also adds some really sweet vocals to this track. I have always enjoyed the back and forth vocals between vocalist Tim Waters and guitarist/vocalist Mike O’Leary.

The track “Beautiful Nightmare” very well might be some of their best work doing that. I would put it up there with Four Year Strong and even the Beastie Boys. The way those two mesh is beautiful.

The album closes how it started, with a freaking killer of a track. “Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying” is the only way they could have ended this EP. It sums up the release, to be honest, and it gets stuck in your head. I think they did that on purpose. So, I’m going to end, leaving you, the reader, with this: “I’m sick of excuses, so finally I’m trying to get busy or get busy dying.” We get one life, so live it the way you want to; enjoy it, and be a good person. That’s what I got from this album. You may get something else from it, but I suggest that you truly listen to what these guys are saying. You may hear something that you needed to hear. I know I did. So thank you, We Are the Movies, for crafting this beautiful piece of art.