Run Kid Run

Two years ago, Run Kid Run introduced themselves with This Is Who We Are, a well-received pop rock album with some punk flavor. Now, the Illinois quartet has returned with the same style of music on Love at the Core, produced by James Paul Wisner (Dashboard Confessional, Paramore). There is no sophomore slump here - Run Kid Run’s second release is just as strong as their debut, if not stronger.

Love is indeed at the core of this album’s uplifting message. Every song seems to come back to it, no matter the subject or tone. Run Kid Run openly sings about God and His love on some tracks, yet they put more thought into doing so than many bands today. The quartet shows artistic growth on Love at the Core, with more sophisticated lyrics as well as more creative instrumentation. There are not as many catchy or distinct melodies as on their debut, though, and the songs blend together a bit on the first listen. Lead singer David Josiah Curtis sustains note after soaring note, displaying plenty of talent but not much variety.

“Rescue Me” kicks the album off with energy and optimism, introducing a lyrical motif of light that will return throughout the album, especially on the next track, “Fall Into The Light.” The album’s harmony-laden first single, “Captives Come Home,” has an attention-grabbing chorus that invites the listener to sing along. It speaks of a rescue mission from a dark land of false hope, “Where creeping shadows call your name.” “One In A Million” is a romantic love song with a cheerful pop feel. It describes love as something that can make a life explode, an image that also appears in “Captives Come Home” in relation to coming to Christ. This verbal connection suggests that these two types of relationships both radiate from the same love - a powerful love that can change people from the inside out.

Three tracks change up the musical style a bit. The anthemic title song is set in a triple meter that almost gives it the feel of a waltz, similar to the rhythm of “The Modern March” on their debut album. Its lyrics express a deep longing for spiritual renewal - “I need the pulse of You, God / To fill these veins and touch my heart / So I can start living again.” At the beginning of this line, a slow, pulsing beat breaks up the normal rhythm. The tone becomes more joyful with “My Sweet Escape,” a bouncy, piano-based love song to God with a worshipful ending. The album closes with its only ballad, “Freedom,” which finally allows Curtis to show more depth in his vocals. It starts out soft, with just a piano accompaniment, as Curtis sings emotionally about feeling bound to selfishness and shame. The quiet verses then build to a soaring rock chorus about finding freedom in Christ. A triumphant bridge declares, “In the end, there’s only love,” driving the the message home for the last time.

There is no shortage of pop punk bands these days, so it’s easy for artists to get lumped in with the rest if they don’t make an effort to stand out. Run Kid Run is definitely not just another another pop punk clone, but they could do more to distinguish themselves from their peers - and to distinguish their own songs from each other. If they push the boundaries of their own style a little more, they may live up to the potential shown on Love at the Core.

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Karissa

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