It’s a funny feeling when your heart and mind are going in different directions. Middle Kids tackle this concept head on with grace and poise on Faith Crisis Pt. 1, that finds the Sydney-based indie rockers exploring the limits of their sound. While their vision came fully-formed on their sophomore LP, Today We’re The Greatest, Faith Crisis Pt. 1 is a small departure in the direction I would have liked for them to go. But hey, that’s music. Hannah Joy remains as captivating as she’s ever been, and checks all the boxes for what you’d want in an interesting lead vocalist. The band chemistry she shares with Tim Fitz and Harry Day pays off more often than not here. The album was produced by Jonathan Gilmore (The 1975, Beabadoobee) and he does an admirable job of honing in on the band’s strengths.
The album is largely inspired by Joy’s conflicts with her faith during the writing process of the band’s third studio album, and features a duo of interludes paired with a noteworthy song on each side of the record. The themes on Faith Crisis Pt. 1 range from euphoria, to self-doubt, all the way back to taking the listener on a journey through Joy’s headspace. Middle Kids are at their best when they trust their instincts and block out the rest of the outside noise in this world. This task is easier said than done, but their lyrical commentary remains top notch.
The record opens with a steady bassline on “Petition” before exploding into the bright chorus of, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking / ‘Bout all the ways that things could be different? / I have been listening to your petition / I think that it’s finally sinking in.” Joy’s vocals are crisp, and she seems to be singing with a smile in lines like these that feature a shimmering chorus. Things continue to unfold well on “Dramamine” that starts off with a spiraling guitar riff, paired with some great drumming, while Joy admits, “I used to be the saddest girl that you had ever seen / Just need a couple things to sleep, maybe some dramamine,” while still keeping its true heading on the refrain of, “You are the only reason I believe in anything / I hope you don’t take this the wrong way.” It’s a stark contrast between the two sections of the songs, and showcases some of the internal friction going on with Joy.
”The Blessings” is the first song on the LP to be followed by an interlude, and the bellowing piano strikes in the verses pave way for some crunchy guitar riffing on the chorus to avoid the “trap” of the song sounding too dark. Middle Kids really went down an exploratory path on their third album with songs like this to test the limits of their songwriting and keep themselves motivated as artists. The first single to be released from the set, “Bootleg Firecracker,” follows in the album sequencing, and yet it feels a tad out of place after some of the softer sounds that come through the speakers on the last two songs. While I enjoyed the chorus lyrics of, “I’ll keep moving til I see you cruising in / And I am an average dancer / That’s not the point that I am after,” it all feels a little too restrained for the band that captivated my imagination so strongly on their sophomore set.
Things pick up well on the next song of “Highlands” that reminds me of why I fell in love with this band in the first place. From the static intro, to when the bass, drums and guitars all come into sync with Joy’s vocals, everything falls into focus like a jigsaw puzzle connecting each intricate part to finally see the full picture. The best song on the album, “Bend” features the heartfelt lyrics of, “Because I am one bend away from a break / I am one step away from the precipice of crazy / I am holding all the pieces in place / But maybe you’ve got to break me to see what I’m made of,” and they are easy to connect with since many of us are at the cusp of our breaking point with the state of the world. Having someone else go through something similar to ourselves brings a certain facet of comfort and connection on a deeper level.
The back half of Faith Crisis Pt. 1 opens cautiously with the somber “Go To Sleep On Me” that relies mostly on a steady beat paired with Joy’s vocal performance that remains top notch. The atmospheric track sets the table well for “Terrible News,” that explodes out of the gate with vibrant synths and shiny guitar chords that mesh well with Joy’s different sounding vocal cadence in the verses that are nearly shouted to make a point of emphasis. The chorus of, “And I can’t take it / Sitting in this noisy room / With all these wound up people / Giving terrible news / Yeah it’s plastic / Bend it to my point of view / I don’t know who I am / Or what I’m supposed to prove,” is as heartbreaking as it is relatable to turning on the news and seeing what tragedy has taken place next. The song, to me, is an investigation as to how the media can spin a story from a certain point of view to make us intend to feel a certain way. Middle Kids capture this feeling brilliantly on this track.
”Philosophy” hits all of its intended targets with some internal commentary in the opening verse of, “She’s got a platform / What the fuck is that for? / She’s so depressed, why on earth would I live like that?” It’s a heart-wrenching admission from Joy who keeps a steady heading towards the finish line. “Your Side, Forever” is the second song to be accompanied by an interlude after it, and the groove it sets in the main track is indie rock bliss. It features my favorite verses I’ve heard this year with the lyrics of, “Choirs of voices on my phone / Just make me feel alone / There’s a moment of control / Then Hannah goes down the rabbit hole / And now we’re sitting at the fountain / In Hyde Park, and I pour it out / I’m lower than I’ve ever been, but I’m glad we’re talking.” The way that Joy inserts herself into the narrative of the story is just well-accomplished songwriting at its core.
The closing song of “All In My Head” features a rare collaboration from Middle Kids, who pair up with Dave Le’aupepe here to make their last gasp on closing out the story on Faith Crisis Pt. 1. The piano-laced ballad puts Hannah Joy into the spotlight as she sings triumphantly, “Sydney 2011 / I fell in love with my best friend / I need a reason to survive / I’m hand-grenading my life / I’ve got a reason to forgive this / My cheeks are red with the business / I’m panicking in my chest / I’m barely breathing.” The duet in the second verse between Le’aupepe and Joy really tells a great story of two points of view, and by the time Joy gets to the closing refrain of “Is it all in my head?” we’re left with the cliffhanger that will hopefully be resolved when Pt. 2 arrives. And if the music found there is as well thought out as the first section, Middle Kids fans are certainly in for a treat.