“Keep on Smiling” is a nuanced gaze into the bright side. In “Millionaire,” success is only achieved by “climbing the ladder of sin” and “climbing over you.” Just as “Keep on Smiling” inspires its audience to be pertinacious, it also urges its listeners to reevaluate what success means to them and how they measure it. “Everybody’s Cool” pokes at the front of coolness to find the numbness it hides.
WHAT YOU WANT 2 DOOR CINEMA CLUB ALBUM FULL
At the same time, they avoid their real problems by repeating cliché platitudes like “where there’s a will, there’s a way” and “nobody’s perfect, persistence is worth it.” As the song’s bridge repeats that “Everybody’s cool, full and incomplete,” the lyrics emphasize how unfulfilling the mask of coolness truly is. Everyone is treated to a “five-star view” as they put on a charade of composure and charm. “Everybody’s Cool” mocks how individuals create a façade of “coolness” by lying to others and to themselves. Songs like “Everybody’s Cool” and “Millionaire” present jaded perspectives on success. In its chorus, Trimble croons, “We’re running out of luck/I can feel the change/holding onto little pieces of what remains.” While “Wonderful Life” is about reclaiming life, “Lucky” asks if it's even possible. Although the album’s lead single, “Wonderful Life,” urges its listener to “take back your wonderful life” because it's “now or never,” the album’s second single, “Lucky,” articulates the thoughts of a forlorn speaker who is unable to keep up in a rapidly changing world. Instead, it illustrates how difficult it is to be positive by placing its cheerful, idealistic songs in between pessimistic, cynical and sarcastic tracks. “Keep on Smiling” is unique because it is not straightforwardly optimistic. Although the album encourages its listeners to follow their passions, it also acknowledges the obstacles that can hinder their pursuits, such as obligations and self-doubt. Throughout its 12 tracks, the album tells a loose story about an individual who has become disillusioned with their current position in life and desires to try something new. Each song on the album flows well together both sonically and narratively. The album’s mix of synths, blazing guitars, funky baselines, vocal distortions, dance-rock and funk-pop with psychedelic undertones, makes for both easy and fun listening. The LP is an uplifting encouragement to pursue your passions even if it means forfeiting what’s safe and comfortable. Two Door Cinema Club, the Northern Irish alternative rock band featuring Alex Trimble (lead vocalist, rhythm guitar, beats, synths), Sam Halliday (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Kevin Baird (bass, synths, backing vocals) has returned from a three-year hiatus with their newest album “Keep on Smiling.”