Intellectual Property (album)

Intellectual Property (stylized in all caps) is the fifth studio album by American pop rock band Waterparks, released on April 14, 2023, as the band's only album released on Fueled by Ramen.

Intellectual Property
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 14, 2023
Genre
Length31:00
LabelFueled by Ramen
Producer
Waterparks chronology
Greatest Hits
(2021)
Intellectual Property
(2023)
Singles from Intellectual Property
  1. "Funeral Grey"
    Released: May 13, 2022
  2. "Self-Sabotage"
    Released: July 7, 2022
  3. "Fuck About It"
    Released: October 14, 2022
  4. "Real Super Dark"
    Released: January 26, 2023
  5. "Brainwashed"
    Released: March 10, 2023

Release

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On January 27, 2022, the band began teasing material from their fifth studio album.[1] On April 7, 2022, the first single, "Funeral Grey" was announced,[1] and was then subsequently released on May 13 as their first release under Fueled by Ramen.[2] On July 5, 2022, the band announced the second single, "Self-Sabotage" to be released on July 7.[3] The band also released a teaser of a new song titled "Brainwashed" that the band has been performing on tour.[3] On August 8, 2022, the band released a music video for "Self-Sabotage".[4] On August 30, 2022, the band debuted a new song live titled "Real Super Dark" from the upcoming album.[5] On October 14, 2022, the band released the single "Fuck About It", featuring Blackbear.[6] On November 23, 2022, the band announced the title of their fifth studio album, Intellectual Property.[7][8] On December 1, 2022, the band released a music video for "Fuck About It".[9][10] On January 26, 2023, the band released the album's fourth single, "Real Super Dark".[11] The band also confirmed the release date for the album to be April 14, 2023.[11] On March 10, 2023, the band released the album's fifth single, "Brainwashed".[12]

On October 11, 2023, the band released "Sneaking Out of Heaven" and added the song to all streaming versions of the album's standard edition.[13]

Composition

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Intellectual Property has been described as pop rock,[14] hyperpop,[14] electronica,[15] alternative rock,[15] and pop punk,[15] with "hip hop production."[15]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Kerrang!4/5[16]
New Noise Magazine     [15]
Square One Magazine     [17]
Upset Magazine     [18]

Intellectual Property received positive reviews. Emily Carter of Kerrang! called the album "another compelling addition to a discography that always succeeds in bringing something fresh to the table."[16] Ashley Oken of New Noise Magazine feels that the album "perfectly melts their eras together...[and] sees Waterparks take a bold step into new territory."[15] Stephen Ackroyd of Upset Magazine called the album "A constantly shifting, hyperactive genre flip, [that] bounces off the walls of the tired and overdone – the best sonic representation of Awsten Knight's chaotic mischief yet."[18] Emily Young of Square One Magazine shared that the album is "quintessential Waterparks - a detailed journey from start to finish."[17]

In December 2023, Rock Sound listed Intellectual Property at number seven in its Top 50 Albums of 2023, describing it as a "stripped-back" songwriting effort compared to "the diverse and dynamic ideas of 'Greatest Hits'" and having Awsten Knight's "poppiest melodies to date".[19] Kerrang! listed Intellectual Property in its own 50 best albums of 2023 list at number 47, with Jake Richardson describing it as "another strong record from one of pop-punk's most creative forces."[20]

Track listing

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All lyrics are written by Awsten Knight; all music is composed by Waterparks

Intellectual Property track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."St*rfucker"Awsten Knight1:52
2."Real Super Dark"
  • Knight
  • Joe Ragosta
2:29
3."Funeral Grey"
  • Knight
  • Julian Bunetta
2:44
4."Brainwashed"
  • Knight
  • Bunetta
2:44
5."2 Best Friends"
2:18
6."End of the Water (Feel)"
  • Knight
  • Bunetta
  • Ragosta
2:27
7."Self-Sabotage"
2:37
8."Ritual"
  • Knight
  • Cervini
  • Goldstein
2:44
9."Fuck About It" (featuring Blackbear)
2:52
10."Closer"Knight3:51
11."A Night Out on Earth"
  • Knight
  • Cervini
4:22
Total length:31:00
Streaming Deluxe
No.TitleLength
12."Sneaking Out of Heaven"2:40
Total length:33:40
Target CD exclusive bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Why Can't I?" (Liz Phair cover)
3:16
13."End of the Water" (alt version)
  • Knight
  • Bunetta
  • Ragosta
2:15
Total length:36:30

Notes

Personnel

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Waterparks

  • Awsten Knight – lead vocals, guitar, bass, production, additional programming
  • Geoff Wigington – guitar
  • Otto Wood – drums

Additional musicians

  • Lucy Landry – additional vocals (tracks 3, 4)
  • Kurtis Conner – additional vocals (6)
  • Vincente Void – additional vocals (8)
  • Blackbear – additional vocals (9)

Production

  • Zakk Cervini – production, engineering, mastering, mixing
  • Julian Bunetta – co-production (4, 5, 9)
  • Nik Trekov – mixing assistance, engineering assistance
  • Jared Poythress – additional programming, additional production
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering

Charts

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Chart performance for Intellectual Property
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australian Vinyl Albums (ARIA)[21] 18
Scottish Albums (OCC)[22] 2
UK Albums (OCC)[23] 10
US Billboard 200[24] 33
US Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[25] 6
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[25] 2
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[25] 4
US Top Current Album Sales (Billboard)[25] 2
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[25] 6
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (Billboard)[25] 9
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[25] 3

References

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  1. ^ a b Rodgers, Jack (April 7, 2022). "Waterparks Have Revealed What The Name Of Their Next Single Is Going To Be". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  2. ^ Rodgers, Jack (May 13, 2022). "Waterparks Have Released An Absolutely Incredible New Track 'Funeral Grey". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Rodgers, Jack (July 6, 2022). "Waterparks Are Releasing A New Track Called 'Self-sabotage' Later This Week". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  4. ^ Lane, Kwase (August 8, 2022). "Waterparks Are Releasing A New Track Called 'Self-sabotage' Later This Week". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  5. ^ Rodgers, Jack (September 1, 2022). "Watch Waterparks Play A New Song Called 'Real Super Dark' Live For The First Time". Rock Sound. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  6. ^ Carter, Emily (October 14, 2022). "Waterparks and blackbear drop moody new collab, Fuck About It". Kerrang!. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  7. ^ Carter, Emily (November 23, 2022). "Waterparks confirm brand-new album, Intellectual Property". Kerrang!. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  8. ^ Rogers, Jack (November 23, 2022). "Waterparks Announce New Album 'Intellectual Property'". Rock Sound. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  9. ^ Carter, Emily (December 1, 2022). "Watch the new video for Waterparks' huge collab with blackbear". Kerrang!. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  10. ^ "Waterparks and blackbear have revealed a new video for their collaboration 'Fuck About It'". Upset Magazine. December 1, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Morton, Luke (January 26, 2023). "Waterparks drop new single Real Super Dark and reveal album release date". Kerrang!. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  12. ^ Bell, Sadie (March 10, 2023). "Hear Waterparks' emotional pop-rock single "Brainwashed"". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  13. ^ James Wilson-Taylor (October 11, 2023). "Waterparks Release New Single 'Sneaking Out Of Heaven'". Rock Sound. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Oken, Ashley (April 10, 2023). "Album Review: Waterparks – 'Intellectual Property'". The Soundboard. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d e f Oken, Ashley (April 13, 2023). "Album Review: Waterparks- Intellectual Property". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Carter, Emily (April 14, 2023). "Album review: Waterparks – Intellectual Property". Kerrang!. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Young, Emily (April 11, 2023). "Waterparks – Intellectual Property". Square One Magazine. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  18. ^ a b Ackroyd, Stephen (April 19, 2023). "Waterparks – Intellectual Property". Kerrang!. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  19. ^ Sound, Rock (December 15, 2023). "Rock Sound's Top 50 Albums Of 2023 | The Album Story". Rock Sound. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  20. ^ "The 50 best albums of 2023". Kerrang!. Wasted Talent. December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  21. ^ "ARIA Top 20 Vinyl Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  22. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  23. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  24. ^ "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200..." Billboard on Twitter. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g "Billboard Chart History - Waterparks". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2023.