U.K. pop-punk band As It Is dropped their second full length album “okay.,” Friday, Jan. 20. 

The build up to this album was one of eager anticipation and “okay.” did not disappoint.

For such a young band, As It Is has put out a mature album that shows the growth in the members, especially frontman Patty Walters. With the perfect balance of emotion and drive, “okay.” is far more than okay.

Here is a track by track walk-through of the album.

1. Pretty Little Distance – This opener is representative of the band overall. It is a typical pop-heavy pop punk song but with a bit of a twist that you cannot quite put your finger on. This definition makes it the perfect first track.
2. Okay – This song definitely fits as the title track to this album. It sets the tone early on. It is an upbeat tune that carries a much different meaning. “Okay” perfectly prefaces the emotional self-reflection that returns many times throughout the album. 
3. Hey Rachel – At first listen this catchy track seems light hearted. However, it is a emotion-packed song about letting down family and trying to heal old wounds that have been ignored for too long. This journey into Walters’ most personal struggles shows his growing confidence in expressing his emotions, but you can still be left to wonder if the upbeat tune of the song is a crumbling remnant of a wall that still exists or an even deeper look into those struggles.
4. Patchwork Love – Starting off with only guitar and vocals, this song grows into a powerful addition to the album. The alternating gentle and driving moments in this song make it characteristic of As It Is. 
5. Curtains Close – Coming after an elegant transition from “Patchwork Love” this track slows the album’s momentum down just enough to give you a breather. This song is a beautiful addition to the album.
6. No Way Out – This one gets going with a soft start, but quickly transforms into a driving force on the album that brings the energy levels back up after “Curtains Close”. The song has a heavier undertone to it that lends itself toward the “punk” side of pop-punk, which is not always fully approached by As It Is. This appears in the guitar riffs and spoken bridge. 
7. Soap – An air of mystery hovers over this track. The frustration voiced in “Soap” is a more understated version of the punk tone that continues from “No Way Out” that keeps you intrigued. As the song progresses, however, there is a moment of resignation that leaves a sense of peace.
8. Austen – Try not to clap or bob your head along to this one. It’s difficult. But on a second listen to the lyrics, the emotional quality of the album resurfaces as the vocals express sympathy toward a struggling friend. It is a brutally honest representation of what it’s like to watch someone you care about hurt while you feel powerless to help them.
9. Until I Return – The struggle of being away from those we love is one that we all know well. In this gut-punch of a song, you sympathize with the idea of feeling too weak to fight through the rough patches when someone who usually supports you is not around to do so. 
10. The Coast Is Where Home Is – And there’s the nostalgic song! This song takes you back to the band’s origins as they reminisce about places from their hometown and moments from their earlier years. Despite being the nostalgic moment in the album, it keeps the momentum moving forward into the last track.
11. Still Remembering – The finale is a soft one that surrenders to the emotion that has been built and torn down and rebuilt throughout the album. The vulnerable nature of the song just might leave you drying your tears in the heavy silence after the last gently placed chord.

Recommended Jams

Pretty Little Distance – “Ain’t life swell from a pretty little distance/ I don’t want to leave/ I don’t want to stay/ Why look twice at a beautiful existence?”

Curtains Close – “Looking for an answer/ The house lights rise/ Looking for an ending/ That’s not goodbye/ We watch the curtains close/ On all we’ve known.”

No Way Out – “Inside as the rain came pouring down/ It can’t wash away all this hurt that haunts me now/ … I can’t escape/ I feel it killing me/ No way out.”

Defining Tracks

Okay – “I don’t know if I’ve been worse/ I don’t know if I can change/ But right now I don’t think/ Don’t think that I’m okay.”

Hey Rachel – “Hey, Rachel I’m sorry/ I was younger and scared when you needed me/ I was was selfish and stubborn/ A terrible brother/ You don’t have to forgive me/ Hey, Rachel I’m sorry.”

As It Is’ “okay.” is an early addition to this year’s new releases, but it feels like it has the potential to be a staple in the pop punk scene. It is already being very well received on social media around the globe. This album has the potential to carry the band onward and upward in the very near future.