I saw someone say that Faith Crisis Pt 1 is a ‘big departure for Australian Indie band Middle Kids and on first listen it’s hard to know what they are going on about. Faith Crisis Pt 1 is the sound of an Indie/Alternative band whichever you want to call them dabbling with Pop hooks and keeping the energy going throughout. It’s not what you’d call a revolution, but under the surface after a few listens you find that for Middle Kids it kind of is.
I really got a lot from the previous album Today We’re The Greatest back in 2021, an album I reviewed and then bought on vinyl no less, but here there’s a confidence and effortlessness to songs like ‘Dramamine’, ‘Philosophy’ and ‘Terrible News’ that wasn’t quite there a few years ago. It’s an easygoing record that shines when you allow yourself to relax into it. ‘Dramamine’ is a knockout single here and following the punchy but abrupt opener ‘Petition’ it kicks off the album with lead singer Hannah’s infectious performance front and centre.
I love the way the vocals are produced across the whole album, ‘Go To Sleep On Me’ especially has this intimacy in the way the vocals are layered that makes it really stand out here. Elsewhere I really enjoy the acoustic moments like ‘Bootleg Firecracker’, the comparison to MUNA coming through once again on that track in particular. Middle Kids just sound at home on so many of the songs here, melodies glide along while guitar lines pick up around them and the overall sound of the record feels cohesive and consistent.
Maybe the biggest misstep would be ‘Bend’ that for me erred just slightly too on the stadium rock singalong style to fit alongside killer tracks like ‘Highlands’ and ‘Your Side, Forever’. The ‘Whoah’ bits in particular could be the breaking point for many a picky bastard. Thankfully it’s just one track on an album stacked with brilliant moments elsewhere. ‘Philosophy’ might be the best hook of the record, I love the way that the guitars soar in over the top of the chorus on that song; it feels like the moment I’d be fully invested at a Middle Kids show.
There’s growth on this album from their last, even if at first it might seem subtle. Lyrically these songs are more detailed and interesting than ever, while the confidence and desire to really settle into an Indie Pop sound rather than Rock on Faith Crisis Pt 1 does a lot to make it a step up from Today We’re The Greatest. Middle Kids just suit this sort of music so well and with such a dynamic performer at the helm it makes for a very listenable third album from the band.
Will we get a part 2? I went in worried this might feel like an incomplete experience, but its place as a singular record means we very well might not. Either way I’ll be ready for whatever comes next from a band as easy to love as Middle Kids.
Words by Sam Atkins
Picky Bastards 
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