With Confidence - Love and Loathing (2018)

On their second album, the Aussie punk-pop band leaves teenage-crush stories behind, following blink-182’s and All-American Rejects’ paths in creating emo-tinged pop filled with stadium-ready hooks. Jayden Seeley’s vocal fry is gone, replaced by growing sophistication that extends thematically; There’s less, “she’s gone and I’m bummed” and more, “she’s gone but I’ll be better for it.” Tracks like “That Something,” “Moving Boxes,” and “Jaded” feel custom fit for the Warped Tour faithful, yet, unlike their darker-leaning contemporaries, With Confidence keep their chins up, especially on “Pâquerette,” a gentle ballad that’s a worthy heir to “Hey There Delilah” by the Plain White T’s.