Burlington, Ontario, ensemble Walk off the Earth initially went viral in the early 2010s with their rustic renditions of megahits like PSY’s “Gangnam Style” and Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know”; a decade later, they’ve become a band intent on crafting towering pop anthems of their own. But if Walk off the Earth have outgrown their humble, homespun roots, they’ve retained certain signature qualities: their infectious exuberance and the percussive momentum that fuels their songs. Stand by You exemplifies their unique ability to invest folk-festival songcraft with dance-tent energy, while highlighting the band’s broad, cross-generational appeal: “My Stupid Heart” amplifies its air of party-hearty bonhomie with tropically tinged beats and chant-along hooks, but its earworm chorus also easily lends itself to a “kids’ version” sung by the children of lead vocalists Gianni Nicassio and Sarah Blackwood. And even in the post-genre landscape of early-2020s pop, Walk off the Earth’s effortless fluidity remains something to behold, as the group sounds equally at home dropping R&B jams with California rapper D Smoke (“Bet on Me”) and kicking out brassy New Wave romps with adult-contemporary rockers Train (“Oh My My! [In Love Again]”).
- Andy Grammer
- American Authors
- Nicky Youre
- Sarah Blackwood