Word of Mouth
The Wanted are a boy band with a man’s disposition: They drink, they get into arguments, and they tend to see women as passive creatures waiting around in heels to be redeemed or get their hearts broken. They cloak their casual misogyny in trying to look sensitive, alternating rakish club pop like “Walks Like Rihanna” with post-Coldplay ballads in which everyone gets a chance to brood. In either case, the sound is big and lead-footed, using gang choruses to remind you to have fun and string sections when things stiffen and get sad. The truth? The promise that they’re gonna pour their love all over you is twice as charming – and half as creepy – as the one that they’re gonna keep you safe.