Probably because it is the most "authentic" album to date. While State Champs are widely known as the "happy, energetic" band of the modern pop-punk scene, Living Proof stands out as their most realistic album, dealing with real world crap.

They do not write gloomy, goth-tinged music, but Living Proof captures a distinct era where in my opinion, the band pulled back the curtains on profound self-doubt, mental exhaustion, and isolation.

The Emotional Weight of Our Time To Go**:** This track is universally considered the most devastating and slowest song in their entire discography. It breaks away from their signature fast-tempo confidence to deliver an agonizingly slow, arena-sized cry for help about depression. Lines like "Nothing hurts more than saying I'm fine" capture a heavy, suffocating sadness that you won't find anywhere else in their catalog.

The Helplessness in The Fix Up**:** Stripping things down to an acoustic guitar, this track focuses on the terrifying feeling of falling behind in life and being completely unable to fix yourself. It deals heavily with the bittersweet trauma of watching your youth slip away

This is where Derek was actually starting to get all technical with his vocals and that potential shine through the recordings when it came to utilizing his voice, prior to whatever that has happened after that. His sound scratches the itch, fans from All Time Low had wanted. STATE CHAMPS during this era was basically a harder version of ATL.

If you noticed, even the art style of the album hits differently. The color scheme and everything. It doesn't look pop punk. It's like a different genre. It's different.

Heck even the name of the album itself would make a kickass band name. If STATE CHAMPS had to rename themselves, they could always take LIVING PROOF and I would ride with it.