Song 1: Underclass Hero
Lyrically entertaining, musically unoriginal. To me it sounds a little too much like Fat Lip. Even though they fail to create a new sound, it’s still one of my two favorites on the album. Again, thank the lyrics, not the sound.
Song 2: Walking Disaster
Probably the best song on the album, the other of my two favorites. This song is very well written, and possibly the most original song on the album, at least comparing to other albums.
Song 3: Speak of the Devil
For some reason the sound of this one reminds me of “What I’ve Done” by Linkin Park in some parts. The sections that has singing but no music behind it doesn’t interest me.
Song 4: Dear Father
Sounds too much like Walking Disaster. Again, I like the lyrics, but Sum 41 fails to add a better or even different element to their music. They also repeat the last 3 words of virtually every stanza. Even young, new, and mostly lyrically challenged bands know that it just blocks the music behind it, which isn’t required if the music is worth hearing, which it really isn’t in this case.
Song 5: Count Your Last Blessings
I like this song because it’s old school Sum 41 without really copying it. The guitar licks are pretty good too.
Song 6: Ma Poubelle
I spent a good while searching for the translation of this one, and let me just say, it’s not exactly appropriate.
Song 7: March of the Dogs
This song is so perfectly hostile to President He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. It matches my political preferences, with some good music to boot.
Song 8: The Jester
To me, it sounds like this song is about Darth Cheney. “A Jester of sorts you stand holding your courts/Over minions on Capitol Hill.” Another nice tune damning the Bush Administration.
Song 9: With Me
Getting away from the “Hate Bush” vibe, this sentimental song is what you make it. It steps away from the average “pissed-punk” kind of music that is standard to Sum 41 on this album and all of their others. It is a fine, fine song.
Song 10: Pull the Curtain
The fast paced sections rock, but the redundancy of fast pace to soft to fast to soft again gets rather annoying. It makes it hard to enjoy the song when it’s only good in 30-40 second intervals. Not bad, but could be better. Oh, and the end sounds too much like “We’re All to Blame”
Song 11: King of Contradiction
Finally, the fast-paced punk rock that is, or was, Sum 41 shows itself. Unfortunately, it’s short lived – a mere minute and a half long.
Song 12: Best of Me
Sounds a lot like Hoobastank’s “The Reason.” No complaints though, I like that song.
Song 13: Confusion and Frustration in Modern Times
A good example of what Sum 41 used to be meeting hopefully what they will become in the future. Maturity in music and lyrics clearly noticeable, and entirely likable in this song. If you’re just getting a few songs on this album from iTunes, this is definitely one to get.
Song 14: So Long Goodbye
It seems every band is trying to recreate what Green Day did with their most widely known song “Good Riddance.” Plain White T’s has “Hey There Delilah,” Jet has “Look What You’ve Done,” and now Sum 41 has this. Can’t complain, sometimes a band needs that sentimental song.
Overall not a bad CD. Maybe I was just expecting too much from them because Green Day came out with American Idiot, and My Chemical Romance came out with The Black Parade, so it wasn’t anything spectacular.
Rating: A generous 3 out of 5
Buy, Borrow, or Forget?: Either get a burned copy from a friend who has it or buy some of the songs on iTunes, or whatever you have. I wouldn’t pay full price for it, so I got it on sale at NFM.
