This is Sum 41's 4th studio album, released in late 2004. This is their first 'serious' album. No joke songs.
Intro is a beautiful short clean intro leading into the first song, No Reason.
No Reason is a great way to open the album. Headbanging hard punk rock. Pretty typical recent Sum 41, but brilliant song. Only disappointment is the lyrics. It seems that the rhyming is forced e.g. 'How can we fake this anymore/Turn our backs away and choose to just ignore' - Come on guys, you can do better than that! Great song, nevertheless.
We're All To Blame was the first hit single from this album. This is definately one of my favourites on the album. Heavy verse with shouting vocals, then a beautiful quiet chorus. Brilliant thrash middle section.
Angels With Dirty Faces is one of the darkest tracks on the album. Only just over 2 minutes long, but really heavy and dark with lyrics about love and obsession. Great song. It's really grown on me.
Some Say sounds quite Oasis-esqua at the beginning. I was really surprised when I first heard it, but as the song goes on, it sounds a little bit like 'Handle This', one of the better tracks from All Killer No Filler. Some Say is far better though. Far more memorable (the anthemic chant of 'think before you make up your mind'). I love this one.
The Bitter End is my second favourite on the album. This is Sum 41's attempt at thrash, and they do a f*cking damn good job of it. If you take the vocals out, you would think this is Metallica or Megadeth or something. Phenomenal solo from Dave Baksh, the best guitarist in punk hands down. Awesome song. They should do more songs like this.
Open Your Eyes, like No Reason, is a brilliant head banging hard punk song, but the lyrics seem a bit forced again. Great song though.
Slipping Away is a soft, depressing clean song which is really needed in the album after 2 heavy songs. This shows how versatile Sum 41 really are.
I'm Not The One is a good hard punk song, but there isn't anything that much special in it. Fortunately, they make up for that with the wonderful heavy metal middle section, which will leave you headbanging.
Welcome To Hell is the only real disappointment on the album, apart from some lyrics. I don't really like this song. This is quite NOFX-esque and I'm not a fan of them at all. It's an OK song, though.
Pieces is the forthcoming single from this album and is my favourite on the album. It's a wonderful, fairly up-tempo ballad. Really emotional. Great vocal harmonies. Excellent song overall. This is one for everyone.
There's No Solution, like I'm Not The One, doesn't really have anythign special about it. It's a pretty good song, but doesn't have the edge.
88 has really grown on me and is one of my favourites on the album. Awesome vocal harmonies. Great thrash middle section and wicked solo, then it all dies down with one clean guitar and low, depressing vocals. It's just perfect.
Sum 41 are more than just a punk band. They do soft and hard rock, metal and thrash. Do not judge them by Fat Lip and In Too Deep. They're over that phase. Chuck is really what they're about. This is their best album by a mile and if you are new to them, definately start here. The only way for them now is forward
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agreed. apart from the thrash bit in the pros. but overall, excellent review
Ollydv 07.04.2005 21:33
i agree with you and think that this is their best album yet. my second favourite album is All Killer No Filler, but i generally think that as the band has gotten older, they have greatly improved.
good review
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