Song by song: New Found Glory - Radio Surgery

New Found Glory have grown as a band, and on me, since I first heard them. I initially saw them as jumping on the blink-182 bandwagon but in truth they have stuck with it, been consistently good (except I've never gotten into Coming Home) and they were pioneers of Easycore. I heard that with new album Radiosurgery they were trying a more '77/power pop sound which I've always found a bit hit or miss (NFG pun, sorry.) but I was looking forward to it nonetheless.

Radiosurgery

The opening riff and production harks back to an early time for melodic punk and this song really sets the tone (sorry again!) of the whole album. Everything is simplified compared to the hardcore-influenced output of the last few releases but it is a catchy song and the vocals help it retain their sound.

Anthem for the Unwanted

This starts suspiciously like something Green Day would produce since they 'grew up' ie got boring. Luckily the rest of the song is fun and has more hooks than a pirate in a butcher shop. The guitars and bass work really well, and the song is structured nicely.

Drill it in my Brain

Okay, there's 5 guys in the band, how did none of them clock that the opening riff is from Motivation by Sum 41? Someone must have noticed.. Srsly gize? I guess it has been about 10 years since Motivation but it's gonna be pretty awkward when they co-headline the kerrang tour. The chorus is good though, which is of course one of the things they can do well. The outro is pretty sweet as well, just a hint of hardcore influence and then some good vocals back and forth.

I'm not the One

One of the best songs on the album, if not the best. All the hallmarks of one of their classics (After ten years they get to have classics, right?) It starts with what sounds like an infomerical from the 50s/60, which is an era they revisit here and there. Anyway, hardcore elements, great vocal work, slightly more complicated drumming and tempos, everything really. And a 2-Step 101 bit! Quick, go mosh with your bros and join in some GANG VOX before you go back to hanging out with that girl you like at the gig! Really good stuff though.

Ready, Aim, Fire!

Again I'm amazed that no-one called out whoever wrote this and asked them how much Lars Fredrikson they'd be listening to..Or Billy Bragg.. Or a version of I Fought the Law... Basically a mish mash of all three. Not even a good song to boot...

Dumped

Ah this sounds like one of their own songs. Experimenting with some Beach Boys style backing vocals that are sure to annoy the REAL PUNX even more but actually are probably as much as a nod to Ramones. This will be stuck in my head forever I fear. And more woahs than....The Offspring karaoke?

Summer Fling, Don't mean a Thing

I love this song! It sounds like a P0P PUNK C0VAR OF KELLY CLRKSN LOLOLOL that you'd see on youtube. Except some 30 something year old dudes with tattoos wrote it instead. So well put together I could see it getting into the chartz. They say 'summer' a lot of times in it and even though it's dark, wet and miserable here in Ireland, in October, this makes me want to go hang at the backyard pool of one of my big circle of friends from high school, or whatever it is that American teens do these days. Chooon. And check out the backing vox around the 2 minute mark.

Caught in the Act (feat. some beure who sounds like Hayley from Paramore)

This song is slow and I'm not really into it. It has a kind of 50s/60s/prom night/grease musical feel to it in the chorus. I'm sure some girls will like it. I guess. It even has a RADIO ROCK SONG GUITAR SOLO. Neeext.


Memories and Battle Scars

Thank goth this is uptempo and sounds like a pop punk song. It reminds me of the old powerpop songs where the singer tries to explain their feelings through the love-you-so-much-it-hurts kinda shtyle. Jordan is 32 now but whatevs, he got married two years a go.. still, good song.


Trainwreck

This sounds like AC/DC a bit..Not sure if I'm into it..that is all.


Map of Your Body

For 90% of this it's a great pop punk song. Relatively fast, melodic, woahs, the works. Then they go back into the 50s/prom/grease thing for some reason. It sounds a bit like a more fggty version of Saturday Night by Misfits, if that's possible. Maybe if some beure had dumped me lately I'd get it a bit better. Still the rest of the song is good and it's a positive to end the album on.

Gonna give this 7/10 even though I've had conflicting emotions on the album for two weeks about at this stage. I'm Not The One and Summer Fling, Don't Mean a Thing are great, there's lots of solid catchy ones too but the occasional dud and I hope they don't go down the 'mature' means boring route.

Song by Song: Man Overboard - Self Titled 2011

Good 2 see they're sticking to their lazy album cover rootz

I don’t think I would have liked Man Overboard if I heard them when I
was a teenager. They would have offended my ideal as to what a punk
rock/pop punk band should have been what with their vocal effects and
emo lyrics. I saw them live in Dublin last year though and their
guitarist/singer was drunk and wonderfully out of tune so they
actually had a fun, punk element to them and that was the catalyst to
me giving them a second chance and actually growing to really like
some of the songs on Real Talk. They’re basically pop written by pop
punk dudes but they’re catchy and seem like good people.

So anyway, here are my impressions of each song..

Rare

Straight away I don’t like the intro, I can see what they're going for  but it sounds like a record sped up or a badly tuned radio recorded through a washing machine. Once it gets going properly the verse is good and then the chorus comes in at a weird off time tempo that takes a while to get used to. The bridge is nice and chorus works well the last time around, and once you're used to the changes it's a solid, catchy song.

Teleport

I like the stop-start guitar style with vocals running underneath. The second song off Real Talk goes the same way as this and I guess if it ain't broke... Zacs vocals haven’t changed much from the slightly whiney nerdy teenager next door singing in his first band but his melodies are good. The chorus works well, they’re going for a ‘big chorus’ type vibe and the song grows as it continues. There are some parts that they won’t be able to pull of live I'd say, but it's a good song overall.

Voted Most Likely

This is another one that builds up well with a nice galloping rhythm that comes in during the verse, something I haven’t heard them do before. Works well with their melodic, sugarsweet singing style actually. Chorus is definitely one for the girls to sing along to. The 'breakdown' bit is sweet and the whole song leads to that and then the bridge after where there's alot of back and over vocals and then the purdy chorus again. You can see exactly they're going for but I’m a sucker for a melodic chorus and a b it of a breakdown so sue me for like this more than I should.

Dead End Dreams

The acoustic ‘gang vocals’ intro...ehhh...yeah, it's a bit cringey but it does help get the chorus stuck in my damn head.  They’re still rhyming ‘world’ with ‘girl’ but at least they're talking about the transition between being a boy and a man.  Then they bust out the STADIUM ROCK CHORUS, perfect for clapping along to or, for hardcore kids who are secretly emo kids at heart, chanting along to. There's a lot of 'how to write a song for a bigger venue' parts stuck into this song but it might grow on me.

Something’s Weird

Nice fast pace to this one, I’m reminded of the descendants for some reason. The singing could do with a bit more balls and angst during the first part of the verse but I should man up and listen to some man music if I want that I guess, The second part of the verse(?) is great and the chorus is good too. The bridge has a lot going on, and grabs your attention more than alot of pop punk bridges would. There's a good bit going on in the song and structure-wise it's pretty complicated for them. Good song overall.

Punishment

There’s about a minute of music at the start without vocals, which makes this song drag and it’s largely unremarkable for the most part. There’s a part in the middle where the vocals go back and over that I really
like, Nik with the stronger vocals and Zac coming in after. This has more of a teen movie soundtrack vibe to it I think, and if your bros got into your car as this song came on they'd be within their rights to call you a total fggt.

Not the First

Intro comes straight from the Rise Against ripping off Bad Relgion school of riffs. Sure that'll piss off the purists but whatever dude. This song also grows well and doesn’t just stick to a three chord-played-at-different-speeds format. Not sure if I want to bludgeon myself into deafness with mp3 player when they sing 'know-oh-oh-woah-oh-oh-oh-oh' etc or eat ice cream and sing along. They can right a little hook as well as anyone though.

Headstone

Love the intro to this! Vocals work really well together with a nice harmony. Yeah, this song is great, really fast pace and vocals are good and catchy with ‘woahs’ and gang vocals, the works. I had a feeling there would be a bit of a slowed down breakdown to this and it arrives 2/3 of the song in, as predicted, but it mixes their melodies and hardcore-influenced drumming well. The transition into the fast part is seemless and I might have a new favourite song on the album, this almost sounds like skate punk. This is probably the song you won't be embarrased about your friends hearing you listening to.

Spunn

Slowing things down a little bit which is to be expected after the last song. I think they released this one in advance of the album, and it has all the things you would expect in a Man Overboard song. Solid song that flows well and one that I can see ‘people’ singing along in the car to. Kind of overkill with a piano bit towards the end, but I like the up-tempo chorus that follows.

Picture Perfect

Coming towards the end of the album and I think this is the first slow song that starts with just guitar and vocals. Thankfully its Nik singing so the cringe factor is kept down. Not sure what genre this is, again, wouldn’t be out of place on a teen movie soundtrack, except I mean that as more of a compliment than I did with Punishment. Not a lot of punk to be found in this, but it shows another side of their songwriting and I’m sure the 14 year old girls and older dudes with the blues/suburban issues will dig it.

Night Feelings

I'm reminded of AFI with this one, good AFI that is, not the screechy early stuff or the weird old man pop of later years. There's a really nice tempo change in it that slows it down but really shows their progression as a band, it doesn't feel forced but really adds to the song. This is followed by a soaring, uplifting chorus (can't believe I just typed that, ugh..) and there's a few layers of changes and hooks between vocals, guitars and drums. There's an energy with this song and I get the impression they had fun writing this one. There's a classic POP PUNK JUMP BREAKDOWN (I'm completely making these terms up) towards the end that makes me want to write a part like it into a song asap. One of the best songs on the album.

Atlas

Another slow starter, lyrics are about watching the world and again contemplating becoming a man, it's a welcome change. Verse is horrifically emo, filled with White Whines and I wonder if they'll ever get to the stage where they sing about drinking vodka and partying. Either way it at least adds some variety to the album and it might stand the test of time a bit better than most of their relationship lyrics.

Overall I'm impressed with this album. There's been a very slight progression in the lyrics but a leap forward in songwriting overall. Real Talk, for me, has a few stand out singles, some songs with good parts and a lot of filler. The album is self titled and there is a sense they have found their sound. Headstone and Night Feelings are the best of the faster songs, Voted Most Likely is a well-written song and Teleport should be a favourite with the ladies looking for non-threatening, music boys. This will be in my car cd player for a while. 8/10.

Song by Song: Blink 182 - Neighborhoods

If it wasn't for Blink 182, I probably wouldn't be in a band today. There are only a few bands that I loved in my early teens and still listen to regularly today, and Blink would be towards the top of that list. Certain songs are like a time capsule for me, bringing a wave of memories and associations with each.

Everyone knows the style change, or 'growing up' that came with the self title album in 2003 and the hiatus that followed. New album 'Neighborhoods' comes after a hiatus, helicopter crash and band members going in different directions musically. It's only natural for a blink fan to be both nervous and excited about the new album....

Though nowadays they look a bit like a gay couple and their rebellious, adopted son, these lads (and poor 'aul Scott) are the reason I've ever been in a punk-related band. Blame them.

(By the way, I think looking back at your early impressions of new music is always interesting so I’m going to try and write a ‘song by song’ review as I listen to albums after only hearing the songs a few times. )

Ghost on the Dancefloor

Ok, first song of an album a long time coming. Nice drumming by Travis
to start things off, and then an old style blink riff done in a weird
indie/electro dance way.. Toms singing is a bit annoying but the
chorus isn’t bad. Oh and they’re using synth, hmm. The song as a whole
is more indie than any blink style from before and it’s pretty
underwhelming, Travis beats the living hell out of the drums in the
bridge, it doesn’t really go with the music but maybe it’s his way of
saying ‘well if you’re going to bring those riffs then I’m gonna bring
these mad off time beatz’. The third chorus could do with a rhythm
change as well.  Not the most promising start.

Natives

Instantly this is a bit more like it. Nice guitar lead that reminds me of
very old blink and the bass is up good and loud. Travis does a nice
slowing down of the tempo every second bar as well. Mark comes in with
the chorus which is something I always thought they should do more,
it’s rare they both have lead vocals.  Yeah this song is a big
improvement on the first, don’t know why they didn’t lead with it on
the album. Oh and Travis is off doing complicated, weird timing in the
bridge. Third chorus is given a more upbeat drum rhythm which works
well. Marks singing is a bit deep but at least he isn’t doing the
weird accent/style Tom is.

Up All Night

Obviously I had heard this a good while ago. Very Boxcar Racer, which
is good. Mark tries his best to make it simple catchy pop punk with
his three chord line. Like the vocals crossing back and forth between
the two of them in the verse, don’t think they’ve done it like that
since Pathetic. Pre chorus is catchy but Toms’ voice is horrific.
“Strugguull threewwoohhoo, each and evvurry yeuuuuahur’. Dat riff
though. Nice. The verse is the best part in this by far, or maybe it’s
the chorus. Either way the actual ‘up all night’ part is pretty meh I
think. I like the outro when Travis ‘breaks it down’ (there’s probably a
technical term) and then speed up again. Pretty good song overall.

After Midnight

Promising start with a nice drum riff from Travis. Guitar and bass are
good too, even if again it’s not exactly pop punk. Tom is singing
again, but toning down the douchebaggery a bit. And another Mark
chorus! It’s a decent song in a catchy, non offensive, slow paced way.
No doubt there’ll be loads of drum covers on youtube.

Snake Charmer

Weird intro on this one. Sound a bit like Limp Bizkit or something. Oh
actually a heavy mosh bit, that’s kind of nu-metal. The guitars sound
weird as if the speed is going up and down. I’m guessing it’s
intentional but don’t really know what it adds. The verse is…I don’t
know, like a parody song. ‘Spoider…insoide her’ Yeah Tom singing
again. The chorus is good though. Verse is god awful, actually.
“spoine…it happens all the toime’. Song goes on too long and has an
instrumental outro. Unnecessary.

Heart’s All Gone Interlude

Not as annoying as the Fallen Interlude. It’s a bit long. And doesn’t
really run smoothly into the next song, there’s still a gap after the
last note.

Heart’s All Gone

This was the other song I heard before the album release. Mark
obviously wrote most of it, it’s actually pop punk. Really nice
drumming, fast tempo, distorted guitar, good stuff. It even has a
bridge where the bass takes the lead for a while. This is what Blink
songs used to sound like. Really nice contrast between fast drumming
and slowing down the beat under the same riff in the lead up to the
last chorus. Good pop punk song.

Wishing Well

This is a strange one, again like After Midnight it’s nice in a non
offensive way, and could actually sound like a Blink song with heavier
guitars. Really odd ‘la daa daw da da da’ bit that’s catchy but could
get annoying very quickly. I think if this was covered by a pop punk
band it could sound really good.



Kaleidoscope

Sounds a bit like Biffy Clyro at the start, then the guitars change
when Travis comes in with another ridiculous piece of good drumming.
Mark is singing at the start of the song, which hasn’t happened much
so far. Finding it hard to get used to the drumming, it’s technically
very good but doesn’t flow well, maybe I’ll have to listen a few more
times. Chorus is Tom and I think it actually works better than the
verse, so for the first time I prefer a Tom part. Actually, the second
verse flows a lot smoother because the drumming is a lot more
standard. Starts to drag towards the end a little. Drumming is so far
ahead of the music in terms of skill. And another extended outro.

This Is Home

First thought was that it sounds like Mercy Me by Alkaline Trio with
some synth slapped on top. Shocking mixing, unless they actually meant
the synth to sound pasted on top.
Verse is awful, sounds like somebody’s dad wrote a song, which I
suppose is the case. Chorus is odd again, he does a strange ‘aw aw I’
thing, which I don’t know how to feel about. It might get stuck in my
head but that doesn’t mean I won’t cringe. Yeah, this is pretty bad



MH 4.18.2011

Hey, this sounds like an old punk song! And Mark is singing so that
would explain it. Nice catchy one that would be a solid part of an
older album but is one of the better ones on this, if you’re looking
for Blink to be anything like their old selves. Pre chorus is
definitely a good hook. Not sure what the lyrics are about, could be
war, which would be a strange new direction. But maybe I’m
misinterpreting them totally. All I know is I listen to the words a
lot more when Mark sings.

Love is Dangerous

Takes a while to start. Sounds like dad rock when it does. Actually
the vocals are interesting at least, have some effect on and the two
lads harmonise with each other, which is a little different for a
change. Chorus is criminally bad though. Awful. Second time around and
I have to skip the song.

Fighting The Gravity

And yet another intro, still trying to wash the bad taste of the last
song away so I’ll take anything. Oh, yeah, they play around with
vocals again at the start, sounds a bit trippy and spacey, whatever,
I’m sure everyone gets a bit bored/experimental in the studio. Next
Song.

Even If She Falls

This actually sounds like a Blink song if it was being played by old
dudes, which is of course the case. I thought this would be more of
the style of the album. A less fun, less enthusiastic Blink. It’s an
unremarkable song in many ways except it’s an improvement on the two
previous Cure/U2-bastard-child songs.


All in all, it's not a bad album, but it's not really a Blink album. I'll go with 6/10 for now.