Review Summary: Ironic Lyrics. New Drummer. Strained Vocals. Yep its Good Charlotte....
Ok, so 3 is probably a bit too high for this album, its not their best, in fact its probably the worst they've ever created but i have heard worse.
As a fan of Good Charlotte for 5 years I can easily say that as soon as this album was out I had a huge urge to skip college and buy it. I didn't and i'm glad I didn't. This album goes horribly wrong from time to time and i'm glad i waited till I actually had some money to buy it.
On buying it I ripped off the plastic to have a look at their lyrics only to be disappointed to find there was none. WHY?! One of the main reasons I love Good Charlotte's music is because of their lyrics and it pissed me off to find that they couldn't even bothered putting any in...just a meter long back and front photo of the band and their thankyou's. No offence I don't care who helped you to set up this album up, like a normal fan I wanted lyrics and good ones at that.
Lyrically this album is the same as usual. Love. Life. Hate. Joel and Benjis parents. Money. Celebritys. They can't seem to move away from that sort of thing but I can deal with that. If you've been in their situation its easy to relate with....i suppose. Worst lyrics on the whole album?? Easy 'Ive got brass knuckles hanging from my neck and my chain.' God knows what they were on when they thought of that....but i reacon everyone but Joel was against that line. Some of their lyrics make me laugh. The fact that you imagine Joel doing half the things he talks about is funny because in reality he wants us to believe he hates that sort of thing....and we just know thats not true.
Thats what pulls this album down....Joel Fecking Madden. The voice....the lyrics (because we all the awful songs are his). His voice is only good when hes singing the right note...not when hes trying to be an octave higher than he can do and throughout the whole of the album his voice sounds strained (God help him live). You can tell on writing the lyrics for this album he'd just split up with Hilary Duff...and it is in a way sickening.
Pop-punk will always stick by these guys. I don't care what they say they will never be any different to what they are. They can try...they HAVE tried but it never works. Especially this album....it sounds like they want to go back to 'Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous' but at the same time they want to conform to the music genre thats around at the moment. This works against them and may even break their careers.
It took a long time for this album to come out. 2 years in fact and I am slightly disappointed that out of the whole thing theres only 2 or 3 songs that I really like. This album is nothing compared to their old stuff and this new sound their trying to build in is never going to work unless they realise how to work with it properly.
Yes, this new sound makes me cringe at times. Yes, there are a million and one things wrong with this album but ill always look past the bad points with these guys and find at least one amazing song.
Likeable songs:
Broken Hearts Parade. This song reminds me of hercules (the disney film) and its definalty one of the best on the album in my opinion. Maybe its because of the trumpets (Which was a great idea), or because I can relate to this song or maybe its just because I looked so god damn hard for a song to love this one popped out and screamed 'LOOK AT ME I HAVE TRUMPETS!!!' Yes. I do love the trumpets haha and i like the idea of using different instruments in an album and this certainly makes you think 'you know what? There still some good old GC in them somewhere.'
Songs Im Still Not Sure About :
Misery Yep. I believe this song is great. Maybe not 5/5 but it certainly near there. This makes Joel into the hypocrite he is but I suppose thats him now.
Victims Of Love The lyrics on this are funny. 'he calls her up hes tripping on the phone line' how much more paranoid and clingy can Joel get???
Each of the above songs make me think of the old sound and how much I want it back because if im honest im becoming less of a fan of this band quicker than I got into them...and that was quick. When I first heard them I was going through a rough time... and maybe its just because I can't relate to them as much as before or something but I am disappointed in this album and I hope the next one (if there is one that is) comes out soon...no more 2 year waits please.
I do recommend this album though....if your into pop. The punk part of GC is disappearing and thats not a good thing. I think they need to go back to their roots and realise why they started making music instead of looking around them in hollywood and critising everyone else.
