 |
Last Ten Reviews
|
New Found Glory - Catalyst | 05.19.2004
|
|
|
If you are a long time fan of New Found Glory just skip to the last line and read it, but right now I'm going to say something that will probably ruin my popularity. I'm disappointed in New Found Glory's new release, "Catalyst." (Hey, what do I care? I've never been popular.) Truth be told, these guys are the absolute reigning kings of pop punk, and "Catalyst" is good pop punk, but it is just good, and I was hoping for more. The problem with a band sticking around for more than a couple of albums is that people begin to expect things of them. When you put out something as genre defining as NFG's self-titled release, fans are going to hope for the same time after time. I love the first single off of "Catalyst," a fast paced, catchy tune by the name of "All Downhill From Here." It gets stuck in your head, it's fun to sing…it's everything you want in a fun rock song and "Doubt Full", the seventh track, is great in all the same ways. This band has made a real art in the past of writing songs that were catchy but not annoying, had great choruses, and were chock full of fast and loud guitars and driving drums that could sustain a song on their own. I did not like "Sticks and Stones" when it came out two years ago, and I must say I think "Catalyst" is a great answer to it. NFG is getting back to its roots. While the songs are catchy, they don't necessarily follow the current formula most bands seem to be using. Pundik's voice is all over the place in a way that shows effort toward originality. The opening guitar riffs and clever bridges of nearly every song are a great return to their "Self Titled" days. But, and here's the salient point, there isn't a single song on this album that has the stand out qualities of "Sincerely Me," "Hit or Miss," or "Black and Blue." Every song on this album, with the exception of the wonderfully brash and bitchy "Intro", sounds exactly like the one following it. It's hard to listen to that for forty-five minutes, even if it is decent. New Found Glory fans will like this album, but die hard fans of their earlier work will find themselves wanting for a little bit of the old inventiveness.
Drive Thru Records, PO BOX 55234, Sherman Oaks, CA 91413
http://www.drivethrurecords.com |
|
|
|
Reviewed by Kate Crnich.
|
|
|
Tracks:
Intro
All Downhill From Here
This Disaster
Truth of My Youth
I Don't Wanna Know
Your Biggest Mistake
Doubt Full
Failure's Not Flattering
Over the Head, Below the Knees
Ending in Tragedy
At Least I'm Known for Something
I'd Kill to Fall Asleep
No News is Good News
Who Am I
|
|
_____
View All Reviews
|
 |
