Rating: NN
I’m amazed this pop punk stuff is still coming out, but somebody’s obviously buying it, so what the hell do I know? At least Good Charlotte are exploring more avenues after their yawn-inducing and alarmingly popular Young And The Hopeless. The opening track is a string instrumental, and there are some 80s-driven bass lines and fun keyboards along with more strings and some very boy-band urban moments, like the Motowny I Just Wanna Live. The lyrics are your average fare about discovering the world ain’t so perfect and feeling lost and lonely, and Joel Madden still sounds whiny and indistinguishable from others of his ilk. The band’s trying to grow up, but you won’t learn anything about life or death from this record unless you’re, like, 12.
