•
Rating: Browsing through the various discographies of pop-punk bands, you can notice how there are bands that still maintain their sound from the beginning, others that started with a direct and faster sound have standardized to that pop tinged with punk which is (was?) so fashionable at the moment, and others that have ventured into various experiments: here is the case of Sum 41, a quintessential pop-punk band among the most well-known.
In fact, something I like to emphasize is that Sum 41 could be considered yet another clone or commercial phenomenon trying to reach the success of Green Day, but upon closer analysis, they show a tendency to combine classic pieces of milk tinged with coffee (fashion-punk) with others that rise to higher levels of aggressiveness (although unfortunately all too marginal), which distinguishes them just enough from the competition. This might be due, at least partly, to the musical influences the band experienced in their youth.
But let's proceed in order...
The four Canadians, after a decent beginning, reached success with "All Killer No Filler" a classic pop-punk album, objectively quite modest. This was followed by the more convincing "Does This Look Infected?" which already, through a few songs (No brains, Over my head, and Hyper-insomnia paracondriod), foreshadowed the heavy turn that would arrive in 2004 with "Chuck". The album's name is a dedication to Chuck Pelletier, a UN official who saved the band during a conflict in Congo, where the group was filming for the documentary War Child.
The album artwork is also very nice.
It should be noted that from this album onwards, the 30-40 second songs that "filled" the first three albums are completely absent, in favor of a very developed tracklist, 16 songs that give more than 40 minutes of good vibes.
The fourth album by Sum 41 is something that detaches from previous productions, as the cheerful and light "American Pie" type pieces disappear to make room for a more powerful and mature sound. Indeed, the sounds vary greatly and range from pop-rock and rock to punk rock and even (yes indeed) nu metal and thrash.
Furthermore, the group has never hidden its appreciation for metal, having been raised on a diet of bread, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest. An emblem of this passion is the metallic "Pain for pleasure" contained in "All Killer No Filler," which is strange for them as it completely separates from the sunny atmosphere of the aforementioned album.
After a few seconds of guitar riff in "Intro", the actual CD kicks off with "No reason," a great song, very energetic and fast at times aggressive, also released as a single, in my opinion the most beautiful in their entire discography. But the novelty is called "We’re all to blame," a song characterized by hard and heavy verses and melodic choruses with strong nu tendencies, reminiscent of System Of A Down, beautiful for its dual nature.
With "Angels with dirty faces" the discussion interrupted by "No reason" continues, a punk rock song opened by a voice that at first appears tired but then becomes more energetic. With "Some say" we relax a moment before arriving at Metallica school thrash metal in "The bitter end" characterized by a long central solo. We return to the canons with "Open your eyes" where a solo is played, and we take a break with "Slipping away" a melodic song characterized by strings, but with a great impact, and then we kick off again with the nu-metal vibe of "I’m not the one" one of the best on the album.
The subsequent Pennywise-oriented "Welcome to hell" is also excellent, earning the title of the fastest and most hardcore song of the lot. If the guys made more pieces along the same lines, it would certainly change the music.
But the Canadians also know how to thrill us with the splendid ballad "Pieces", initially performed with the help of strings and acoustic guitars that subsequently along the way intertwine with the electrics creating a very impactful sound.
After the decent "There’s no solution" the CD closes with "88" a song with metallic nuances, with a second instrumental part. But in this CD there are also 3 bonus tracks, in my opinion good ones that would not have been out of place among the others in the main lineup. Here then comes "Noots" which synthesizes the band's style, "Moron" a song full of choruses that seem like The Offspring, and to close, the nice "Subject to change" supported by excellent riffs and from which the band drew inspiration by resuming the theme of the refrain to launch the first single "Underclass hero" of the new album released in 2007.
We’ve already talked about the metal turn and the punk matrix of the songs interpreted in a more aggressive and convincing way, but there’s an additional element of novelty to note: the ballads. Indeed, in the combo's previous three albums there was never a shadow of a ballad, not to mention the use of the acoustic guitar which finally comes to the forefront.
However, what is disappointing for the group is that after this excellent test that promised great things for the future and especially to carry forward a certain type of sound and maturation (note how this album was almost completely overshadowed by TV and by MTV in particular...) and distancing themselves from their classic style, they will unfortunately go back to the old path, but that is another story.
To the detractors who perhaps detest fashion-punky, who have never tolerated them, I say this CD might make you change your mind a bit, if even this one doesn’t sit well with you, at this point forget about their remaining discography.
And here I go further: the demonstration of courage to change course by the Canadian band, call it evolution or experimentation as you like, has never been seen and will never be done by any similar mainstream group. Blink 182 have never changed (almost) a comma, photocopying themselves from start to finish. A half change, albeit too tied to the usual tele-radio environments, was made by the Green Day but then almost turned out to be a flop, reference to "Warning". With the difference that Green Day made a pop-rock turn, Sum 41 did it towards metal. How many pop-punk bands have veered towards metal? I’d say none, and this fact alone is enough.
The arrangements and production by Greg Nori border on perfection, with always fresh and never repetitive sounds.
Coming back to us, it is an excellent CD, the masterpiece of the combo, the best in their entire discography, which by alternating different influences and sounds manages to never bore and convinces completely, changing atmosphere track by track.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 No Reason (03:04)
All of us believe that this is not up to you
The fact of the matter is really it's up to me
(Hey,hey,hey,hey,hey,hey, ''Let's go'')
How can we fake this anymore (anymore)
We turn our backs away and choose to just ignore (Choose to just ignore)
(Some say) Some say it's ignorance
It makes me feel some innocence
(Some say) It takes away a part of me
But I won't let go
So why can't you see it's not the way (not the way)
When we all fall down it will be too late
Why is there no reason we can't change (no reason)
When we all fall down, who will take the blame
What will it take
If nothing could ever be this real (be this real)
A life unsatisfied that I could never feel (I could never feel)
(Some say) This future's not so bright
Some can't make the sacrifice
(Some say) It's much more than just black and white
And I won't follow
So why can't you see it's not the way (not the way)
When we all fall down it will be too late
Why is there no reason we can't change (no reason)
When we all fall down, who will take the blame
What will it take
Times like these I've come to see how
Everything but time is running out
(Hey,hey,hey,hey,hey,hey, ''Right now'')
All of us believe in what we need
What we have's what we don't see
So why can't you see it's not the way (not the way)
When we all fall down it will be too late
Why is there no reason we can't change (no reason)
When we all fall down, who will take the blame
What will it take
So how long has this gone on / So why can't you see it's not the way (not the way)
I don't see this ending / When we all fall down it will be too late
It's too late we can't change
What has now begun
We act like it's not right / Why is there no reason we can't change (no reason)
Why are we pretending / When we all fall down, who will take the blame
We've been wrong for so long / What will it take
We've known this all along
03 We're All to Blame (03:38)
Take everything left from me
All to blame
How can we still succeed, taking what we don't need
Telling lies, alibis, selling all the hate that we breed
Supersize our tragedy (you cant define me, or justify greed)
Bought in the land of the free (land, free)
And we're all to blame
We've gone too far
From pride to shame
We're trying so hard
We're dying in vain
We're hopelessly blissful and blind
To all we are
We want it all with no sacrifice
Realize we spend our lives living in a culture of fear
Stand to salute and say thanks to the man of the year
How did we all come to this (you cant define me or justify greed)
Agreed that we just can't resist (resist)
And we're all to blame
We've gone too far
From pride to shame
We're trying so hard
We're dying in vain
We're hopelessly blissful and blind
To all we are
We want it all
Everyone wants it all with no sacrifice
Tell me now, what have we done, we don't know
I can't allow what has begun to tear me down
Believe me now, we have no choice left
With our backs against the wall
And now we're all to blame
We've gone too far
From pride to shame
We're hopelessly blissful and blind
When all we need
Is something true
To believe
Don't we all
Everyone
Everyone
We will fall
Cause we're all to blame
We've gone too far
From pride to shame
We're trying so hard
We're dying in vain
We want it all
Everyone
Don't we all
04 Angels With Dirty Faces (02:23)
I need this to get me through
can't resist don't want to
believe it I know it's true
can't beat it don't want to try
A perfect hell
it's more to me than you ever will know
down here where the rest of us fell
waste away nothing left to show
while I'm in this perfect hell
obsession has begun
possessed by destruction
how did I get so low
believe me no one knows
sometimes I can't hold on
and no one can help me
now it's got a hold of me
I don't think I can make it through this
now it's got a hold of me
the less I do the more it makes no sense
I'm walking pollution who's drained by delusions
on the verge of destruction I cave in to abduction
thin blood I'm bleeding my pulse won't stop racing
just as my heart explodes
no chance that I could win
too hard to not give in
I just don't feel the same
cause I'm the one to blame
sometimes I can't hold on
and no one can help me
now it's got a hold of me
I don't think I can make it through this
now it's got a hold of me
the less I do the more it makes no sense
I need this to be myself
it feels like I need some help
it's too late to save myself
or it's just in my head
now it's got a hold of me
I don't think I can make it through this
now it's got a hold of me
the less I do the more it makes no sense
now it's got a hold of me
I don't think I can make it through this
now it's got a hold of me
the less I do the more it makes no sense
05 Some Say (03:26)
Some say we're never meant to grow up
I'm sure they never knew enough
I know the pressures won't go away
It's too late
Find out the difference somehow
It's too late to even have faith
Don't think things will ever change
You must be dreaming
Think before you make up your mind
You don't seem to realize
I can do this on my own
And if I fall I'll take it all
It's so easy after all
Believe me 'cause now's the time to try
Don't wait, the chance will pass you by
Time's up to figure it out
You can't say it's too late
Seems like everything we knew
Turned out we're never even true
Don't trust, things will never change
You must be dreaming
Think before you make up your mind
You don't seem to realise
I can do this on my own
And if I fall I'll take it all
It's so easy after all
Some say we're better off without
Knowing what life is all about
I'm sure they'll never realise the way
It's too late
Somehow it's different everyday
In some ways it never fades away
Seems like it's never gonna change
I must be dreaming
Think before you make up your mind
You don't seem to realise
I can do this on my own
Think before you make up your mind
You don't seem to realise
I can do this on my own
And if I fall I'll take it all
It's so easy after all
Believe me, it's alright
It's so easy after all
Believe me, it's alright
It's so easy after all
06 The Bitter End (02:51)
There's no doubt in my mind when it's over
what is done will be
you will find when life gets colder there's no sympathy
there's no point trying you can't escape the bitter end
well who will greet you when you're at the bitter end
all your choices chosen you've got no say
your decisions made
face your consequences as your life begins to fade
as time keeps spinning closer to the bitter end
well who will greet you when you're at the bitter end
take a look at yourself as time keeps racing
is all you've come to be
what you expected or are you still chasing possibilities
cause all your prayers won't save you from the bitter end
well who will greet you when you're at the bitter end
07 Open Your Eyes (02:44)
Lately,
I'm not quite myself.
Maybe,
I do need some help.
Just my confusion,
Trust my delusion.
Don't you,
Regret you met me.
Go through,
These steps to get me,
Back to where we start,
'Fore I fall apart.
If I could black out,
It'd become so clear,
Standing face-to-face with everything I fear.
Watch so closely,
but still I don't see.
As bad as it seems,
a piece of mind I steal,
An ordinary life,
But consequences real.
I'm past the point of reality.
This isn't me,
This isn't you,
When it's just everything we do.
Till you open up your eyes,
and understand this isn't real.
This isn't me,
This isn't you,
This is everything but true,
Till we come to realize,
Is what we put each other through.
It's like a bad dream,
Coming all so true,
Leaving me with nothing else left to do.
Now so helpless,
I'm not so selfish.
Tell me,
How does it feel to have a face like that,
How does it feel to be replaced like that.
Now so faceless,
Do you still feel
This isn't me,
This isn't you,
When it's just everything we do.
Till you open up your eyes,
and understand this isn't real.
This isn't me,
This isn't you,
This is everything but true,
Till we come to realize,
is what we put each other through.
It's hard to believe right now
This seem to be real.
Still phasing by this time
So why can't I wake up
This isn't me,
This isn't you,
When it's just everything we do.
Till you open up your eyes,
and understand this isn't real.
This isn't me,
This isn't you,
This is everything but true,
Till we come to realize,
is what we put each other through
08 Slipping Away (02:29)
I'm slippin' away
In every way
I can't stay (and I don't know why) awake
I'm slippin' (and I don't know why) away
I'm trying to make it through each day
I'm fallin apart now in every way
I'm findin' it harder to get by
Theres a hole in my heart
And, I dont know why
Now I've come to realize
I'm slippin' away
09 I'm Not the One (03:34)
Welcome to obsession
Makes the world go round
We're made up by the people we surround
So!
We live in times with shit we don't need
Well maybe, it's the price of envy
With these eyes I look out for me
But everyone fades away who don't see
Nothing's gonna change
Why!
We're going down in flames
So!
I'm not the one
Don't wait for me
Cause I won't just sit by
While you just bleed
Myself and others dry
Don't wait for me
To be there in the end
When you don't see
The truth you just pretend
Don't wait for me
What is the solution
We already know
There's no telling how far this could go
No!
You're near your time but you just don't see
Cause you're just
Part of this game
There's nothing you can do to save yourself
You leave your life in the hands of someone else
You'll never let it go
Why!
It's the only way you know
Know!
I'm not the one
Don't wait for me
Cause I won't just sit by
While you just bleed
Myself and others dry
Don't wait for me
To be there in the end
When you don't see
The truth you just pretend
Don't wait for me
When did we begin
To let ourselves give in
How'd it come to this
Miserable bliss
Just take the rest of
Just use the best of me
Just take the rest of
Just use the best of me
You take the rest of me
Just take the best of me
You take the rest of me
Just take the best
Don't wait for me
Cause I won't just sit by
While you just bleed
Myself and others dry
Don't wait for me
To be there in the end
When you don't see
The truth you just pretend
Don't wait for me
11 Pieces (03:01)
I tried to be perfect,
But nothing was worth it,
I don’t believe it makes me real.
I thought it’d be easy,
But no one believes me,
I meant all the things I said.
If you believe it’s in my soul,
I’d say all the words that I know,
Just to see if it would show,
That I'm trying to let you know,
That I’m better off on my own.
This place is so empty,
My thoughts are so tempting,
I don’t know how it got so bad.
Sometimes it’s so crazy,
that nothing could save me,
But it’s the only thing that I have.
If you believe it's in my soul,
I’d say all the words that I know,
Just to see if it would show,
That I'm trying to let you know,
That I'm better off on my own.
(On my own!)
I tried to be perfect,
It just wasn't worth it,
Nothing could ever be so wrong.
It’s hard to believe me,
It never gets easy,
I guess I knew that all along.
If you believe it’s in my soul,
I’d say all the words that I know,
Just to see if it would show,
That I'm trying to let you know,
That I’m better off on my own.
12 There's No Solution (03:18)
Maybe nothing else will ever be so clear
but maybe that's only my fear
and just for one day I wish I could disappear
just take me far from here
maybe I find out nothing new
maybe i'll end up just like you
there's no solution
get me through to my conviction
is my own confusion
reality or fiction
am I out of my mind
the constant pressure that keeps hanging over me
it makes me feel so empty
it's more than anything that I could ever be
what else could you take from me
it's getting harder to relate
don't want to make the same mistake
there's no solution
get me through to my conviction
is my own confusion
reality or fiction
am I out of my mind
it took me so long to find out
it's right there in front of me
too close to see
what's thought was true
i see right through
what's killing you
there's no solution (i can't see)
get me through to my conviction
is my own confusion (that I feel)
reality or fiction
am I out of my mind?
so maybe nothing else will ever be so clear
or maybe that's only my fear (am I out of my mind)
and just for one day I wish I could disappear
just take me far from here (am I out of my mind)
13 88 (04:42)
Wait, how long would you wait
Just for me to call
I know you make mistakes
yeah, but
I hope some day you have it all
cause I feel like a prisoner
trapped inside this broken world
while I'm playing the victim again
running in circles
to me it's all the same
and though nothing's gonna change, still
I hope someday you have it all
take this aggravation that I've thrown myself into
change this situation just cause I need something new
and still I feel like a prisoner
trapped inside this broken world
while I'm playing the victim again
running in circles
to me it's all the same
and though nothing's gonna change, still
I hope someday you have it all
I hope someday you have it all
if we could all depend
on what we know
if you could understand
I'm losing control
that I'm losing control
that I'm losing control
that I'm losing control
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By Illacrima
"'Chuck' is, in fact, Pelletier, a 'Save The Children' volunteer who... saved 40 innocent souls from a guerrilla attack, including our 4 punk-rockers."
"A great CD, the Sum have matured a lot since the times of 'Does This Look Infected?', mentally but especially musically."
By RiseAgainst
This album is a mix of punk rock, rock, and metal. When have you ever heard of a band starting with pop punk and then turning to punk rock and metal? I would say none...
The final assessment is definitely positive—a punk rock and metal turn, with much more aggressive and convincing songs, and of course, the ballads, which didn’t even have a trace in previous works.
