The Young And The Hopeless,
Good CharlotteGood Charlotte - you either love 'em or you hate 'em. Not since Blink 182 first appeared has a 'punk' band caused such a difference of opinion. Whether you think it's harmless, enjoyable pop with a spikey edge or the worst thing to hit your speakers since Busted, there's absolutely nothing you can do about it - with the new single all over the radio and TV it's going to be impossible to avoid them. But what is all the fuss about 'The Young and the Hopeless'? Is it the next 'Enema Of The State' or just a pile of old shite?
Well, it's neither, just to sit on the fence! I quite enjoyed GC's first record - if you take it for what it is, disposable guitar-pop, then it's harmless enough. The second album follows on in this same vein, taking that old adage 'if it ain't broke...' by bumping up the production values to give it a nice full feel. But, like most of that self-titled album, this record is mostly filler with very little killer indeed.
'The Anthem' rocks things off with a style that is as fast and furious as GC ever get. Joel Madden's vocals are quite unique and instantly recognisable, again as a love-it-or-hate-it style. Everyone must have heard 'Lifestyles Of The Rich and Famous' by now - a track which is a stomping pop song that has that catchy appeal that every good pop-punk song needs. It's typical GC, sure to offend many by being so inoffensive, but at the same time has a natty hook and enough charm to keep others singing along way past their bedtime. Unfortunately for the band, it's probably the best song on the album. Then things go into pop-overload with 'Wondering' which seems to have a token distorted guitar line to keep the teenybopper fans away. Of course the vocal melodies are very good, but you need a little more than that to have a hit album.
'My Old Man' is a good song and sure to send the sweaty throng in the pit into a frenzy. Lyrically daft, like most of this album, it's a bit more in-yer-face than the other tracks. The drumming is a standout too, but when you note that sticksman duties were carried out by Josh Freeze (Vandals, A Perfect Circle) it's no surprise. 'Girls and Boys' has a real 80's feel to it, with only the chorus turning up the guitars so they are noticeable, making it one of my least favourite GC songs. 'My Bloody Valentine' is also skippable, despite the fact that it's more up-tempo and a bit more rocking - but this leads into the bland and boring 'Hold On'. The infectious 'Riot Girl' is a saving grace, even if it is about as obvious lyrically as you can get, sinking even Good Charlotte to new depths. In typical GC hit and miss fashion, 'Say Anything' is another bland ballad and 'Day That I Die' is about as punk as Charlotte Church. But then if you expect anything more you really are looking in the wrong place. The title-track regains the pace, only for 'Emotionless' to lose it all completely. It's quite a tender moment for Good Charlotte, but it's still dull.
In all this is average - no worse and no better. There are some catchy moments, but this shouldn't be an album that goes on to do massive things. Touted to be this year's Blink or Sum 41, 'The Young and the Hopeless' is nowhere near as good as the album's that broke either of the other So-Cal bands. But still this will probably go on to sell a large number of copies and the obvious will happen. Yep, coming soon, the kid next door wears - a Good Charlotte hoodie...
Paul
