All Killer, No Filler,
Sum 41Sum 41
All Killer, No Filler
I will say one thing about this album, it has a good name. The rest depends on how you like your punk rock. If you like it catchy, poppy and hook-laden, then the latest release from canadian pop-punkers Sum 41 will be for you. But if you like TSOL and Ensign, then look away now.
In short, Sum 41's second release is more sugary sweet than Britney Spears bathing in Pepsi (mmmm....). Reminiscient of Lit, Sugar Ray and in places Smash Mouth (but without the ska), this is more pop than punk. And for some reason the band have a weird and unhealthy obsession with metal and mullets and the like. (see 'Pain for Pleasure' at the end of the 'Fat Lip' vid for proof...) Anybody that has heard the single 'Fat Lip' and doesn't like it shouldn't be too worried. There is nothing else like that on the CD, with the aforementioned song the only tune that yells "MTV."
After a quite pathetic introduction, 'Nothing On My Back' is a sugary-lite start and that pretty much sets the tone for the CD in general. The fifty second punk thrash of 'Never Wake Up' is pretty welcome, a bit NOFX(y) and a lot more punchier than the other songs. 'Fat Lip' is certainly an acquired taste. Part Beastie Boys, part Blink 182, the chorus is actually pretty damn good, the verses just suck. But it has been doing the rounds on all of the video music channels, so expect it to chart quite highly.
'Rhythms' is again quite sugary, and very Smash Mouth. Indeed, the opening vocals do sound very much like that fat guy whose name I forget. The rest of the song is very similar to all those bands that are trying to cash in on Blink 182's success. 'Motivation' is again ok, but it has been heard before by quite a few bands. There is nothing really that wrong with it, it just seems to be a little too much punk-by-numbers for my liking.
'In Too Deep' will surely be a future single. Or has it already been a single? I'm sure Sugar Ray covered this song. But, the chorus is infuriatingly catchy, and although is again more pop than punk, the kids will undoubtedly love it. 'Summer' raises the tempo (thank goodness), but again features yet another recycled punk riff. Its something that this whole album wreaks of, a lack of inventiveness. As I have said previously, there is not that much wrong with 'All Killer, No Filler,' it has just all been seen before.
'Handle This' is a bit bland and predictable, the Sum 41 take on a ballad of punk proportions, and again, it isn't too bad, but it isn't that good either. 'Crazy Amanda Bunkface' is a bit more like it. Punchier, riffier (if that is such a word), and more punky. 'All She's Got' is another Smash Mouth reject song and the last 'proper' song, 'Heart Attack' concludes with a bit of a soft pop-ballad thing. It's kinda hard to describe, like the album it doesn't really inspire a tired and bored hack to write a glowing and interesting review. So I must apologise if this comes across as a boring one-sided slant on this potentially fine Canadian foursome.
The boys from Sum 41 can write some good songs and they certainly show a bit of promise. But boys, boys, please turn up the guitars to 11, add some palm-muting and pick-slides, and drop the heavy metal obsessions. Then you will go far.
Paul Savage
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