New Found Glory

New Found Glory: RadiosurgeryRadiosurgery (2011)
Epitaph Records

Reviewer Rating: 2.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: JeloneJelone
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on October 10th 2011At this point, New Found Glory has become a pop-punk institution. They've been cranking out tunes about girls and break-ups for over a decade now. They've survived the major label death machine. If you get to open for them, you've made it. Which is why I'm not so crestfallen by Radiosurgery, the ban.

At this point, New Found Glory has become a pop-punk institution. They've been cranking out tunes about girls and break-ups for over a decade now. They've survived the major label death machine. If you get to open for them, you've made it. Which is why I'm not so crestfallen by Radiosurgery, the band's seventh (!!!) studio record. A supposed concept album about the different emotions one goes through during a break-up (I thought that was all of their albums?), Radiosurgery is the second worst NFG record to date, behind the ill-advised pop rock effort Coming Home.

But for a while, it doesn't seem that way. The first half of Radiosurgery is loaded with bangers sure to go over well live. "Radiosurgery" has a clunker of a chorus lyrically ("I can't get your face out of my head / It makes my brain hurt"?), but it's still super catchy. "Anthem For the Unwanted" is loaded with "whoas," a pop-punk cornerstone, while "Drill It In My Brain" opts for handclaps instead. "I'm Not the One" is standard NFG fare, but it's still bouncy and fun. "Ready, Aim, Fire!" has an awesome opening guitar riff with a slight Celtic rock quality to it, which is kind of random for NFG, but any artistic growth is better than none.

Then the record just sort of collapses in on itself. "Dumped" tries to get by on "whoas" again, but I only have so many "whoas" to give. Then the record enters creepster territory. "Summer Fling, Don't Mean a Thing" is a bitter break-up tune directed towards a lady with casual dating preferences. "Caught in the Act," featuring Bethany Cosentino from Best Coast, flips that bitterness towards desperation. "I'm caught in the act / But for tonight let's do something that we're gonna regret" goes the chorus (Is it sex? I think it's about sex!). There's something creepy about a band of guys in their early 30s singing this song to crowds likely half their age. Someone save the children.

After another three ho-hum tracks, Radiosurgery mercifully ends. There are enough worthy additions to the band's live set, but as a whole, it's a pretty uneven record. What listeners get here is essentially two EPs. One of them is solid (the record's first half); one of them is embarrassing (the second half).

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

ozmanx (October 13, 2011)

My Friends Over You. bababa.

No dice.

originaljohnny (October 13, 2011)

coming home is a fucking achievement. this record was garbage. it sounds like they attempted to make a nursery rhymed style of pop punk. overall, this band is good for what they do and what they're worth, but almost always miss the mark at being truly great. aside from coming home and maybe some early stuff, there's a good chunk of skippable tracks on everything they do.

paulrulzdood (October 13, 2011)

review fucking sucks. album rocks. if you think Coming Home is their worst effort, I already know your taste is all in your mouth.

easily their best effort since Catalyst and likely the catchiest chorus' of thier carreer. as good of a 7th NFG album as a fan can hope for. This is NFG. they sing poppy punk songs about girls. I can't believe people will still try to bash their lyrics or "whoas" or whatever. they've been doing this for 10 years and they still bring out 500-1000 heads a show. they're doing something right. if you don't like it, go away.

SilentStorms (October 13, 2011)

Their ST debut full length was the best.

wearestillalive (October 13, 2011)

'I only have so many “whoas” to give' is the best line I have ever read.

Kirbinator (October 13, 2011)

I can agree that 'Radiosurgery' is by far on of their weaker albums, and they definitly need to get some new themes/ lyrical material, there were definatly some catchy songs on it! Also, i cant believe you disliked Coming Home, i think it was the one of, if not THE, best effort from NFG. Sure, it wasnt the pop punk sound that has become their staple, but that is exactly what was appealing about it! Plus the lyrical content and riffs were awesome :D

domotime3 (October 12, 2011)

i didnt like Not Without a Fight, and thought this album had a 2-4 solid songs.

Caught in the Act is my favorite song on the album.

I mean most of these songs sound like track 9's on their earlier albums....so i dont understand the overall hate for the album? It sounds like NFG, it IS nfg...do you want them to try something different? its called Coming Home, and a lot of people hated that.

The only problem with the album is that the majority of the album suffers from mediocracy and redundancy. They really should've changed it up here and there because honestly, i've heard the album a few times now and i really only remember the chorus from Radiosurgery, Caught in the ACt, and track 3 whatever.

armsanddanger (October 12, 2011)

sounds like they got weird al to track all the vocals.

danperrone (October 12, 2011)

i really loved not without a fight, but this shit is just awful. one step forward, two steps back.

donovanjames (October 12, 2011)

Coming Home was awesome......

brrrutal (October 11, 2011)

I really, really don't get the love for this band. My old Quizno's co-worker used to blast Catalyst all day and all night on the store radio and I wanted to shoot myself. It was still better than the corporate mix though.

mikesmovielife (October 11, 2011)

I may just be a fanyboy, but this band doesnt have any bad albums. Coming home, while very different, tells us where the band was at the point of creation(happiness, marriages). It still has some of the catchiest hooks around. The new album I will agree does drift on the later half. Still good in my opinion though!

milo210 (October 11, 2011)

" I only have so many “whoas” to give"

ha

millslane (October 11, 2011)

Coming Home was light years ahead of this album. This album feels like a step backwards. Coming Home had good lyrics and arrangements. This album has lyrics a 16 year old would've wrote. I get this album has a bubblegum pop feel and approach but it wasn't executed right.

tenwestchaser (October 11, 2011)

Tip Of The Iceberg is the best.

eatdogs (October 11, 2011)

oh, and come on now. coming home wasn't as bad as people think. it's rather good and doesn't get much respect. reminds me of H2O's GO album and how it wasn't as liked, but dang, after these many years it's rather awesome...

Jammers (October 11, 2011)

I know that Blink 182 is getting most of the hype right now, but NFG released a record that is far superior to "Neighborhoods." This is a solid album from a band that is very consistent.

Dante3000 (October 11, 2011)

Boooo. If I never heard the term "easy-core" I would have been so much happier.

insinceredave (October 11, 2011)

The new single is awful, but I did enjoy 'Not Without a Fight' so i might give it a try

eatdogs (October 11, 2011)

their recent tours really do bring out the current bands doing exactly what NFG has been doing since forever. still, i really like NFG and their shows are lots o' fun...

discofucker (October 11, 2011)

They are only in their early 30's? I would have guessed these dudes were pushing 40.

holy_balls (October 11, 2011)

i thought good charlotte broke up?