Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 

Contests

 


Reviews



Certain things are simply not made to ever be mixed. Take two activities I enjoy greatly: hockey and jet skiing. If I could spend half a day doing each of those for the rest of my life, I’d probably be the happiest person walking this entire Earth. I obviously couldn’t do both at the same time, however. Those two things aren’t meant to mix.

Neither are pop-punk and hardcore.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love both genres. With the weather warming up now, the gorgeous sun outside, there’s few things to accompany the days better than a great pop-punk record. That same pop-punk record, though, does not accompany hardcore. I don’t care what Set Your Goals told you, when those two genres are mixed, it comes out awful.

The split between Bangarang and the Wonder Years is no exception at all.

Both bands are very similar in that they have a firm grasp on what it means to write a catchy pop-punk song. Bangarang’s “We Dress to Impress” kicks the split off with an infectious blast of melody and mid-tempo riffs, and before long the dual-layered vocals are having somewhat of a harmonic battle over the foot-tapping beat, and then it happens. The song is ruined. A breakdown leads into a laughably bad attempt at growling vocals, before the guitars get downtuned and the riffs get heavier. It’s just bad. They were doing fine in the pop-punk realm until they had to go and try to pull some hardcore elements into the mix. It doesn’t gel at all, it rather sounds like two separate tracks were mashed together to form one disjointed song that should have found a home on the cutting room floor.

The Wonder Years’ “Let’s Moshercise!!!” is not able to avoid the mistake of their album-mates, as soaring vocals and poppy hooks lead way into an equally terrible breakdown/growl combination. The Wonder Years do have some hardcore undertones in their music, but those edgy riffs do nothing to lessen the abrupt blow of terrible hardcore that permeates an otherwise enjoyable effort.

This is why I will never jetski with a hockey stick and ice skates.



People who liked this also liked:
New Found Glory - Sticks And Stones



Please login or register to post comments.
What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
  • Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
  • Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
  • Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
  • Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

    Posted by elephantdwarf on 2007-05-31 19:12:59

    breakdowns made you sexually attracted to your own sex?

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 5:37 PM (EDT)

    The Wunder Years >>>> The Wonder Years

    Next time, do your research and come up with an original band name.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 11:54 PM (EDT)

    i play guitar in bangarang and i completely agree with everything this review says. not kidding. our new stuff isn't like that. we were gay for ever having breakdowns. this review rules!

    Posted by inagreendase on 2007-05-30 20:41:01

    I love "Hook."

    Posted by dumhed01 on 2007-05-30 05:24:58

    I like the movie hook. haha

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 7:57 PM (EDT)

    I'm in the Wonder Years and I still laughed. Well written. How long has this been up?

    Posted by theonetruebill on 2007-05-29 18:12:21

    Hook really isn't as good a movie as it's made out to be.

    Posted by elephantdwarf on 2007-05-29 14:35:40

    remember that band the wunder years?!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 9:40 AM (EDT)

    "FUCK ROUTE 9!"

    The Wonder Years are awesome, fuck this review.