Punknews.orgPunknews.org Logo
Review Navigator

BackForward

Features

 

Contests

 


Reviews



What were to happen if you were to mix typical teenage lyrics about love, heartache and "breaking free" with catchy pop-hooks, melodies and a cliché album-ending power ballad? You get Boston locals Boys Like Girls' debut album called (rightfully so) Boys Like Girls, because after all, the album is about boys liking girls. It seems that Boys Like Girls have combined the perfect formula of writing catchy songs with memorable hooks, orchestrate it into an album and become the next big thing to hit the charts.

While it seems like the album is following in the footsteps of contemporaries, it has that certain edge over the rest that makes it stand out from the rest. The guitar work and drumming give the album a punk rock feel, but Martin Johnson's high-pitched singing over-ride these tendencies; however, it formulates into a very promising album for this up-and-coming quartet.

The album begins with "The Great Escape," which could be described as the ultimate song of teenage angst, with themes of escaping and starting over again run rampant throughout. Lyrics like "Watch it burn / Let it die / 'cause we are finally free tonight" make it seem that the song and those to follow are pulled out of a teenage diary. While this may be the case, the album does deliver.

The majority of the album's lyrics concern itself with situations of love, heartbreak, loss and starting over again and is evident in songs like the lead single "Hero/Heroine," the sing-along "Thunder" and the ever-so-dramatic "Up Against the Wall." The highlight of the album comes in right at the very end as Johnson's voice is echoed in the album's ballad "Holiday," repeating the hook of "The Great Escape" ("All the wasted time / The hours that were left behind / All the answers that we'll never find...").

It's pretty obvious that this album won't scratch everyone's musical itch, but to those that who do enjoy it will definitely get their money's worth out of it. For fans of the All-American Rejects, Cartel and the Academy Is....






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 usversusthem on 2008-03-26 01:26:06

    "elegant."

    You have to admit, though, he makes a pretty good point.

    I found 'The Great Escape' to be kind of fun to listen to, but it's pretty ridiculous in terms of being manufactured pop-crap... completely devoid of substance, really. Also their other songs have much shittier hooks.

    Posted by mechpope13 on 2008-03-25 21:14:47
    My Score:

    this blows

    Posted by scorpiondeathlock on 2008-03-24 01:53:03

    "this is not punk. get this shit off of here. fuck."

    elegant.

    Posted by grantino on 2008-03-23 23:25:51

    http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/store/product.jsp?FOLDERfolder_ id=2534374302028446&PRODUCTprd_id=845524442164694&bmUID=120632906 6516

    Posted by chrisafi on 2008-03-23 13:45:42
    My Score:

    This band definetely aren't cool and aren't the most talented, but this album is actually ALRIGHT, 3 stars is about fair - review maybe too positive as this album is very very samey, but a good song formula/vocals.

    Posted by im_john_galt on 2008-03-22 20:54:35
    My Score:

    ha. is that a cloud crying blood? seriously? that's the most ridiculous album art ever. it also looks like women's tricolored panties.

    Posted by Tangy on 2008-03-22 13:26:45
    My Score:

    Is this supposed to be a joke? Get this shit out of here

    Posted by darthnader on 2008-03-22 11:27:14

    Holiday is a great song.

    by the Get Up Kids

    Posted by CBSrocksteady on 2008-03-22 11:04:21

    Jaxkid - I think Brian does too. Thats why he posts this shit.

    Posted by jaxkid1 on 2008-03-22 02:15:51

    Hahahah damn, I love reading review comments on this site.

    Posted by icapped2pac on 2008-03-21 20:29:54
    My Score:

    I think I'm gonna throw up. I'd rather eat all my puke than listen to this.

    Posted by damnitsderek on 2008-03-21 20:20:29

    For fans of the All-American Rejects, Cartel and the Academy Is....

    Do we have any of those on this site?

    Posted by mpc on 2008-03-21 18:24:06

    I clicked on this review expecting a scathing, vicious review. I was sorely dissapointed.

    Posted by damnitsderek on 2008-03-21 18:09:51

    Ur so gay.

    Posted by Sherlock_28 on 2008-03-21 18:07:24
    My Score:

    but the anarchy!?

    Posted by llmp on 2008-03-21 17:25:21

    Ugh. My dislike of this band may even top my hatred for Plain White Ts.

    Posted by totonotdead on 2008-03-21 17:20:09
    My Score:

    this is so fucking punk that everytime i listen to them a puke green mohawk grows out of my bald head.

    Posted by CBSrocksteady on 2008-03-21 17:11:10

    No! punx punxxxxss punkxx punx!

    Posted by jakethelifeguard on 2008-03-21 16:12:28
    My Score:

    he should have kept this to himself

    Posted by shark-e on 2008-03-21 16:09:11
    My Score:

    In true big government liberal fashion, I'm in favor of a federal commission in charge of approving band names. With that in place, there's no way we'd be subjected to this horrible horrible name for a band (that was then duplicated for the album title. What??).

    Posted by OverDefined on 2008-03-21 15:22:01
    My Score:

    nope

    Posted by nocigar on 2008-03-21 15:02:11
    My Score:

    CBS: a lot of albums reviewed on here are by bands that aren't punk. however; this band is pure shit, and i wish brian wouldn't have posted it.

    Posted by William_Jess on 2008-03-21 14:39:39

    Should read Boys like Boys.

    Posted by MattRamone on 2008-03-21 13:38:00

    What in the hell is this shit? Go back to Absolute Punk.

    Posted by CBSrocksteady on 2008-03-21 13:14:33

    this is not punk. get this shit off of here. fuck.

    Posted by Jesse on 2008-03-21 13:00:33

    Nope. Brian should have just not posted it.

    © 1999-2009 Punknews.org • Terms of Use • Privacy • About • ISSN 1710-5366 • RSS RSS Icon