New Found Glory

New Found Glory: New Found Glory [10th Anniversary Edition]New Found Glory [10th Anniversary Edition] (2010)
Universal Music Group

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: JeloneJelone
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Published on January 29th 2010I've always felt weird about re-releases of recent albums, be they remasters, deluxe editions or just plain ol' alternate covers. Who are they meant for? Fans should already own such albums, and if they're really hardcore, they probably have whatever bonus tracks are tacked on. Hence my reticence to.

I've always felt weird about re-releases of recent albums, be they remasters, deluxe editions or just plain ol' alternate covers. Who are they meant for? Fans should already own such albums, and if they're really hardcore, they probably have whatever bonus tracks are tacked on. Hence my reticence to hop on recent remaster jobs for albums I already own by the Beatles and Jawbox. Ah, but in the case of New Found Glory's 10th anniversary CD/DVD edition of their self-titled major label debut, perhaps a re-release isn't such a bad idea.

Let's go back to the Beatles and Jawbox references. In the case of the Fab Four, a lot of people had problems with the original CD mastering from the '80s. Personally, I think the new mixes, while better, aren't good enough for me to replace my entire collection. But I would buy them for other people over the original CD mixes. Same with Jawbox's For Your Own Special Sweetheart reissue. I'm glad it's available in a physical format again and I would buy it for anyone in need of a musical education, but I already own the original version. I'm set. And I would do the same for New Found Glory.

See, I've been a fan of NFG for about a decade. I dig the pop-punk sound, the hardcore rhythms and the bouncy, fun energy. Throw whatever criticism you want at NFG -- they're not tru punx, their lyrics objectify women, vocalist Jordan Pundik can't sing, they suck, whatever -- in the end I'm still going to bump tunes like "Goodbye Song" and "Second to Last" while you break down emo gender politics and punk rock social castes. But it's because of this feeling that I realize I sort of, kind of, maybe didn't need to buy the deluxe edition of New Found Glory.

The CD portion opens with the album's original 12 songs, with the original mix Neal Avron provided in 2000, not that a remastering was needed. Avron's production is certainly an upgrade compared to the band's debut, Nothing Gold Can Stay, but it's still raw enough compared to all of the spit-shined pop punk acts that followed in NFG's wake. This record is still relevant today. Forget Set Your Goals or Four Year Strong; this is all you need in terms of pop-punk mixed with breakdowns. Given that it came out 10 years ago, I wouldn't be surprised if some NFG fans don't even own it, since the group didn't really blow up until 2002's Sticks and Stones. Hell, I've met fans in the last year that have never heard of From the Screen to Your Stereo, let alone listened to it.

Those people are the core demographic for this new version. I already own bonus tracks "So Many Ways" (Welcome to the Family compilation) and "Ex-Miss" (Dragging the Lake, although thanks to this and Alkaline Trio's Remains, I think I might sell it). "The Radio Song" is just a less awesome version of "Come Back Bon Jovi" with different lyrics (also from Welcome to the Family). The liner notes state that "The Minute I Met You" has never been played live, and I can see why. It's the weakest track of the bunch. The demos for "Better Off Dead" and "All About Her," as well as the late, great Jerry Finn's alternate mix for "Hit or Miss," don't offer any insight or drastic differences to the respective songs, and are thus unnecessary.

The accompanying DVD is just a portion of the band's 2002 tour doc The Story So Far, and the cynic in me feels like it was attached just because it wasn't selling well enough on its own. The documentary itself plays out like an infomercial for the band without much focus. The members talk about how they like each other, we get a few clips of live footage and then it's over. Music videos and an even worse video zine doc pad out the DVD's running time. Shit sucks. A new retrospective would've been appreciated; as is, the somewhat repetitive recollections in the liner notes will have to do.

But for the next generation of mall punks, self-styled "lost romantics" and, uh, young people, this new edition is a worthy purchase. I mean, it's still New Found Glory. It's a great album, and it's backed by some choice rarities ("So Many Ways," "Ex-Miss"). It's a little overpriced, but given what a pain in the arse it would probably be to find Welcome to the Family (and, um, the Clockstoppers soundtrack), it's certainly a convenient way to check out a classic punk record from the Aughties and a few of its B-sides. So I'm averaging out the score. The album itself is brilliant. But the the add-ons are more, heh, hit or miss.

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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.

pinkerton (January 31, 2010)

nothing gold can stay is so much better.

gutless (January 30, 2010)

blah blah new foiund glory

timorous_me (January 30, 2010)

I love this album, but would've liked to see a remastered version of Nothing Gold Can Stay instead. It's a great album (they're best in my opinion) but a lot of people overlook it because of the low budget production sound.

Sliced-T (January 30, 2010)

I always thought this band was a bunch of limp pussies. How anyone can sing praise about these twats and then turn around to shit of Simple Plan is beyond me. NFG was watered down crap 10 years ago and it's watered down crap now.

wearestillalive (January 30, 2010)

I like this review because for some reason I hadn't thought of 'aughties' for the last decade until now.

Make_Way (January 30, 2010)

Great album, probably won't bother picking up the re-release (I fell into that trap with the Something to Write Home About re-release), and I just might make the effort to check out this show, seeing as Saves the Day is supporting.

souls21 (January 30, 2010)

It's funny because I actually pulled out this album from my collection this week for the first time in, I would say 6-8 years, and I had no idea it was being re-issued or that it would appear in the reviews this week. Needless to say, it is the only nfg album I have and that probably won't change. There were a few decent songs but I agree that it's too poppy for my liking and now faces another 6-8 years without being listened to.

JKyle (January 30, 2010)

Far and away the high point of the turn-of-the-millennium pop-punk sound. Not sure I have much interest in this particular release, but if nothing else, this review has made me want to go listen to the original again and relive my early college days.

Oh man and I also just realized these guys are playing here next week and I'm totally going.

mclz (January 29, 2010)

so there is a parental advisory sticker over the tits on the playboy mag now i see.

hashbrowns (January 29, 2010)

I loved the welcome to the family comp. I found an unopened copy on amazon last year for like 12 bucks. The other one was listed at like 60 fuckin bucks.

chadreligion (January 29, 2010)

I remember seeing New Found Glory on tour behind this album with Midtown and Dynamite Boy @ Emo's(small room)in Austin back in 2000 or so(when all the shows at Emo;s were still 5 bucks). The place was full of so much energy and kids, not to mention a line going out and around the corner, to catch these guys who would soon be opening for Blink 182 in arenas less than a year later. I remember them have such an energetic and tight performance that night, and thinking they would probably be "the next big pop-punk band" ala Green Day/Blink182, but never thinking they would have lasted as long as they have. That show made me fan of these guys... they have their faults and share of shitty, sleeper, songs (and albums) but have always had a special place in my heart because of that show. As for the album, it's probably their most solid album. Sincerely Me and Vegas are some of the best songs they've ever written, and it shows how fast they used to play, and having slowed down over the years.

itsAgiftANDaCURSE (January 29, 2010)

I like pop-punk, but this band is just too poppy. I liked this cd for about three months in 10th grade. The intro to the first song is still stuck in my head though!

eran_zombis (January 29, 2010)

lol at Dragging the Lake. listening to American Nightmare in eighth grade was frightening.

colin (January 29, 2010)

looking back, it's almost unsettling how much i listened to this album in high school. the whole wave of drive thru from 98-01 was pretty great on the whole.

i don't see the need for a reissue of this though. it seems a bit of a cash-in. this is still readily available and wasn't necessarily an underground release by any stretch. i could see a 10th anniversary tour / celebration but this just seems gimmicky.

TheChemist (January 29, 2010)

Such a fantastic album. Easily their best release. When I was a young 8th grader back in 02, I used to put this on the stereo outside and play basketball. Oh and So Many Ways is a really really great song.