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Review: Bowling For Soup - Songs That People Actually Liked, Vol. 1

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Even as big and widely followed as it is today, pop-punk was even bigger, and considered one of the hottest genres, during the 2000’s. Bands like Bowling For Soup shaped the sound of the time and left behind an unforgettable legacy. After 20 years, the band has been through a lot; international tours and hits like “1985” brought the group well deserved fame. The release of Songs People Actually Liked, a nostalgic reflection on the band’s journey from 1994-2003, is a kind of last hurrah celebrating their successful career throughout the years.

The album opens (appropriately) with “Last Rock Show”. The track provides a short and sweet introduction to the rest of the album. Strong guitar and drums, a staple of pop-punk, are liberally used throughout the album, and listening to lead singer Jaret Reddick’s distinctive voice is like a throwback to the early 2000’s, the time of the band’s prime. Featuring fan favorites like “Girl All The Bad Guys Want”, Songs That People Actually Liked displays some of the group’s best tracks, accurately giving a sense of their style. The tempo gradually slows down (relatively, as slow as pop-punk can get) from “Suckerpunch” to “Sandwich”, as a buildup to the end of the record. Closing with “20 Years (That’s A Lot Of Beers)”, a mellower track reminiscent of the band’s memories together, the record ends on a bittersweet note that shows that Bowling For Soup have truly given their all until the end.

Songs People Actually Liked represents the culmination of a generation of pop-punk, and the band have set the example of generations of bands to follow. Bowling For Soup is going out with a bang, and the release of this album has allowed the band to live up to its standards one last time.

Download: Girl All The Bad Guys Want

4/5

By Mumal T
  1. legendarykidspress posted this