Like the Bible's steadfast conviction in the second coming of Christ, I knew this day would someday come. And goddamnit, it's here! Pop punk - real pop punk - has returned. While far too many bands are priding themselves convoluted songwriting, a whole new batch of bands - some old, some new - are popping up and proving that all you need to write kick ass songs is three (sometimes four) chords, one melody, and a whole lotta harmony vocals.
At the forefront of this revival (some will argue it never went away) is the Illinois band, The Copyrights, who are ready to usher in the summer with a brand new album, Make Sound. One listen to this album got me reminiscing about my first days as a punk, way back when Lookout Records was still a legitimate label. Rather than giving a straight review of this, I'm opting instead to take a few questions from some readers who might be confused about what this album has to offer:
"For all those old fogies out there who know what pop-punk really sounds like, how would you describe this album?"
Why that's a good question. Remember when punk rock seemed to be the main export of California thanks to Epitaph, Fat Wreck, and Lookout? Remember all those four dollars sampler's they used to put out every year? (I'm sure most have the whole collection up until about 2002. Things got iffy around that time) Imagine taking the best parts of each one of those compilations, putting it into a blender and coming out with one edible product that gives the listener their daily dose of power chords, harmonies, and no frills guitar solos. That's exactly what The Copyrights have done with Make Sound. If that weren't enough they even threw in just the right hint of nostalgia. This sucker's fortified!
"So pop-punk isn't dead?"
If it is, then The Copyright's are coming from the grave to kill anyone who thinks so!
"What about me; I'm still in high school and the closest thing I know to pop-punk is Blink 182 and New Found Glory?"
Don't Worry lil' feller. There's no shame in liking either of those bands. You don't even have to throw out your CD collection, at least not all of it. You see most of the people who like this album are losers just like you and all your friends. However instead of masking it with songs about how we'll kill our girlfriends. We turned up our stereo's real loud bobbing our heads until we forgot about everything aside from having fun!
"So I should buy Make Sound instead of the new Used album?"
RIGHT THIS MINUTE!
