It probably doesn’t matter what we say; more likely than not you made your mind up about Good Charlotte’s new album before they’d even announced it. Dividing pop punk fans since their self-titled album in 2001 – before the Madden twins were married to Hollywood celebrities and swapped the goth life for mansions and the lifestyles they once protested against – it’s always been a case of “love ‘em or you hate ‘em”.
There’s a strong case for ‘Good Charlotte’ and ‘The Young and Hopeless’ as two of the greatest pop punk albums of the early noughties, but the band’s follow up efforts never quite got as much love. So what about ‘Youth Authority’ then? Honestly, if it was released by New Found Glory people would be all over it like ants on a melted ice lolly. Made for sunny days, summer nights, and high school film soundtracks, it could be a bouncy pop punk treat. If you aren’t a fan of the band, however, it’s unlikely it’ll win you over.
‘Life Changes’ is an obvious choice for lead single. Summing up the theme of the album and the band’s dramatic change over the last few years, the pop punk checklist moment of hope in a seemingly sad situation makes an appearance: “So you get up and shake it off, Smile at everyone you meet.”
’40 oz. Dream’ might be a little too sickly sweet for some and if you weren’t paying attention you’d be forgiven it was the same song as the one that came before, ‘Makeshift Love’. An admirable attempt at nostalgia, sure, but it’s been done better plenty other times and isn’t a patch on your ‘What’s My Age Again?’ or ‘The Truth Of My Youth’. Even ‘1985’ (Bowling For Soup) sounds like musical genius in comparison.
Gone is the grit and angst of the original GC that won people over, replaced by songs like the overly simple ‘Life Can’t Get Much Better’ that follows the pop punk 101 formula. Have you ever seen one of those YouTube videos that demonstrates how all pop songs are made up of the same four chords? It’s like that. That being said, however, the chorus is sure to provide a few lighters (or smart phones) in the air moments.
Sleeping With Sirens’ Kellin Quinn joins in on ‘Keep Swingin’, yet it doesn’t sound any heavier and the differing singer is barely noticeable. It’s not as strange a collaboration as Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro) on ‘Reasons To Stay’ though which is a decent, singalong ballad. Neil’s gritty voice contrasts with Joel Madden’s pop-perfect vocals, and those woah-ohs are sure to break the icy exterior of anyone otherwise unconvinced.
‘Stray Dogs’ is uninspiring and the ‘Stick To Your Guns Interlude’ sounds like a knock off Angels and Airwaves song. ‘The Outfield’ does its best to claw back some integrity points, singing of personal issues (“I was thinking about school, it was so fucking painful”) and nods to the past (“we were the young and hopeless”). A catchy, fist-pumping pop punk song, it’s a short lived success, followed by the strangely folky ‘Cars Full Of People’.
If you aren’t a fan of the band already, ‘Youth Authority’ will do little to change your mind. If you are, perhaps it’s time we all stopped longing for Joel, Benji, Paul and Billy to put their Dickies shorts on again and model some fetching eyeliner while singing in the rain. Gone are the days of rebellious, two fingers up to society. Good Charlotte are all grown up now and their music hasn’t just grown up with them. Instead it’s a little stuck in the past.
KATHRYN BLACK