One of my most favorite albums of all time due to nostalgia, how it bridged me into other music, the attitude it has, and how overwhelmingly negative it is for such a happy ska-punk album.
The line-up (as far as I know) is basically the same as the last album, but now they've got the excellent Scott Klopfenstein on trumpet and back-up vocals. His trumpet playing goes hand in hand with the other guys, and his back-up vocals work absolutely perfectly with Aaron Barrett's lead vocals. The way they blend together so well actually makes him a back-up singer worth keeping around.
I used to absolutely love this album but I never really paid attention to the lyrics that much. Years later, I'm still listening to it, and it's still amazing, but much, much more darker than I ever knew before. Underneath the happy horns, energetic drumming, smooth basslines, and fast guitar lie Aaron Barrett's vocals mixed with Scott Klopfenstein, but they're singing about depression, anger towards people, ex-girlfriends, and basically wanting to give up and die.This album is much better produced than the last, and much more better in just terms of quality and song-writing. 'Sell Out' and 'Trendy' still remain excellent songs with social commentary when you look at the lyrics, although the negative lyrics expressed throughout this album may not be everyone's cup of tea, given how it may actually bring you down in a way. Aaron and Scott are just singing about life, and how badly theirs have mistreated them.
Another negatively-themed stand-out is the sing-along 'Beer', which sounds at first like it's just a drinking song, but it's a song about trying to kill yourself after losing your girlfriend.
"She called me late last night to say she loved me, but I guess he changed her mind. Well I should have known it wouldn't be alright, but I can't live without her, so I won't even try.."
I really can't think of one positive song on here. Some aren't negative, yes, but none are really happy in the lyrics. Several of the happy sounding songs have Aaron cursing like a madman. It doesn't even end on a happy note. It ends with 'Alternative Girl' (disregarding the hidden track), an ode to a girl he knows he has no chance with.
What holds this album down isn't really much at all, aside from one or two songs that honestly aren't that terribly great, but there isn't anything about this album that screams for a 10/10. I'd have to give this a 7/10.
Got this when I was 12, still love it. Nostalgia or not, it's still pretty darn good in my eyes.
Recommended tracks: Sell Out, Trendy, All I Want Is More
