88 by Sum 41
October 15, 2004 | 
24 Comments
The Artist: Sum 41
The Song: 88
The Album: Chuck
Released 2004
I’ve always felt that Sum 41 was kind of underrated. They’re a great band who’ve got an pretty original take on pop-punk. It might not be noticeable at first, and I imagine many listeners get caught up with some of their radio friendly stuff, which isn’t bad by any means.
They’re obviously young, and as these bands are wont to do, they seem to evolve, experiment and generally change from album to album. Their latest effort, Chuck is no different. It’s not as good, in my mind, as their previous albums, but it’s still a good album with some great songs.
There is much more variety on Chuck than I would have expected. They’re mixing pop, punk, emo, metal and in general they do it well.
A few of the tracks are a bit too Linkin Park for me, but I love the straight ahead punk tracks, you know, the stuff their known for. They’ve also got a few tracks that are just plain Metallica thowbacks ( “The Bitter End” brings back great memories of Ride The Lightning) that I like.
This week’s song “88” showcases that punk/metal hybrid (and more)—it’s a great one.
This metal take on punk is nothing new for these guys, there have been touches here and there on their previous efforts, but it seems to really come through on a few tracks here. What is new for them is the emo-ish stuff. It’s not half bad, but I’m not sure I like it as much when they get soft. That and the Linkin Park sounding stuff, I could do without that for the most part.
Don’t get me wrong, as ever they’ve got the pop/power punk thing down pat, and I find they’re much better at it than many of the stuff you hear on the radio. I imagine if you’re into Simple Plan or Good Charlotte you’ll like it alot, but I, for the life of me, can’t see why Sum 41 isn’t regarded heads and tails above those bands.
Anyway, it’s a good album, definatley worth picking up.
Recommended if you like: Green Day, Blink 182, Linkin Park, New Found Glory, Good Charlotte, Metallica
Filed under: Song of The Week
Comments
1. Shelley said:
I luv Sum 41. They’re great in concert also! Very nice pick this week, I like CHUCK also and 88 is a cool song. I do like the “Linkin Park” stuff, I know what you mean, but I don’t think it’s that similar.
Anyway, good stuff, love the Song of The Week every Week. You’ve got good, interesting tastes Keith. How old are you? :)
Posted on October 15, 2004 03:14 PM | #
2. huphtur said:
What is Sum41’s meaning behind 88?
I’de like to think its not the HH one.
Posted on October 15, 2004 03:36 PM | #
3. Scott said:
I love Sum41 Keith. Nice choice for a review this week.
Posted on October 15, 2004 03:39 PM | #
4. Joel said:
Sum 41 is one of those bands I try to dislike but I really can’t. Their stuff is so catchy I find myself listening to it all the time. Nice review.
Posted on October 15, 2004 03:48 PM | #
5. Johan Svensson said:
Not really my style, but pretty good anyway.
And now, a shameless plug: I’ve restarted my own Song of the Week at my blog, where you can grab some random song I happen to like every week. Mostly various electronic genres.
Posted on October 15, 2004 06:14 PM | #
6. Kris said:
I’ve only listened to one song of Sum 41’s new album chuck. Unfortunately I can’t remember the title anymore but anyway when I heard it the first time on the radio it was for me like “What the fuck happened to Sum 41?”. The singer’s voice seems to sound a bit different and I have to admit that I like them a lot more now. I think that they are really evolved from a poppunk group into a real punkband. If they keep on rockin’ like this I’m sure they will become as much good as Green Day.
Posted on October 16, 2004 09:36 AM | #
7. Adrian said:
What’s wrong with Linkin Park or being a little Linkin Parkish at times? Linkin Park has some good hard stuff, along the lines of Korn, and deftones.
Posted on October 18, 2004 09:42 AM | #
8. Keith said:
Adrian – There is nothing really wrong with them being a little Linkin Parkish. I just don’t like it as much…I imagine many people actually like it quite a bit because of that.
Linkin Park is ok. Just not one of my favorites is all.
Posted on October 18, 2004 11:29 AM | #
9. Adrian said:
Keith - I wasn’t trying to bust your chops or anything, I just think that it’s a good step forward to sound a little linkin parkish… It will boost their popularity.
Punk isn’t exactly super popular…
Posted on October 18, 2004 02:43 PM | #
10. Hafizah said:
Sum 41’s the only band whose albums I keep buying - I love them that much. What Sum 41 do with their music is what makes them unique. I have to say that I was disappointed with Chuck, especially the fact that they’ve gone emo and a little linkin park and oasis-ish [the horor!]. On what adrian said, I don’t think conforming to the mainstream music type is what they should do…yes perhaps that may boost their popularity, but it may also turn off devoted fans like myself. Well, other than that, punk rocks. No doubt about that.
Posted on October 18, 2004 09:24 PM | #
11. Adrian said:
I didn’t say they should be just like linkin park or go totally mainstream, but that it’s a sign that if they can take elements from mainstream music (i.e. be a little linkin parkish at times) and make it their own unique sound, then it’s a step forward.
Posted on October 18, 2004 10:33 PM | #
12. Erika said:
I LOVE SUM 41 THEY ROCK AND STEVE JOCZ IS A SEXY SOAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on November 9, 2004 12:24 PM | #
13. laurzie said:
hey ppl omg i bought sum 41’s album CHUCK today when i only new 1 of there songs and i think it’s one of the best albums i’ve bought. as soon as i got home from the shops i listened to the whole album over now im absessed with them. love u guys
AdAm HoW u DoIn? WaNt SuM cUrRy?
haha cyaz
Posted on January 5, 2005 01:30 AM | #
14. Shaz said:
I’ve liked Sum41 since bascially the start, and got all there albums, i think their latest one is the best, mixing a combo of styles.
Plus i realy like the video for pieces, i think thats deep and meaningful.
Posted on January 20, 2005 08:52 AM | #
15. Courtney said:
I didn`t like sum 41 at first til me friend got me 2 listen 2 them. ever since then i can`t stop listening 2 them. I tryed 2 HATE them but i just couldn`t EVEN when i tryed my hardest 2!
Posted on January 24, 2005 02:22 PM | #
16. Cassy said:
Sum 41 is my fav band of all time!! I luv them wif all my heart!! I’d do anything 4 them espacillay Cone and Derek!
Luv u guys
plzz come back to edmonton!!
Luv ya
Cassy
Posted on January 24, 2005 07:19 PM | #
17. Brandon said:
i love sum 41! there songs are just cool and hard core… and there songs changed my life!! and there like the coolest band all time!
Posted on February 4, 2005 05:21 PM | #
18. katelyn said:
i know i like sum 41 better then all of u ! i went to 4 of there concerts own all the albums and even met them all so ha!
Posted on February 23, 2005 11:59 AM | #
19. dzekins said:
to katelyn - try to get all of their albums in where i live(Latvia)…and NEVER say that you like sum 41 more than everyone else ^.^
Posted on May 11, 2005 11:39 AM | #
20. JoakiN said:
sum 41 used to be a inmature,crazy punk-pop band, now there a much better punk-rock band (More mature).
There new album is real cool with song’s like “were all to blame” and “pieces”.
They Rule!!!!!
Posted on July 10, 2005 07:41 PM | #
21. lia said:
OMG k sum 41 is the best band in the world NO JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! k i went to there consert at the congres center on tuesday and it was amazing!!!!!!! i love them sooo much!!!!!!! i was a little disapointed that they didn’t play “In to Deep” but you know how it is!!!!!
AND who ever doen’t like sum 41 you SUCK OUT LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on September 7, 2005 05:26 PM | #
22. curtis said:
Ok people…dont claim u like sum 41 betta than me….i have got every album,(2 copies of each album) bought and burnt, on my ipod every song, every EP every t-shirt, every single, every DVD, every poster evrything ever…except 1 thing I NEVA HAVE BEEN TO 1 OF THERE CONCERTS CUZ THEY NEVA HAVE CUM TO PERTH, AUSTRALIA
Posted on September 16, 2005 11:47 PM | #
23. Elise said:
I don’t understand why any of you could possibly even compare any Sum 41 music to Simple Plan, Good Charlotte, or Linkin Park. I see no resemblance. Simple Plan isn’t a band that I like. They cover a lot of a very young audience and so do Good Charlotte. Sum 41 do as well, but I see a lot of an older audience with them. As for Linkin Park, though I love them I can’t see any resemblance. Metallica is the only one that you guys got right. Sum 41 are not under rated especially with all the attention that they have been getting because od Deryck and Avril and because of the Congo and how I have heard for the 100 millionth time that they almost died. I like it better that they wouldn’t be documented as much. I don’t want Sum 41 to be the next media attention whore like what seems to be happening with Green Day and the attention that they have been getting lately. Nobody likes Sum 41 more than anybody else. How much we love a band doesn’t depend on how much commercial items that you have purchased from them or how many concerts that you have been to. It’s that you respect the band and like the music that’s all. If you say that others suck because they don’t like Sum 41 then you are ignorant of their musical tastes. Sum 41 is nothing close to pop or punk they are simply a rock band. I suggest that some of you go listen to some real punk and then you can judge if Sum 41 is punk or not. I assure you they are not.
Posted on October 24, 2005 05:34 PM | #
24. Sylvia said:
You go Elise!
But she’s right. I agree with her 100%.
Its sad how you people who claim that your Sum 41’s “biggest fan” can’t even spell Deryck’s name right. ITS DERYCK, PEOPLE!!! DERYCK!! WITH A D AND AN E AND A R AND A Y AND A C AND A K!
Posted on October 24, 2005 05:38 PM | #
Comments are now closed