The Wonder Years - Suburbia Review

The last year and a half has been monumental for the Philadelphia outfit, The Wonder Years. Their 2010 release, The Upsides, has become the new standard in pop-punk. The record wove together lyrics about life, touring, friendship, relationships and surviving your mid-20s without hiding behind a veil of words and similes. It quickly became the most straightforward and honest record the scene had received in years - thus gaining the band national exposure and a growing fan base.

So with the release of The Wonder Years' latest album, Suburbia: I've Given You All and Now I'm Nothing, the pressure was on to make a pop-punk masterpiece capable of topping The Upsides. Fans would ultimately be looking for something catchy, deeply relatable and on par with the band's earlier work. So did TWY pull it off?

One listen through the new record and it becomes clear that once again we are met with the more intimate side of vocalist Dan "Soupy" Campbell's lyrics. Whether the topic concerns an ex-girlfriend, questioning where home is or whatever happened to the homeless guy that slept in Memorial Park, Suburbia has a way of placing you in the shoes of its outspoken lyricist.

The album's opening track, "Came Out Swinging", gives perspective on what the band have been up to over the last year. It begs the question of where home really is. There's an internal struggle going on that's no doubt brought upon by the band's burgeoning success and non-stop tour schedule. "I came out swinging from a South Philly basement caked in stale beer and sweat under half-lit fluorescents/And I spent the winter writing songs about getting better/Well, if I'm being honest, I'm getting there."

It seems that Suburbia always keeps The Upsides in mind. "Local Man Ruins Everything", one of the album's best tracks, combats the "I'm not sad anymore" mantra with a look into what happened when they finally turned the Logan Circle fountain off and it was time to get back to real life.

Perhaps the most out out place song on the record comes at the middle. "I Won't Say The Lord's Prayer" is the "Dynamite Shovel" of Suburbia. It's the band's obligatory song on what they don't like about Christianity. And while the music itself is catchy, the topic just seems overdone and misplaced. Suburbia wrestles with finding home and making a life for yourself while in a touring band. To drag religion into it again, with virtually the same message, feels like a stretch and makes this one of the more forgettable tracks on the record.

The second half of the album jumps back to that original high intensity level. "Coffee Eyes" explodes in a dark, but quick, introspective on what its like to have some structure in the place you grew up. Later on, "Hoodie Weather" again takes a stab at what it means to be home and the notion that somewhere else is always better. Is the grass really greener on the other side?

Musically, Suburbia is as catchy as TWY's earlier work. There are plenty of layered guitar tracks, bass breakdowns and lots of quick, concise drumming. This is an album that was made for the stage. There are no frills or tricks anywhere that would lead you to believe this record was made by a computer rather than musicians. The band have stayed as honest musically as they have lyrically - a trend that's undoubtedly catching on again as witnessed by their growing success in recent years.

So how does Suburbia measure up to The Upsides? Well, it's not The Upsides. Don't expect anything to blow your mind or change the face of pop-punk... again. However, this is a meaningful record for the scene. It's a natural progression for the band. With Suburbia it seems that TWY have found their stride. This record is the next step in building a solid and memorable discography that might someday influence a whole new wave of pop-punk lifers.

It's worth having in your collection.

Your Summer Pop-Punk Playlist 2011

Summer is here, which means warm weather. And warm weather means pop-punk. So we at Backstage Press have racked our iTunes accounts, old mix CDs and depths of the internet for the best in new, old and maybe even some forgotten about pop-punk tunes. Bump this playlist and you're bound to get your summer started off right. Enjoy.

(The Wonder Years know how to throw a summer BBQ)

"Harbor Water" - Handguns

Off the Pennsylvania outfit's first EP, "Harbor Water" sums up all that is pop-punk. It's quick, catchy and written about a girl. It's everything you need to get your summer going. With hooks and lyrics reminiscent of some early New Found Glory tunes, your friends will definitely be asking, "Who's this?" at the next BBQ. Also, max combo points to you for picking up on this up-and-coming group of dudes.

"The Rock Show" - blink-182

A pop-punk summer anthem. This two-minute and fifty-two-second track celebrates being young by wrapping together lyrics about summer love, friendship, the Warped Tour and a certain sense of recklessness that reminds us all that sometimes it's okay to blow off responsibility and have little fun. Paired with an upbeat tempo, "The Rock Show" will always be a popular summer favorite. Plus it's blink, and you've got to get ready for their summer tour somehow.

"Mischief With No Direction" - This Time Next Year

The song title says it all. Remember driving around town with your friends late at night with nothing to do? Maybe you still do that. Either way, it inevitably led to some sort of trouble that you got into. And this track by pop-punkers This Time Next Year pays homage to those fond memories you've made while you're busy doing nothing. So why not add it to the playlist and cause a little trouble this summer?

"Up & Go" - The Starting Line

Ah, summer 2002. The humble beginnings of The Starting Line brought us some of their best and most loved pop-punk. "Up & Go", the opening track off the band's first full-length, is an honest look into young love and loss. It's catchy with no real frills or tricks - just a few guitars, a bass and drums. And with TSL announcing that their hiatus is coming to a close, it's time to get stoked on having these pop-punk forefathers back for good.

"My Friends Over You" - New Found Glory

No pop-punk playlist would be complete without a New Found Glory hit. And by now you've probably had your fill of sappy love songs. Well, here's your redemption. "My Friends Over You" is about just that - choosing your friends over your significant other. So when summer love has got you bummed, keep this one on repeat and go hang with your friends. It's too hot to hold anyone's hand anyway.

"Local Man Ruins Everything" - The Wonder Years

You loved the show growing up, you're going to love the band, too. "Local Man", which finds itself on the Philadelphia outfit's upcoming release, is one of the most honest and straightforward pieces of pop-punk of the last decade. Lyrically, it's insanely relatable and comes packed with a great message. Even if your summer ends up sucking, remember, "It's not about forcing happiness. It's about not letting sadness win."

"All Signs Point To Lauderdale" - A Day To Remember

Stuck in your hometown for the summer? Hate it? No worries, throw on ADTR's "All Signs Point To Lauderdale" and grab a map. This track definitely comes in as the playlist's hardest song, but it's still packed with plenty of hooks that will remind you why it's pop-punk. It's your total cure-all for those geographical woes. So jump in your car, crank this and take that well deserved road trip.

"Growing Up" - Fall Out Boy

Remember when Fall Out Boy actually played pop-punk (back when they were actually still a band, of course)? Well, if you do, you'll want this track on your playlist. Coming off the band's first two EPs, "Growing Up" recalls a time when you could find great pop-punk coming from any small club or basement around town. Forget arena shows, clothing companies and lewd photos leaked across the internet, this was Fall Out Boy at their finest. Oh, nostalgia.

"Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)" - Four Year Strong

A new breed of pop-punk is upon us, kids. And it comes decked out in band shirts and beards. Four Year Strong struck gold with "Wasting Time", which chronicles a summer full of freedoms and firsts. Balanced with quick, chugging guitars and gritty vocals, this track is anthemic in its pop-punk approach. Note, this song lends itself perfectly to steering wheel drumming and air guitar. So be sure to rock out with your buddies on the way to the beach.

"The Future Freaks Me Out" - Motion City Soundtrack

Nothing wrong with adding a little quirky twist into the mix. Motion City Soundtrack have always been known for their offbeat antics and fun music. "The Future Freaks Me Out" is the perfect singalong song for you and your friends. Packed with a two-part vocal breakdown, a chorus just about everyone knows and that catchy keyboard, and this track almost seems like a no-brainer for your playlist.

Exclusive Late Nite Wars Interview

Late Nite Wars have certainly had enough practice leading up to their first full-length release, Who's Going To Miss You If You Go?. They've been together since 2008, played countless shows nationwide and have three EPs to their name thus far.

And with that experience comes the pressure to live up to expectations from both fans and themselves. So when the band entered the studio, they set a goal of completing a full-length album this time around.

"We wanted to write something complete," LNW lead singer Kevin

Quinn told Backstage Press. "From the start we were thinking about a record in its entirety, not a song by song basis. I think that's what brought out some creativity."

The record certainly sounds like one solid piece. There are highs and lows, it's fast in spots and slow in others, but perhaps best of all, it sounds like LNW. The Merrimack Valley, MA outfit didn't pull any tricks on WGTMYIYG. Fans of the band's earlier releases will find comfort in this record knowing the band have stuck to their pop-punk roots.

"None of us wanted 13 songs that had the same sound and structure," said Quinn, "however, we wanted to stay consistent to what makes us LNW."

One listen through WGTMYIYG and it's easy to hear that the band are addressing a number of issues lyrically. What's it like to be a 20-something trying to find yourself? From working jobs you can't stand (which the band still do to support themselves), to failed relationships, the open road, touring and living in New England - the record is certainly eclectic in its message.

"It's difficult to say exactly what the influence is for the record because all five of us bring something different," explained Quinn. "But lyrically, the setting is all New England. Many of the songs refer to the weather, and others refer to the landscape. The feel of the season can have such an impact that it's natural that it comes across in the lyrics."

Perhaps that's most evident on the album's fourth track, "Rock, Paper, Bitters". The song opens with, "It's not hard to see that seasons change your mood/Just not as frequent as the weather/But it's cold and bitter, like these New England winters/It's coming on, and coming strong."

Throwing their surroundings into their music is nothing new for LNW, who have, through all their releases, made an effort to pay homage to the life around them. Whether that's Boston, a local venue, an old college dorm or their favorite karaoke joint, LNW are a band that survive off their locality.

And that sense of locality may be the driving factor in what keeps this band so connected to their past. Though WGTMYIYG may be the band's first full-length record, they made the decision to rework three of their previously released songs to fit onto the new album - an unmistakable shout out to their beginnings.

With their last EP set as a precursor to the full-length, it was a no-brainer for the band to add "Work Isn't Working" and "Death By Routine" to the updated track listing. And as for "Dragon The Anchor", Quinn said, "we wanted to record it and see what it would sound like three years later. It's one of our favorite songs to play [live]."

Who's Going To Miss You If You Go? has certainly solidified LNW as a pop-punk band that's here to stay. They've challenged themselves musically and lyrically, without losing sense of why they're making music in the first place. The band have certainly moved forward in their approach to leads, rhythms and vocals, but have left enough room to grow in the coming years.

So what's the bottom line? Get to know LNW... now.

To pick up the full-length album, released on Panic Records, click HERE. Also, make sure to grab the 7" vinyl containing two bonus tracks that weren't quite finished in time to make the May release. You can also stream the entire album HERE.

Living With Lions Album Review

Canadian pop-punk outfit Living With Lions may best be known north of the border, far from the sun and palm trees that most newbies associate with the genre, but that's not stopping them from carving out their own piece of pop-punk real estate in 2011 - beards included.

Living With Lions will be releasing their second full-length album, Holy Sh*t, this coming Tuesday. Add to that a current tour with Such Gold, a recently wrapped up slew of dates with The Wonder Years and Fireworks, and an upcoming appearance at Bledfest, and it's clear LWL are taking North America by storm.

But will Holy Sh*t make the mark when it hits the pop-punk community this week? Will this finally be the record to jump start the band's career outside their home country? If today's resurgence of heartfelt and honest pop-punk records leaves us any clue, then yes.

Holy is far from sunny and upbeat. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The album is bursting with grit, catchy hooks and a sense of nostalgia that will inevitably strike a chord with anyone who remembers better days.

Take for instance the sixth song on the record, "Maple Drive Is Still Alive". There's a mid-20s angst on the track that's only enhanced by the toe-tapping pop-punk beat. "We wasted days away/We kept the evenings long/Shared laughter and letdowns, beat out all the odds/Where are those days?"

The record also broods a sense of toughness between its nostalgic references and general uneasiness about life. Lead singer Stu Ross' vocals are raspy and grittier than most of what's heard in the pop-punk scene today, but it stands to work for the band. This isn't your whiney, south Florida punk. This is Vancouver pop-punk - where winters are cold and beards are thick.

So is this record worth your time? If you're looking for a pop-punk album that you can listen to even when it's snowy and cold out, then Holy Sh*t is your answer. Packed with honest lyrics and a tough exterior, this is one album that's versatile enough for all the seasons and all your moods.

Seriously, get stoked on it. The band have. The five members even went so far as to tattoo the album's title on their rear ends. Two letters for each member's cheek, with one dude inking the entire release date onto his behind. (Watch the LWL tattoo process here) Now that's dedication.

You can also stream the full album HERE.

Handguns - Don't Bite Your Tongue Review

It's usually a band's sophomore release that makes or breaks them. And while Handguns may only be releasing their second EP of seven songs, it's these tracks that will prove sink or swim for the Pennsylvania quartet.

What fans of Handguns will be looking for is consistency. The band's first release, Anywhere But Home, was a quick, but memorable slice of pop-punk that meant something. This was a record that reflected the do-it-yourself spirit of pop-punk. It was the self-released, living out of a van, type of music that was missing from the scene.

So, can Handguns' new EP, Don't Bite Your Tongue, live up to everything off their first release - without being a mirror image of the record? You bet it can.

One listen through the EP and it's clearly Handguns. Forget the frills and producer tricks. This is straight pop-punk courtesy of a guitar, bass and drum kit. It's a snare happy, palm muted ride reminiscent of early 2000s pop-punk. Fast, fun and catchy - what more could you want?

Pop-punk has always had a certain nostalgic effect to it. Songs about lost love and better times, old friends and wasted youth - these are the concepts that defined the movement at its roots. Handguns know this, and show it with ease on Don't Bite Your Tongue.

The song "I Hope He Kills You" starts with lead singer Taylor Eby exclaiming, "I'll pretend my heart's not breaking / It's taken everything I have not to call you back / And I hope he breaks you down / The next time you call, I won't be around."

Couple these heart crunching lyrics with Eby's matured vocal approach and an instrumental take that relies as much on bass as it does on guitar and drums, and what you have is one of the most well rounded songs on the EP.

The message of the record is clear. Where playing shows and the open road defined Anywhere But Home, raw energy and emotion define Don't Bite Your Tongue. This essentially makes for the most relatable and solid grouping of tracks Handguns have ever put out.

So sink or swim? Despite track three's title ("Sink Like Lead"), this release should please the masses. It's consistent with what fans are already accustomed to, but catchy and relatable enough to reach a whole new pop-punk fan base. This EP definitely does more than tread water. Swim, swim, swim.

Handguns... For Kids

There's a lot more to the Vans Warped Tour than a parking lot full of tour busses, condom tents and a few headlining acts playing songs you heard last season on "The Hills." The backbone of Warped consists of all those hardworking and under appreciated bands that grind it out everyday in the sweltering summer heat.

Last week, at the Hartford stop of Warped, I had the chance to meet Jake Langley of the Pennsylvania pop-punk band, Handguns. It was a chance encounter. He stopped me because he liked my shirt. We started talking music, and he let me listen to his band.

Having no cash, I couldn't buy a copy. But Jake let it slide and gave me Handguns' EP, Anywhere But Home, free of charge... under the condition that I actually listen to it.

Well, the whole ride back to Boston was filled with what I found to be an amazing and fresh sounding slice of pop-punk. The key, as I've found, to Handguns is that they actually play punk music. Yes, it's pop, but it's still punk. Thank God.

Anywhere opens with the quick 1:23 song "My Own Captain" which could stand as the anthem for every do-it-yourself punk band out there today.

The seven song EP only picks up speed from there. "Harbor Water" is probably the catchiest of the lot. Plenty of crunchy guitar riffs, a steady bass line and a few gang vocals for good measure will have you singing, "Woah-oh-oh-oh!" over and over again.

The title track rounds out the EP nicely. Jumping on board with many of their contemporaries, "Anywhere But Home" is all about leaving that dead-end job for a life on the road. "I'd rather play three chords for three kids/than spend one more day there/complaining about my dead-end job not getting me anywhere"

But seriously, if you're a fan of bands like Four Year Strong, The Wonder Years, Man Overboard, ext, then you'll love Handguns.

Help these guys out! They're following the Warped Tour all summer (not playing it, following it) just to sell CDs and meet fans. Plus they're really nice, and the EP comes with a sticker reminding you not to grow up. What more could you ask for?