Listen up, everyone! That’s right! The New Found Glory album just dropped on Friday and Listen Up is the high-energy, nostalgic pop-punk comeback we’ve needed for the last few years! Let’s talk about some of the highlights:
Boom Roasted
A heavy pop-punk track with A Day to Remember-inspired catchy chants and Sum-41-esque guitar solos, this song is the perfect record opener with meaningful lyrics about staying strong when others try to profit of your pain, blood sweat, and tears. It sets the triumphant tone for the rest of the album in just the right way with a perfectly flowing bridge and anthemic high energy!
100%
Check out my single review here!
Laugh It Off
This song is a simple, classic pop-punk track that addresses the poignant topic of getting through the hurt that can arise from communication conflict and the inability to express one’s emotions, doing so in a clean and upbeat way, just like any great song in the genre should! The chorus is one that will get stuck in your head for sure and the guitar outro gives me all the feels!
Beer and Blood Stains
“Beer and Blood Stains” is the quintessential pop-punk single of the album, with nostalgic lyrics for the band reminiscing about the good old days performing in their home state of Florida and vivid descriptions of beer stains and sweat from the hyped up crowds..pop-punk imagery at its finest! The breakdown in the bridge is unforgettable, and the entire song is one made for head banging and moshing!
Medicine
This track is breaks up the pace of the album, giving listeners a nice break from the high energy of the album and offering an enjoyable easy listen. The song is a touching ode about the friendships Chad Gilbert has formed over the years and everything he has dealt with, including his battle with cancer. “Medicine” is one of those sentimental songs that will unify any crowd for sure, making us appreciate all those we love in our lives.
Treat Yourself
The energy of “Treat Yourself” really matches its title…the song is a banger that explodes with straight up positivity, shifting gears from the typical emo/pop-punk themes of dealing with depression and just giving listeners 100% permission to live in the moment…something all of us elder emos and pop-punkers could do more of! The joyfulness from this single is infectious!
Frankenstein’s Monster
A magnificent closing track to the album about working through your hardships and finding yourself again, “Frankenstein’s Monster” delivers a fitting conclusion to record’s overall energy, offering crisp drums, punchy guitar and impactful lyrics. The song really drives home the the overarching theme of optimism from the album, reminding us to stay strong no matter what we are going through, cherish our friendships, and to never forget the importance of self-growth and self-love.
Listen Up! gives us that classic pop-punk energy and New Found Glory sound we all know and love while allowing us elder emos to connect with the themes that are very current to us right now. Some of these include improving our mental and physical health while going through life’s battles, cherishing enduring friendships over the decades, growing as a person and improving communication (maturity), and practicing self-love. This album is a real gem and is some of New Found Glory’s best work in years. Listen to the rest of the album here!
Till Next Time!
XOXO,
Meagan