Released: 2002
Label: Epic/DaylightRecords
The release of the much anticipated sophomore album from the recently popular band Good Charlotte was an outstanding add in to my collection. With catchy choruses from such songs as “The Anthem” and the upbeat TRL favorite single “Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous” the new album makes a fun comeback to the self-titled album, which came out September of 2000. “The hard stuff is a little harder, the ballads are a little softer, the rock songs are more rock, and the pop songs are more pop.” Benji Madden (Idobi.com).
“The Anthem”, co written by John Feldman (Goldfinger), is just that for kids all around the world. Written for the kids who don’t quite fit in with society, it has all the essentials for an anthem for the so-called “loser” types through out middle and high schools alike. "A song that would help them get through the day. It's a song that could help them say, 'hey, bring it on-it won't bother me because I don't wanna be like you.” –Benji Madden.
The first single off the album “Lifestyles Of The Rich and Famous” is a complaint form the business themselves. “Always see it on TV or read it in the magazines. Celebrities they want sympathy. All they do is piss and moan inside the rolling Stone. Talking about how hard life can be” the first verse to the catchy favorite. The song will be sure to get stuck in your head at one point or another.
The fun but emotional song “The Story Of My Old Man” proclaims the life of the father of the twins. “I don’t know too much about, too much of my old man. I know he walked right out the door, we never saw him again.” The twins sing about their life with and without their father. Memories of baseball games and working on the car along with the pain of living without a fatherly figure. One of the songs that show the growth of the band from the past two years.
My personal favorite song, MY Bloody Valentine was inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's classic story The Telltale Heart. The somewhat chilling song tells the story of a man who would do anything for a lover. “I ripped out his throat and called you on the telephone. To take off my disguise just in time to hear you cry” the haunting beginning to one of the more different songs on the album.
One of the deeper songs “The Day That I Die” is more classified as a happier song then what the lyrics say. With such lines as “I swear the happiest day of my life is the day that I die” the song reflects the feeling that most people have at one point or another.
The softest and most grown song on the album, “Emotionless” was written as forgiveness to the infamous father of the twins. "I feel like my dad affected my life in a bad way for long enough when I was younger, and I'm not ganna let him do it anymore," I'm not ganna carry that burden of being hateful and angry. So 'Emotionless' is a song of forgiveness. I'll forgive him for my sake: I won't let those feelings about him affect the way I treat other people or the way I live my life." –Benji Madden-
A big change has came form the old album to the new. It’s clear to see that the boys themselves have certainly evolved from writing about just girls and girl related problems to writing about their lives and past. Certainly this is a must have album for fans everywhere. I’ll recommend this album to everyone everywhere no matter the age. There is bound to be something for everyone.
For More Information:
• Official Site: www.goodcharlotte.com
• Label's Official Site: www.epicrecords.com