I'm Not Sad Anymore, that is phrase that has held true to thousands of kids worldwide who have been inspired by Philly realist pop-punk band The Wonder Years. Having been a D.I.Y staple and writing songs that hit home with anyone, the band really hit home when they released 2010's album of the year "The Upsides"
From the opening verse of "I'm not sad anymore" in opening track My Last Semester the band shows that they have a lot to be happy about, and we should to. Centered around stories from tours, getting out of Philly, to songs about people being homophobic assholes, and being stuck in the middle of nowhere. The Upsides hands down wins album of the year lyrically. The songs are insanely catchy and will get stuck in your head faster than some shitty R&B gimmick song.
Hope and looking on the brightside is what "The Upsides" is all about, but even then it also has its dark sides, songs about remembrance, and broken hearts. But this is no pussy pop-punk record. This record is for those who need some Hope in their lives, The Wonder Years have become a band that people believe in, and "The Upsides" has become the record that saves lives.
Now as of recently the band had signed a record deal with Hopeless Record's and re-released "The Upsides" with four brand new songs. The first song of four called "I was scared and I'm sorry" is about dealing with a break-up. It is one of the hardest hitting songs on the album. The band also did a campfire version of Dynamite Shovel which had all the guys clapping and singing along. It really turned an already fun song into a amazing singalong. Logan Circle: A New Hope gives Logan Circle a whole new take and just shows some of the pure emotion in Soupy's voice. Closing track We Won't Bury You is one of the hardest hitting home songs around, showing the bands dealing with the loss of a friend.
This is the album of the year, hands down, nothing has came close to this record, I highly suggest picking it up and seeing them out on the Tonight We Feel Alive Tour.
so heres the breakdown
Lyrics 10/10
Musicianship 10/10
Production 10/10
Vocals 10/10
Production 10/10
Lasting Value 10/10
Energy 10/10
For more info on The Wonder Years please visit http://www.myspace.com/thewonderyears
Thanks for reading. And huge thanks to Mike over at Earshot for granting PMF the honor of reviewing this album.
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