GOOD RIDDANCE
My Republic
Fat Wreck Chords
· SoCal pop-punks live up to their potential.
Riding on autopilot for most of this decade, it was no wonder that SoCal pop-punk (with hints of hardcore) purveyors Good Riddance (GR) pretty much fell out of the limelight. Wishy-washy albums in that "we can do no wrong" bravado resulted in a miniature version of grunge overtaking hair metal in the early ’90s – The GR scene fell flat as fans grew up and started searching out something a little more… emotional, shall we say?
Well, apparently it was a slap in the face to Russ Rankin and crew, ’cause they almost shipped out. But with My Republic, they’ve actually shaped up, creating an effort beyond expectation. The 14 songs here are unbelievably catchy, as is the GR norm, but this time around they’ve been flavoured with a bittersweet aggression that only serves to accentuate the point. It’s not just grumpy old men on tracks such as "Tell Me Why" and "Broken." It’s maturity and wisdom still peppered with a love for punk. An overall upbeat, energized atmosphere abounds, making My Republic their best since Operation Phoenix. Now it just remains to be seen if people still care enough.
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