Years ago now - back in the days I left my brother in charge of the music on my iPod - he added a track called "When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong" and from that my love for The Wonder Years was born. With three fantastic full lengths and a ton of EP's/Splits to their name I had no doubts in my mind that fourth album The Greatest Generation would be just as - if not more - incredible. And it is just that. Loaded with meaning these are possibly the best thirteen songs they have ever written that build on what they've done before but better, so much better. They've improved the old, tried something new and embraced their quirks, particularly vocally with some of the most choking moments being Soupy's voice breaking. I expected an album that I would keep on repeat for a very long time but what I received is an album that catapulted it's way into my favourites from the first listen.
Right off from the start on opening track "There, There" the bands' continued growth is shown with Soupy's new found fragile vocals and quiet guitaring that gives way to full band and growling vocals in their trademark style for the chorus of "I'm sorry I don't laugh at the right times" with urgency like never before. One of my favourite things about The Wonder Years is the intertextuality between their songs and this album is no let down on this. The first single from the album "Passing Through A Screen Door" has Soupy's voice break on the line "Jesus Christ, did I fuck up?" in the most heart breaking way before chanting "I was kinda hoping you'd stay" to make sure your heart stays well and truly shattered. The song is everything about The Wonder Years that was good but improved 10 times over to create a truly pounding pop-punk song.
Continuing on in a similar manner "We Could Die Like This" and "Dismantling Summer" juxtapose upbeat music with hard hitting personal lyrics and the use of harmonies on these tracks compliment the vocals perfectly. Anger fueled song "The Bastards, The Vultures, The Wolves" is the kind of song you want to yell at the top of your lungs and it sounds as though Soupy is doing just that and fellow band mates are hammering their gear to within an inch of their lives alongside him. The clattering of the music representing the lyrics, "I came here looking for a fight," is brilliant and a far cry from "The Devil In My Bloodstream" which features singer Laura Stevenson providing subtly beautiful backing harmonies alongside Soupy and an intricate piano. Two minutes in and the calm of this heart wrenching song is taken over by an ear shattering yell of "I bet I'd be a fucking coward" and if you haven't cried yet, then this song is what will start you off and probably finish you off too.
The pace picks back up full steam ahead with a relentless four tracks in succession that leave you with no chance for a breather. "Teenage Parents" is an upbeat pop-punk track from start to finish about growing up poor with a hook that will stick in your head for weeks. It's the kind of song that at live shows will leave you with a stitch as just when you think you can stop yelling/jumping Mike Kennedy fills the void with pounding drums - and I'd give up trying to match Soupy's falsetto before you even try. Following on from this is "Chaser" that boasts a face melting guitar solo and bass led "An American Religion (FSF)" before finishing this power fueled section of the album on "A Raindance In Traffic" with glorious gang vocals.
Another sob inducing, goosebump evoking, breakdown causing song is "Madelyn" which has been dubbed by some as the "Hey Thanks" of the album. But where "Hey Thanks" was fun and jolly "Madelyn" is saddening and causes an ache like no other and will haunt the deepest parts of your mind and awaken the skeletons you've kept under lock and key.
Album closer "I Just Want To Sell Out My Funeral" is an ambitious 7 and 1/2 minute hat tilt to the entire album that breaks the epic scale and sums everything up leaving your jaw dropped on the floor at the thought that has gone into it and the fact they pulled it off. The music builds, starting with a simple understated drum to the clashing of the full band until the 3 minute mark when the tone changes to signify the beginning of the sickest summary of an album you've ever heard and ending with a hard hitting verse, leaving the album for good on the line "I just want to know that I did all I could with what I was given"
Watching them grow from an unknown pop-punk band to getting signed to Hopeless Records and gaining a strong fan base has been exciting to witness and the best thing is they've stayed true to their music and haven't changed who they are to please anybody else and showed the world they have staying power. Each album has the familiarity of their previous work but they improve and grow so much between these releases adding in something new each time to keep it fresh. Lyrically, Soupy is a genius and shows this off with the theme of war subtly thread throughout the album in an entirely unforced and unobtrusive manner with lyrics here and there and the titling of songs - "Passing Through a Screen Door" and of course he's the king of devastatingly relatable lyrics and the guys match him musically making each song explode. If you still haven't given them a chance then you're a fool as these guys are so god damned talented and no doubt one of the best or greatest pop-punk bands around to date.
The Greatest Generation will grab have you clutching your heart with tears streaming down you face.
The Greatest Generation is a battle cry against growing up and the shittiness life can throw at you.
The Greatest Generation is hope for the future.
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