New Found Glory - Sticks And Stones Review
Posted by Vanderhorst on 09.18.2002
The reigning kings of pop-punk return to take the genre to new levels of popularity.
Words Will Never Hurt Them: New Found Glory has been the most solid pop-punk act around in recent years, surpassing even the founders of the sound, Blink 182. And so it's no surprise that their third album is chock-full of anthems for the new breed of cool kids and the like, and the disc seems to get better with every subsequent listen, kind of like a good wine.
The whole shebang kicks off with “Understatement,” that rocks out of the gate declaring that the band is sick of putting up with shit and being happy, then segues into a lament over a girl that is about to get kicked to the curb.
That bounds right into the first single, “My Friends Over You,” in which the lead singer Jordan gets weak at the knees over a relationship with the girls of his dreams and chooses instead to rely on his friends. As a lovestruck goof I have no ground with the song as my friends don't seem more worth it than that special someone, but this is still a kickass tune.
“Sonny” is a tune about loss, either a break-up or even a death, depending on how you want to take it, the song is ambiguous enough to be taken either way. And far less depressing than the emo NFG fans are likely used to.
“Something I Call Personality” is another great tune, about a person that well, doesn't have much to offer in the department the title suggests. A good tune that kicks a lot more ass live than it does on the album.
The next track, “Head On Collision” gets a lot of praise from the band and industry folks, but it's not the second best tune by far. Regardless, it is a good track, using a car crash as a metaphor for a bad fight.
“It's Been A Summer” is appropriate, as I'm writing this right before school goes back into session. A good little ditty about summer romance.
“Forget My Name” is a letter from one lover to another, leaving everything behind for something else, someone that will return the love and make life worth living, because this current situation is dull and placid.
NFG wants you to “Never Give Up,” which is about what it implies, persevering and fighting for yourself, standing up for you and yours. Never giving in. Don't back down. Solid, if unspectacular.
In “The Great Houdini,” Jordan's girlfriend has disappeared and he must accept the fact that he has to go alone because she doesn't want to be with him anymore. For anyone that's had to deal with an aloof other and got tired of their shit.
“Singled Out” is the theme song for a relationship that I'm sure we've all watched play out or been in ourselves, when a relationship ends abruptly and the two end up talking each other down to other people, resulting in much hurt and confusion. It's a stupid side-effect of love.
“Belated” is an apology letter, pure and simple. It's a reassuring that says dammit, this relationship is worth working for and that the trials along the way are worth talking out so that everyone understands.
“The Story So Far” is, ironically, the last track on the album, looking forward to the next day and the next trials that love will bring. It's actually an appropriate way to end the song, and on a good note, too.
Bonuses: After over twenty minutes of silence on track 12, a bizarre smorgasboard of soundbites shimmer on, and they could really spook the hell out of you if you're not prepared for them. Interesting to discover that “The Story So Far” was written for the last album but they never finished recording it, as well. There are no bonuses for the computer.
