Album: Underclass Hero
Artist: Sum 41
Websites: MySpace

 Call it the markings of youth and the inevitable path to adulthood, but behind Sum 41"s anti-authoritarian power pop lies an unassuming earnestness that"s most often overlooked. This has never been more evident as on their newest and fourth full length studio release Underclass Hero.

{mosgoogle right} Now that lead guitarist Dave Baksh has left the band, they’ve moved noticeably towards punk.  It’s still discernible by the same hooky guitar chord progressions, rumbling bass and thudding drums reliably holding down the fort that got Sum 41 where they are now.  But, Underclass Hero’s trump card is it’s stalwart gain from experience that showcases this release as their most mature work yet.

Not content with mere pop-punk posturing so much as a logical summation of influences and a desire to explore musically, lead singer and songwriter Deryck Whibley has pulled off a remarkably solid collection of songs. Without former guitarist Braksh supplying power guitar solos, this is distinctly Whibley’s show, as evidenced by his solitary appearance on the cover and the inevitable decision to produce the record himself. 

Right out of the starting block, Sum 41 launches into the title track and first single—it’s their most assured yet.  It all seems so appropriately angry until the French lyrics, and an at once, angry and moving letter to an unknown father. “Dear Father” finds Whibley writing a letter to the father he never knew: “I knew the things you never showed me / Took the chances you’d have blown.” Whibley gives his best vocal performance on “Best of Me” giving just the right amount of vulnerability an apology song demands.

The record plays off it’s customary genre truisms well, which only makes it’s attempts at expansion stand out all the more. Whibley skirts political disparagement with “The Jester”, playful thrash with “King of Contradiction” and even finds his Lennon-esque farewell with “So Long Goodbye” which is an acoustic highlight of the record, complete with string arrangements.  Dotted with minor key piano, “Count your Last Blessings” finds Whibley at his most self reflective, while pining over opportunities lost during alcohol-induced binges.

Time tends to treat records like Underclass Hero with a modest reverence. It’s angry, honest, introspective rock ‘n’ roll, and it works.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."