by JM Lane

Created on: February 12, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

In 2003, The Bouncing Souls released their 5th on the Epitaph Records label. What became apparent, as clichd as this sounds, to the rest of the Souls releases this album had a more 'mature' sound. I tend to find that when bands sound start maturing it's usually the point when they start losing it or become really bland and boring. Personally I'd say it's probably one of the best albums ever released on the Epitaph label. It has the sing along tunes that the Souls are loved for, the songs about girls and relationships and the songs of unity and friendship.

Part of the appeal about these guys is that you get the feeling of good strong friendships from them (rather than being about the money), and having fun on the (difficult) life on the road touring which reflect in particular on this album come across quite often in there songs.

The Bouncing Souls are:
The Pete - Guitar, vocals
Bryan 'Papillon' Kienlen - Bass, vocals
Greg Attonito - Vocals
Michael McDermott - Drums

So what are the Bouncing Souls like? It's hard to describe them to the person who has not heard them because they are much more than just your average punk band. One could even argue that there are not punk. I feel the best way to describing them is like your modern day Top 40 punk bands, except without being Top 40 and there probably not being punk much, so there more at there 'Green Day' than 'Sum 41' stage.

-Track by Track-

'Apartment 5F' opens up the album and comes to rock your socks off. Loud grinding bass. Probably the most 'shouty' track on the album, but with crashing drums to add to the mix this proves a great way to open the album. "Destruction leaves an empty space, in emptiness again I begun to create, feeling good again now, in some new kind of way, feeling good again now."

'Kids and Heroes' is next which was the first single release off the album. Even if you got the album and wasn't aware of this you can pretty much tell that it's 'single material'. It opens with The Pete playing guitar "Hey where have you gone? You used to be the one that we looked up to." Kicks in getting you into Bouncing Souls sing along fashion

'New Day' has loud drum cracking breaks, loud guitar and bass and lyrics summing up about the time we have. "Changes coming are way, just like a new day

'Sing Along Forever' is a really short track, but lyrically brilliant and one I feel I can relate to. "I'm driving listening to my radio, checking out the airwaves for something to believe in." I feel that to me personally is a state

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