Not Without A Fight

It is better than Tip of the Iceberg, but not quite as solid as their last full length. On my first listen, I was let down. It felt and sounded like New Found Glory but lacked that initial punchiness. Second listen through, I was singing along and pretty pleased.

The single, "Listen to your Friends" is classic New Found Glory and delivered true on their promise for this album to be for fans of their self-titled. It is a pretty straight forward track though, but it doesn't detract from me loving it.

I am thrown off by the weak and ill placed "hardcore" gang backing vocals. "47" sticks out with this (and I found myself singing Coming Home's "Hold My Hand" during the verses here). The pacing, delivery and lyrics of "I called you 46 times" is just weak. The rest of the track stands out (minus the unnecessary break down at 1:43) as being as catchy as New Found Glory has ever been. This pattern works its way into other parts of the album.

I appreciate the fact that the guys are Gorilla Biscuit, Lifetime, Shelter, etc fans (and Chad's involvement in the hardcore scene). That's great, but New Found Glory isn't any of those bands. When they innovate and improve on the pop-punk they started in 1997 (as evident on Coming Home), they are dead on and make some of my favorite pop-punk. When they stray and try to incorporate the breakdowns and yells that have come to be the norm (popular) recently (thanks A Day To Remember, Four Years Strong, Set Your Goals, etc.), it doesn't work. Trying to be Lifetime was great when Saves the Day did it for Can't Slow Down and, to a lesser extent, Through Being Cool, but its time to innovate not replicate.

When New Found Glory is doing what New Found Glory has always done best, the album shines.