No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls
You can tell a lot about a band by the company it keeps. Simple Plan's close chums includeGood CharlotteandBlink 182, giving one a fair hint of the sound the group's debut, though, judging by song titles like "I’m Just a Kid," "The Worst Day Ever," and "God Must Hate Me," it’s clear these Canadian pop-punkers are aiming for a younger demographic still. Ignore the bikini-clad babes that festoon the sleeve--there’s none of Blink 182’s smutty double-entendres here. Frontman Pierre Bouvier writes about skipping school, crashing dad’s car, and lusting after girls that don’t know he exists. "Every day," he sob, "is the worst day ever." The music itself is far from glum. "I’d Do Anything" is a beamingGreen Day-style chugger, while "When I’m With You" is a tale of obsession and heartbreak that owes more to theGo-Go'sthanRancid. Seasoned punk fans will be put off by the excessive juvenilia, but the new wave should lap this up.--Louis Pattison