Good Morning Revival
Their multiple piercings, shaved heads, and abundant tattoos have them labeled a punk band, but on their fourth album, Good Charlotte--led by twin brothers Joel (lead vocals) and Benji (lead guitar) Madden--fall much more under the umbrella of 1970s arena rock and mainstream ballads. There is the occasional foray into the pop-punk mode of previous records, including the distorted-vocal rap "Keep Your Hands Off My Girl" and "Broken Hearts Parade," which sounds like Green Day with horns. It's easy to see the maturation in the Maddens' songwriting on such tracks as "The River," a surveillance of the inner workings of Los Angeles, the grass-is-greener pop song "Something Else," and "Where Would We Be," a break-up ballad about Joel Madden's split with pop princess Hilary Duff. With a piano lead and strident chorus, Madden admits, "Now I must confess that I'm a sinking ship/And I'm anchored by the weight of my heart." Browbeaten in theory, like sister songs "Misery," "Victim of Love," and "Break Her Heart,"Good Morning Revivaloffers hints of optimism that grow with the record and reach the summit with the closing pop song, "March On." The harmonic chorus jubilantly declares, "Like soldiers we can make it through the night/We'll see the sun/March on." Whether punkers or mainstream rockers, it's apparent that Good Charlotte will continue the march.--Scott Holter