| Mainstream Magazine Review for The Young and the Hopeless |
| After a successful strike with the debut release of the self-titled Good Charlotte record, selling over 300,000 copies nation-wide, this now four-member team returns for a fall release of �The Young and the Hopeless.� Establishing a Pop-Punk Rap flared style was a hard task in their first major CD release, but as a sophomore release rolled around, the band ditched the punk roots for a more Pop-Rock sound. With a heavier focus on the technical aspect of mastering, they loose the attachment of their signature live performance that blared clearly and glued everything together on the previous release. Songs written during trials and tribulations over the bands past year's together show as they continue to map out their own course, which are intertwined with some slightly controversial topics. Tracks like �The Anthem� and �Riot Girl� show what we grew to love about the first album. With 80's inspired tracks and the song �Day that I Die� closely tied to Social Distortion's �Ball and Chain� we get a view into the music that started it all for this band. At the same time it becomes clear that Good Charlotte has loosened their grip as they took a whole other direction in composing the music and lyrical content. Into the minds of brothers Benji and Joel who dedicated the track �My Old Man� to their infamous father who walked out on the family, displays years of built up frustration and disappointment. On the other side of things, morbid lyrics like �I dropped you off and followed him home, then I stood outside his bedroom window. Standing over him he begged me not to do what I knew I had to do because I'm so in love with you.� incorporate the theme of love, lust, loss and murder. Benji takes the lead vocalist position as he follows up the golden theme �Motivation Proclamation� with the same thing in a new melody called �Hold On.� The title track �The Young and the Hopeless� gives a hopeful outlook of beating the odds and striving to exceed negative mind-sets. Lead singer Joel best explains the reason for the name as, ��Our lives as a band for the last couple years. But then our lives have been a drama and it's been like a soap opera like �The Young and the Restless.� So we kind of named it along those lines, this is our soap opera, �The Young and the Hopeless.� That's our album.� A little softer, a little more Rock influenced with the help of drummer Josh Freese, trying to go too many ways all at once gave a big variety in the sound but lost the Good Charlotte noted theme. What you once thought you knew about Good Charlotte, don't think about anymore, because this band continues to keep �Moving On.� Complete Track Listing: 1. Intro 2. The Anthem 3. Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous 4. Wondering 5. My Old Man 6. Boys and Girls 7. Bloody Valentine 8. Hold On 9. Riot Girl 10. Say Anything 11. Day that I Die 12. The Young & the Hopeless 13. Emotionaless 14. Moving On |
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