"The Wonder Years - The Greatest Generation" Pop-punk Perfection

 


    Look, I've already listened to this album, many many times and all I have to say is that it's fantastic. I'm not sure if it's one of my favourite albums of all time, because right now I do still stand on the hill that WORRY. by Jeff Rosenstock is the best pop-punk album ever released, but I'd be lying if it wasn't closing the gap these days. I mean I literally saw them perform this entire album live for it's 10th anniversary and I can tell you it was fantastic, I was practically singing every single lyric as loud as I could and I even caught a guitar pic from one of the guitarists. It was a fantastic night and it really made me appreciate just how good this album is and how many people it's touched. So when my friend CJ recommended this album I jumped at the chance, because this album really is special, and as I've grown older it only resonates with me even more. The only major gripe I have with it is that if you aren't a fan of pop-punk this album really isn't for you, because while it isn't varied it sure does know what it's breadwinning sound is. So without further do, my track-by-track review of The Greatest Generation by The Wonder Years.

The Greatest Generation - The Wonder Years

There, There - 93/100 This entire song just really speaks to me on a personal level on how insecure you can eventually start to fail when you mess up on just the little things. Those moments where you just end up being sorry, begging for forgiveness because you feel like that's the only thing you can do. Honestly, this song is a bit of a hard listen for me sometimes because it's just makes me emotional but it really holds a special place in my heart.

Passing Through A Screen Door - 91/100 You're going to hear this a lot, but I pretty much like every song off this album. I mean it's a pop-punk song, what more could I ask for, but I'd be lying if it isn't near perfect. Frankly, I know it's one of their more popular cut, but I didn't really understand the hype to this song until later on. I don't even have any kids but all the lines about children and a general hopeless regarding the future in the lyrics always hit me the hardest.

We Could Die Like This - 90/100 Man, this song is just a perfect example of how I love this album even if it is full of the common pop-punk tropes. I absolutely hate the suburbs I live in the city and hope I die in the city, but you still caught me singing this chorus with a full chest during the concert. I guess for me it's the opposite. I mean this album really is a grown-up pop-punk album, because instead of whining about leaving home they really just want to come back home and honestly, I can relate to that I don't want to think about leaving my home.

Dismantling Summer - 88/100 Look, all I can say is that I've listened to this album enough that I know the lyrics to like 70% of the songs. It's hard to shake off that kind of bias in my opinion this album deserves all the praise it's gets.

The Bastards, The Vultures, The Wolves - 85/100 I mean yeah the album starts to taper off a little bit around it's midsection, but even still put this on any other album and it could definitely contend for the title of best song.

The Devil in My Bloodstream - 83/100 Honestly, I wasn't crazy about this song at first either, I think it's the piano verses. It's grown on me, and I think I love the "devil in my bloodstream" analogy/motif that shows up in a lot of The Wonder Years songs, like what if my downfall is just inevitable?

Teenage Parents - 88/100 I think the album starts to pick up around here again, as a fellow poor person it's nice to hear sing people about their stories. I particularly love the catchy chorus which is easy to sing and the bridge.

Chaser - 80/100 Ok, well I lied about it picking up around this part I think it starts off incredibly well, but hey it ends off well I promise you that. Underrated guitar solo to be honest I don't remember it much but it's better than I thought it was.

An American Religion (FSF) - 73/100 Okay maybe it does get worse for this album to be honest eventually you just hear so many fast-paced pop-punk songs and you start to ask yourself which ones you really find that catchy

A Raindance in Traffic - 88/100 We are so fucking back once again The Wonder Years come back with a banger of the chorus I really didn't do this album the justice it deserved when I first heard it. It's just immaculate.

Madelyn -85/100  I really wonder about this Madelyn girl Soupy's sang about before because every time he brings her up the songs turn out well just go listen to Oldest Daughter. I'm not sure if Soupy's voice is the best for acoustic songs but I still love this song every time I hear it. It's a good acoustic cut in my opinion I mean it's not that hard you just have to sing with some passion and be sincere.

Cul-de-sac - 90/100 Once again I'd like to reiterate that for some reason the lines about children in this album really hit me emotionally for some reason I guess I'm just that scared about my future. I don't even have any close friends I've ever had to cut off things just kind of fall off.

I Just Want To Sell Out My Funeral - 80/100 Honestly, I love this song, and I think it's a great callback to all the great songs off of this album, but I honestly always felt like it was just a bit too long. Look, my stance on music being exponentially harder to justify the longer they are still remains true, and frankly the only artist who I felt really justified the song length is like Car Seat Headrest with Beach Life-in-Death. 

Final Score: 87/100

    I mean what can I say. In my defense of this album I first listened to it like when I was in high school and that's kind of the perfect time to be randomly attached to an album. Honestly, back then I thought the album was cool but I didn't really get the hype I was still slowly detatching myself from Panic! At the Disco I suppose. I mean I don't think Soupy's voice is bad but if you aren't a fan of pop-punk or his voice this album won't be satisfying for you but it definitely was for me. It's not as flawless as I remember it being but I still think it's an incredible album that hardly has any skips for me, it's just that some of the songs I have to be in a mood for. I Just Want To Sell Out My Funeral is just too long for me to realistically listen to on the subway or something.

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