"Underclass hero" CD by Sum 41

by Marcel Anders (13.07.2007) If you sold 7 million records and live in Bel Air, you're no underclass hero anymore. Consequently, the title of the fourth Sum 41 album rather refers to the difficult birth of the album. Because after the flop of the "Chuck"-album, the departure of guitarist Dave Brownsound as well as the two years break, the future of the Canadian Punk-Poppers around Deryck Whibley was long unclear. Now, they dare a comeback with numerous new inventions. Like the fact that the 15 songs with a playing time of up to 5 minutes are not only a lot longer but also much more matured and more variable. Beside high energy Punk ditties in best Blink 182/NOFX-way, the trio also dares 60s Pop ("Dear father"), Vauderville ("French song") and acoustic-ballads, like "Look at me" that you would never have expected from them. But after all, the three are 27 now and should finally have become adult now. And the edgy, political lyrics of "The jester" and "March of the dogs", excoriating George W. Bush, fit them good. Punk louts become ambitious musicians.