Even though New Found Glory's sixth studio album, Not Without a Fight, is coming out March 10, it has already leaked. Yes, I'm a pretty big New Found Glory fan, but the curiosity got the best of me as I downloaded it. Even guitarist Chad Gilbert said if his favorite band's CD leaked, he would download it, and that's exactly what I did. Take that, RIAA.I really like the album, which was produced by Mark Hoppus of the newly-reunited band Blink 182.. It has that trademark sound that made me and other fans fall in love with them. It's that pop-punk that I'm a sucker for from time to time and makes me wonder if I should admit to listening to it when I have bands such as Minor Threat on my iPod.
The album has some elements of their last release, Tip of the Iceberg, which was released on Bridge 9 Records. It has some traits of a Bridge 9 band, which often has some traces of hardcore in their music, with the band's usual sound that makes the mall-core, pop-punk teenagers scream their semi-prepubescent hearts out... and makes me giddy a tiny bit.
I can't pick a song that I don't like on Not Without a Fight, but there are some songs that make me so happy the band released a new album. Hands down, my favorite is "I'll Never Love Again." It almost sounds like it could be on their last release. Gilbert's guitar playing, lead singer Jordan Pundik's somewhat high-pitched vocals and some group vocals make me love the song even more. One thing I can appreciate about Pundik's vocals throughout the band's career is that it sounds like his balls dropped, which almost changed his voice from a boy to a man, or maybe a slightly high-pitched man.
I'd definitely give this album two thumbs up, or two X-ed fists up if that's what you do. They still stand true to the sound that got them out in the scene more than ten years ago and matured it a bit. If they are capable of doing this, what else do they have up their sleeves?
Oh, and don't you worry. Don't think I'm one of those fans that doesn't do shit for the band. I bought my ticket for their show April 30 at Boston's House of Blues, which I'm definitely looking forward to seeing.
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