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Underclass Hero

 
Album Review: Underclass Hero

  • Artist: Sum 41
  • Rating: StarHalf Star
  • Release Date: July 24, 2007
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Sum 41 have always seemed like blink-182's baby brothers, right down to their nonsensical numbers in the name, so it's only appropriate that they're also attempting to grow up just like blink -- or better still, a bit like blink and a bit like Green Day, who have proven to be the standard-bearers for how latter-day punks can grow a social conscience and become mature, as evidenced by American Idiot. Sporting a similar-sounding but not as politically potent title in Underclass Hero, Sum 41's fifth studio album extends upon its predecessor Chuck's deliberate attempt at getting serious and relevant, giving the impression that they're telling a story, creating an anthem for the "underclass hero," the slacker who can't be labeled as an underachiever because he never attempts to achieve. The first couple songs here -- the fists-in-the-air wannabe anthem title track, the narcissistic self-loathing "Walking Disaster" -- hit as hard as processed pedal distortion can, but Sum 41 (now down to a trio after the departure of guitarist Dave Baksh) soon abandon any larger narrative as they start to stretch out with acoustic guitars, keyboards, and Queen harmonies uncannily reminiscent of My Chemical Romance's The Black Parade. Despite these flashy accoutrements, Sum 41 don't want to be emo, they don't want to be prog, they don't even aspire to the mock the U2 atmospherics of Angels and Airwaves; they want to be nothing more than predictable punk-pop. Like all Sum 41 albums, Underclass Hero is ingratiating and hooky enough to have momentum but not enough to linger in the memory. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Underclass Hero (Lyrics) Deryck Whibley Sum 41 (3:14)
Walking Disaster (Lyrics) Deryck Whibley Sum 41 (4:46)
Speak of the Devil (Lyrics) Deryck Whibley Sum 41 (3:58)
Dear Father (Lyrics) Deryck Whibley Sum 41 (3:52)
Count Your Last Blessings (Lyrics) Deryck Whibley Sum 41 (3:03)
Ma Poubelle (Lyrics) Deryck Whibley Sum 41 (:55)
March of the Dogs (Lyrics) Deryck Whibley Sum 41 (3:09)
The Jester Deryck Whibley Sum 41 (2:48)
With Me (Lyrics) Deryck Whibley Sum 41 (4:51)
Pull the Curtain (Lyrics) Deryck Whibley Sum 41 (4:18)
King of Contradiction (Lyrics) Deryck Whibley Sum 41 (1:40)
Best of Me (Lyrics) Deryck Whibley Sum 41 (4:25)
Confusion and Frustration in Modern Times Deryck Whibley Sum 41 (3:46)
So Long Goodbye Deryck Whibley Sum 41 (3:01)
[Untitled] Deryck Whibley Sum 41 (4:03)

Credits

Cone (Group Member), Chris Lord-Alge (Mixing), Deryck Whibley (Group Member), Deryck Whibley (Guitar), Cone (Bass), Deryck Whibley (Mixing), Ted Jensen (Mastering), Deryck Whibley (Vocals), Michael Railton (Piano), Stevo (Percussion), Deryck Whibley (Keyboards), Tara Podolsky (A&R), Stevo (Drums), Wesley Seidman (Assistant), Nathan Johns (Assistant), Adam Fuller (Assistant), David Campbell (String Arrangements), Deryck Whibley (Piano), Keith Armstrong (Assistant), Daniel Chase (Percussion), Jamie Muhoberac (Keyboards), Matt Taylor (Photography), Doug McKean (Engineer), Jonathan Mannion (Cover Photo), Brian Lauzon (Photography), Patrick Hegarty (Cover Design), Matt Taylor (Package Design), Stevo (Group Member), Brian Lauzon (Package Design), Rob "Just Fine" Stevenson (A&R), Deryck Whibley (Producer), Nik Karpen (Assistant)
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Wikipedia: Underclass Hero (album)
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Underclass Hero
Studio album by Sum 41
Released Japan July 18, 2007
Canada July 23, 2007
United States July 24, 2007
Recorded November 6, 2006–March 14, 2007 at Ocean Way Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre Pop punk, alternative rock, punk rock
Length 51:49
Label Island, Aquarius
Producer Deryck Whibley
Professional reviews
Sum 41 studio album chronology
Chuck
(2004)
Underclass Hero
(2007)
Singles from Underclass Hero
  1. "Underclass Hero"
    Released: May 15, 2007
  2. "Walking Disaster"
    Released: July 23, 2007
  3. "With Me"
    Released: February 28, 2008

Underclass Hero is Sum 41's fourth studio album and the first to be released without former guitarist Dave Baksh. The album was first released July 18, 2007 in Japan. It was released under the Island Records label and distributed worldwide by Universal Records, and in Canada by Aquarius Records.

It was the first new material to be released without former guitarist Dave Baksh. The album title's similarity to John Lennon's hit "Working Class Hero" is not a coincidence, according to the band's front man Deryck Whibley, who in an interview with Sun Media claimed Lennon as his favorite songwriter:[1]

"I had to decide what I wanted to say with my music, I asked myself all these questions and then just pulled up my own answers and started writing songs based on those themes. I wanted to make an album that meant something important from beginning to end. I wanted it to have relevance and significance. It's not a concept album. It's not about fictional characters in a made-up story but there is a constant idea that runs through the record. It's a deeply personal statement that reflects the confusion and frustration in modern society."

Deryck Whibley

The album has spawned three singles, "Underclass Hero", "Walking Disaster", and "With Me". Another song called "March of the Dogs" has also been released as an album preview. The only single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 was "Underclass Hero" which peaked at number 86.[2]

Track listing

All songs written by Deryck Whibley, except where noted.

Original CD
  1. "Underclass Hero"(Deryck Whibley/Steve Jocz) - 3:14
  2. "Walking Disaster" - 4:46
  3. "Speak of the Devil" - 3:58
  4. "Dear Father" - 3:52
  5. "Count Your Last Blessings" - 3:03
  6. "Ma Poubelle" (Deryck Whibley/Steve Jocz) - 0:55
  7. "March of the Dogs" - 3:09
  8. "The Jester" - 2:48
  9. "With Me" - 4:51
  10. "Pull the Curtain" - 4:18
  11. "King of Contradiction" - 1:40
  12. "Best of Me" - 4:25
  13. "Confusion and Frustration in Modern Times" - 3:46
  14. "So Long Goodbye" - 3:05
  15. "Look At Me" (hidden track; starts at 2:00) - 4:03
Bonus tracks
  • "Take a Look at Yourself" - 3:24 (iTunes only)
  • "No Apologies" - 2:58 (Australia, UK, Japan and Korea)
  • "This Is Goodbye" - 2:28 (Japan and Korea only)
  • "Walking Disaster (Live)" (Japan and Korea only)
  • "Count Your Last Blessings (Live)" (Japan and Korea only)

References

External links


 
 

 

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Underclass Hero (album)" Read more