The Bouncing Souls - Ghosts on the Boardwalk
Rating
RIYL
Green DaySocial Distortion
NOFX
Release Date
01/12/2010
Label
Chunksaah RecordsTracklist
1. Gasoline2. Never Say Die/When You're Young
3. I Think That the World...
4. Ghosts on the Boardwalk
5. Airport Security
6. Badass
7. Mental Bits
8. Dubs Says True
9. Boogie Woogie Downtown
10. Big Eyes
11. We All Sing Along
12. Like the Sun
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With 20 years under their belt and 15 years of nearly continuous touring, The Bouncing Souls don’t need to prove anything to anyone. This group that started in New Jersey’s high schools has demonstrated that it knows its way around writing a catchy pop song.What's interesting, considering The Bouncing Souls are primarily known as a “punk rock” band, is that's not generally a type of music known for hours of labor in the writing process, but The Bouncing Souls do give time and effort to their writing. Their latest offering Ghosts on the Boardwalk represents the evolution in the band from its punk roots to as pop as pop gets.
First thing to know about this album is that it is a collection of songs. If you’re trying to figure out what the band is saying on this album, you will become aggravated quickly. The first song, “Gasoline” is vocalist Greg Attonito’s musing on wanting to escape from his life. “Sedate me with anything so I don’t have to live with me.” That song is followed by “Never Say Die/When You’re Young,” which tosses around every cliché for self-actualization, such as “Take your time, stay strong, hold on,” and so forth. After spending all that energy trying to pep up the peeps listening to this album, though, Attonito states on the following song, “I think that the world can go its own way. In fact, in can fade away.” So it’s obvious to me at this point that the band really isn’t trying to accomplish anything with this long-player than to give a snapshot of their strongest songs at this time. Thankfully for all involved, these songs are pretty strong.
A band cannot survive for 15 years touring with weak material, so it’s not too surprising that they would know how to write a generic pop song. But on this album, generic pop songs are in the minority. In most cases, The Bouncing Souls were able to add little touches that add some personality to the songs and all the songs they brought forth on this album are played with great energy and tightness.
“Gasoline,” the opener is pure punk. Uptempo and power chords. This is then followed up with “Never Say Die,” which is impossibly fast—until it inexplicably morphs into the stoner anthem “When You’re Young” halfway through. “I Think That the World…” follows up in more of a classic pop vein. Then, maybe the most significant changeup of the disc appears in the form of “Ghosts on the Boardwalk.” Lyrically, this is a departure for the band. Normally a very plainspoken band, The Bouncing Souls get all poetic with this, “And the ghosts on the boardwalk will keep you company / Where the city meets the sea.” Where the city meets the sea? Well said! A nice touch of sophistication making an appearance. And at this point, the album almost completely shifts gears into uptempo pop, much like Sugar Ray or Smashmouth in their heydays.
The rest of the album consists of mostly pleasant, non-threatening fare. Highlights have to include “Badass,” which features the band doing a shout-out to items they consider badass. Beer makes the list twice, which might explain some things about the band. I have never been to see The Bouncing Souls live, but I can imagine this one being a HUGE crowd favorite, and they sounded like they had a lot of fun writing this one. And then “Big Eyes” throws us another curve in that guitarist Pete Steinkopf incorporates acoustic guitars into the band’s sound and Attonito affects a Ray Davies-like quality to his voice. And finally, “Like the Sun” closes the disc with a fabulously joyous slice of pop perfection.
Ghosts on the Boardwalk is ultimately a statement of confidence by a group who have been around seemingly forever that they need not be labeled as “just a punk band.” They have the confidence and writing ability to, more often than not, transcend that label and provide some damn fine music.
--David Toothman
Comments
Lehigh Valley, PA
I'm extremely confused by your review. I can't figure out if you bash it at times or if you actually dig it. I feel a 3/5 is sort of low for this album. The Souls, in my opinion, have stayed true to everything they stand for. People want to talk about progression...this is progression. I would never compare them to Sugar Ray or Smashmouth either, "early days" or not.
Minnesota
And the reason that there may not seem to be a "theme" for the album is that this is a compilation of their 1 track each month thingermadoober they did last year. They released one new song each month for download and now those 12 songs are what makes up this album.
Brooklyn, NY
in 1997 i bought their self-titled cd after hearing them on one of the Punk-O-Rama compilations. since then i have picked up every full-length, split, live album, dvd, and concert ticket on the earliest day possible either through pre-order on the release date.
with this record, and specifically the tracks as they released them last year, i had no desire to do so. something about it just doesn't excite me. i'll still go see them live, and listen to the older stuff, and flaunt my souls tattoo, but i just can't get through this record.
In a season that was so improbable, the impossible has happened!
Lehigh Valley, PA
I'm just like you. Heard them on a Punk O Rama and have been a devoted fan since. And I flaunt both of my Souls tattoos. I dig the shit out of this record though. I could do without "Gasoline" other than that I think the album is awesome.
Maine
Add me to that list with you fellas. I got the self-titled album eight years ago and have been a huge fan ever since. I've voraciously sought out all of their material up to this album. I haven't gotten it yet, but I'll be sure to check it out. Oh, and I flaunt my Souls tattoo as well :-)
Everyone on the dancefloor is doomed!