No Closer To Heaven by The Wonder Years

Over the last decade or so, pop-punk has been one of the most divided genres in mainstream music. With bands like Green Day, Blink-182 and Sum 41 dominating the airwaves in the past, many felt that their music was "childish" and that they were simply "sell-outs." At the same time, there were tons of music fans who worshiped the ground that these bands walked on thanks to their relatable lyrics, catchy pop hooks, and punk flavored instrumentation. 

For Philadelphia based pop-punk band The Wonder Years, that ever so popular formula is exactly what makes their music enjoyable. Since their formation in 2005, the group has released 4 albums, alongside a couple of compilations and EP's. On their newest project, No Closer To Heaven we see the band stay close to their roots, as they deliver an album that is both as pop and emo influenced as the rest of their discography. Emo and pop-punk certainly are not a rare combination in this day and age, as several bands have made a career out of the combo, such as Fall Out Boy, Jimmy Eat World, and Paramore. In some cases, bands lean a little too heavily on the pop side of their sound, which can lead to them really losing their punk credibly (for an example of this check out Fall Out Boy's latest train wreck, I mean album, American Beauty/Psycho.) The Wonder Years however, do an excellent job on this project of blending their fast paced punk influenced guitar riffs and drum beats with lyrics as depressing and self loathing as you'd expect to find on any other emo record. 

The energetic appearances by lead vocalist Dan Campbell is one of the best elements on the album as he does a great job of providing the melodic and catchy choruses that the band specializes in. He also does a great job of shifting his vocals according to the track, as he's able to deliver verses with a voice that matches sadness with vulnerability, and follow it up with explosive sing-a-long hooks. The album's two singles, and two of the best cuts Cardinals and Cigarettes & Saints put this on display as the tracks kick off with whisper like vocals until the pace gets picked up and the songs turns into chaotic punk-pop anthems. 

While the fusion of genres is what makes the album enjoyable, it's also what holds it back from being anything too spectacular. It's a formula we've seen thousands of times before, and even though it's executed quite well, it's still at times very predictable which leads me to believe the album won't have too much staying power. In that same breath, it doesn't appear that The Wonder Years set out to deliver an album that would be ground breaking or revolutionary, and instead an album that is enjoyable and accessible, which they did accomplish. It isn't an album that everyone will like, in fact, if you aren't a fan of other pop-punk groups, it probably isn't worth your time. However, if it's a genre you're into, and you're looking for a band that can get down with a little bit of melody and pop without completely losing their edge, you won't regret giving this album a spin.  

Rating: B

Favorite Tracks: Cardinals, I Don't Like Who I Was Then, Cigarette's & Saints

Least Favorite Tracks: Stained Glass Ceilings