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Album Review
by SashaS
5-12-2002
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| Sum 41 are infected with youth & urge |
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Sum 41: 'Does This Look Infected?'
(Island)
Sum 41 are step further from mortality
Why does it happen to some people and not to others – is a question that not even a deity could give a good reason, methinks. Sum 41 are a solid band but for all the success they’ve had, they’ve had as many dissers that include a number of fellow musicians and has even made two mutual detractors, Noel Gallagher of Oasis and Damon Albarn of Blur, agree on one thing and that is – this band sucks.
Everyone is allowed to have opinions but this time this twosome is wrong. ‘Does This Look Infected?’ is an album that skilfully picks up where the debut, ‘All Killer No Filler’, left off and moved on, as well. This Canuck quartet is young, play fast, loud and energetically, and that’s where the kids’ are at, if anyone over 25 is interested. ‘… Infected?’ is a disc supply reasons for catharsis, rage-purge, evil-taming.
The Sum 41’s sophomore release is furrowing further into the sound of the pop-punk with certain resolve. It is a heavier and meatier album but it strangely is not an HM album, it is more of a noisenik. They equal loving of The Stooges and Iron Maiden, Green Day and Slayer, finds its place here and it still is a refreshing mix. ‘Still Waiting’, ‘Mr Amsterdam’ and ‘Billy Spleen’ are for the longhaireds with easy referencing of Maiden, Slayer, Twisted Sister; ‘All Messed Up’, ‘over My Head’, ‘A.N.I.C’ can satisfy all ‘spike-heads’ who dig NOFX or Bad Religion even.
There are all these different echoes but the band is slowly gaining its own voice that lifts its head occasionally above the influences, pastiches and homages. Alongside the grand majority of albums, it will not change your life – although you can never say never as 007 recalled some years ago – and yet it is a disc of growth that touches on the issues that matter to youngsters with songs that are seriously funny and violently happy.
Enjoy the ride – what else do you want from life?
7/10
SashaS
5-12-2002
Sum 41 album ‘Does This Look Infected?’ is released 25 November 2002 on Island/Def Jam/Universal
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