05 July 2011
Simple Plan broke the mould of the typical pop band three years ago when they released their third record. The usual life span of a boy band in their genre usually follows the trajectory of: 1. Release struggling debut album which takes a year to catch on but blows up Platinum-style when it does. 2. Offer successful sophomore complete with charting singles, Platinum status and a now solid fanbase. 3. Proceed to unveil a flop of a follow-up as the band endeavour to keep said fanbase whilst progressing in sound to gather more recruits.
For this Canadian five-piece though, despite being described by critics as their worst, their eponymous third album did relatively well in the charts, even peaking at #6 in Australia. This year, the band have seemingly gotten too comfortable; their latest record is the punny return to form Get Your Heart On, which, although it maintains all the elements that garnered them worldwide success in the early noughties, does one thing wrong... it maintains all the elements that garnered them worldwide success in the early noughties.
Playing it safe is usually commended by long-time fans, but when a band with Simple Plan’s longevity targets such a niche market, the question msut be posed; are their listeners are still interested? Are lyrics about being an outcast, crushing on someone and err, feeling like an astronaut (re: Astronaut) really as believable now as they would have been when they weren’t over thirty years old? Or did their fans ditch Simple Plan years ago, along with their youthful indiscretions?
Conversely, with catchy as hell hooks, simple pop-punk riffs and well preserved themes, it would be vacuous to expect anything else.
Just one track in and you’re itching for your Chuck Taylors and Poster Power collection; You Suck At Love offers up vintage Simple Plan nostalgia and keeps you there for Can’t Keep My Hands Off You. Weezer frontman, Rivers Cuomo adds the first taste of change on the record with a short cameo filled with his trademark self deprecation - interestingly, the lyrics were written by lead singer Pierre Bouvier and drummer, Chuck Comeau.
The collaborations continue with first single and comeback track, Jet Lag featuring Natasha Bedingfield. It’s the same old pop wrapped in a punk bandana but it’s too damn singable not to bop along to. However, the fact it’s placed so early on the record only adds to the disappointment further along; latter tracks just don’t pack the same punch. Another notable co-write is on the energetic Freaking Me Outwhere All Time Low singer Alex Gaskarth chips in a few lines.
There are a few surprises on the record, Last One offers up a dose of hard rock, while K’naan collaboration Summer Paradise sees Simple Plan flick the switch and dabble in folk territory. Amazingly, 1 pop-punk band + 1 rap artist + 1 vocalist channelling his inner folk artist = success!
Get Your Heart On may be too stuck in yesteryear for some of the band's matured zealots but for all its repetitive wailing, high-energy riffs and lyrics stocked with enough corn to slake the Backstreet Boys, Simple Plan are only a reflection of today’s popular music culture. Whether you want to partake in this repeat of history, however, is up to you.
Get Your Heart On is out now through Warner Music Australia.
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