
CORPORATE LINE: After millions got to know The Young and the Hopeless, Good Charlotte is back with a remarkably self-assured and provocative new collection, dubbed The Chronicles of Life and Death. The album – “the Most Anticipated CD of 2004,” according to Alternative Press – sees the band growing by remarkable leaps and bounds, offering an increasingly multifaceted musical palette that evinces Joel and Benji Madden’s mounting songwriting muscle. As ever, the Maddens open their heads and hearts to confront personal demons and private darkness with striking candor. Songs such as “Predictable” and “The World Is Black” are fuelled by Joel’s resolute drive to form a frank and thoughtful lyrical dialogue with his audience, keeping the faith with a loyal fan following that expects no less. With The Chronicles of Life and Death, Good Charlotte exhibit escalating artistic ambition without sacrificing the idiosyncratic spirit, style, and sincerity that made them one of today’s most important bands.
THE GREAT:
Nothing.
THE AVERAGE:
“Walk Away (Maybe)” – Sure, there is some emotion but no real punch. If you listen to their predecessors like Green Day you can hear their emotion—their wear it on their sleeves. Not to mention Green Day punch you in the stomach with the hook, the pain, and the brilliance. This doesn’t come close. “S.O.S.” is similar. Where is the range? Where are the lyrics that we can relate too? It’s mostly nonsense thrown in to rhyme.
“The Truth” – Lack of lyrics that mean something hurts but it still sounds nice—not great.
THE BAD:
“I Just Wanna Live” – Did anyone tell Good Charlotte it might be a good idea to work on the lyrics. And the fact that they rip off Nelly is agonizing. This is one of the worst songs of the year. “I rock a lawsuit when I’m going to court…/birthday suit when I’m home alone.” Is that considered song writing? Hardly.
“We Believe” – Sounds like the Backstreet Boys trying to be U2—yes it is that bad.
FRANKLY: The opening choral bit didn’t make any sense and doesn’t fit the record in any way, shape, or form. Maybe if the boys in Good Charlotte spent more time working on their lyrics and less time screwing around with different sounds in the studio this would have been halfway decent. “The Chronicles of Life and Death” might be truer than we know because Good Charlotte you might have seen the end.
+ Rae Gun
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