Fishin For Woos is the eleventh studio album from veteran pop punkers Bowling For Soup, and over the course of their nigh on two decade history, they have never failed to put out brilliantly entertaining records. This latest album is another one, showcasing their two sides to great effect; the fast paced pop punk hilarity that you would come to expect from them by now, as well as some more introspective mid to slow tempo numbers, showcasing their ability to right genuinely great songs, no matter the style.
Opener Let’s Pretend We’re Not In Love could not sound anymore like a Bowling For Soup track if they tried, and that is to their utmost credit, as their sound is so distinctive, that you are left in no doubts as to whom the tracks belong from the moment they kick in. In a saturated and over populated pop punk scene, they really do prove themselves to be the grand daddies of good time pop punk, and in that regard, they undoubtedly have no peer.
The fast paced numbers are classic BFS, and would fit effortlessly into any setlist over the coming months, with the likes of Girls In America, their ode to good time partying hard, S-S-S-Saturday (“I wish every night was Saturday night”) and the likes of This Ain’t My Day, I’ve Never Done Anything Like This, and the excellent Friends, Chicks, Guitars (“and no beer!) sounding impressive.
Where BFS have also started to carve a (underrated) niche for themselves is in slower ballad-like numbers, which still remain true to their style. There are highlights from across their back catalogue that are a little slower and more reflective, but which are just brilliant tracks, where you can simply not debate the quality of the songwriting. On this album, What About Us is an absolutely phenomenal song, and Turbulence comes across well too, showing that there is another side of Bowling For Soup than just pumped up rocking numbers and banter.
However, as great as those songs are, with What About Us being a true highlight, the albums other highlight is Here’s You Freakin’ Song, which is just a barrel of laughs and good time pop punk. In short, it is the complete antithesis of the slower numbers, and that is where BFS shine and prove their class. Its climax ends in a similar tone to one of the highlights from 2009’s Sorry For Partyin’ too, A Really Cool Dance, with a spoken word outro from inimitable front man Jaret Reddick, which is hilarious as you would expect.
You know exactly what you are going to get from a Bowling For Soup, and that is great musicianship, and brilliant songs, from one of the best in the scene. 11 studio albums in, and they show no sign of stopping the good times.
A cracking record, as per usual.
8/10
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