Simple Plan

No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls

Lava Records

With the proliferation of pop-punk outfits these days, in order to stand out, you’ve either got to be really good or really different. Simple Plan’s single “I’d Do Anything” on the Atticus compilation definitely piqued my interest in the band, with its traditional energetic pop-punk sound and even a guest performance from Blink 182 bassist Mark Hoppus.

So, out of curiosity and a passion for pop-punk, I got my hands on a copy of Simple Plan’s humorously yet immaturely titled major label debut No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls (looks like the band learned a trick or two from Hoppus himself). While I could tell from the single that these five Canadians weren’t going to be anything different, I had the feeling that they were going to prove themselves as talented pop-punk songwriters. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

Although the single is solid, the rest of the album is pretty flat and not a whole lot of fun (like pop-punk should be). Songs like “The Worst Day Ever” and “You Don’t Mean Anything” approach the line of being catchy, but don’t quite cross it. The culmination of pure silliness on the record is “My Alien,” which sings “She has two arms to hold me / and four legs to wrap around me / She’s not your typical girlfriend / My alien.” I mean, let’s get real here boys. Lyrics like that just won’t cut it. The music is decent, but nothing to rave about. If Simple Plan get a chance to follow-up this major label debut, perhaps they should dig a little deeper and write music for a reason other than being trendy.

Leah Weinberg

Related Links:
Simple Plan Interview
Simple Plan Photos
Official Website