WHY I LIKE THE SIMPLE PLAN: A NOISE BOARD EXCLUSIVE

So, I like a lot of old '80s faux British punk music. I would say that I mostly like the quality of the songwriting, arrangements, the good singers, and the continuation of Clash aesthetics in this music. When indie rock first started to go faux punk (which I really think began with the Replacements, then started to become more of a movement around '92 or so with the first batch of U.S. faux punkers: Rancid, Offspring, Blink 182), it seemed TO ME like a bold aesthetic move. And I've followed it since then to the extent that it's seemed interesting to me--I'm thinking of bands like the Good Charlotte (whose first LP was on Warner Brothers and is kind of Stiff Little Fingers-y), Yellowcard (I don't know--I have the first two singles), Saves the Day, Taking Back Sunday...

Two years ago, I thought that Sum 41 single was really good. I just put it on recently, though, and thought, "What's the point?" I realize that they have a "funnier" aesthetic, but there's nothing musically present in Sum 41 that sets them apart from, say, Simple Plan. And Simple Plan write better songs, play better, have a better sound, and have a singer that you can actually hear/understand. The thing is, I think, that some of youse think that the new crop of successful and popular faux punkers are dumbing something down. So, what, Simple Plan are dumbing down the Blink-182? Good Charlotte are dumbing down Rancid? The new Vandals are dumbing down the old Vandals? Now, maybe youse guys aren't really into the Simple Plan, Yellowcard, and Dashboard Confessional, but I'd guess that you don't feel so vehemently opposed to them as you do to Good Charlotte and Ashlee Simpson.

My point is that THERE WAS NOTHING TO DUMB DOWN IN THAT MUSIC IN THE FIRST PLACE. There is no CONTENT in the music of those bands that is missing in bands like Simple Plan or Ashlee Simpson. In fact, a band like Simple Plan seem to be GOOFING on the lack of content in this genre with their ridiculous lyrics and the guy's ridiculous singing (which is what I was getting at with that Six Flags Magic Mountain theme song thread).

Also: it's only "fucking OC music" because these bands have better production value.

PEACE-OUT!

DG.