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First of all, I am a very big fan of Sum 41 (they are the only band I would say I am a fan of) and I think this part of expressing that. Please don't judge me before you have read the entire post. Thanks.

Let's start with the music itself: The diversity in arrangement and composition is amazing in this album but "Underclass Hero" and "March Of The Dogs" to me are really the kind of songs that I love Sum 41 for. This Album surely is the most personal one ever which is fine but it seems overdone to me, it is not that much fun to listen through the whole album because it's so emotional. It's hard to describe the real problem, but I was expecting something completely different after listening to the first singles and previews. The raw rockband music is almost gone, only a few songs with only guitars, drums, bass and vocals. Most have more piano, strings, percussion or other instruments than ever. I thought "Chuck" already had too much of that for what I think Sum 41 is.
In "March Of the Dogs" and "Walking Disaster" the piano and soundeffects fit perfectly (I would even say "Walking Disaster" is one of if not the best song they ever made) but in other songs it feels awkward and the "wrong" notes (I know they supposed to be that way) in some songs, esp. Speak Of The Devil, really bother me when listening to the songs. They ruin those great songs. Too much experimental stuff, too few catchy rock songs.

Why didn't they make the record more like AKNF and DTLI and their liveshow on tour? More rock, more fun, more Sum 41!

Another thing is the bonus DVD edition .. what the hell happened there?

Except the two live songs, you can watch everything on the net and the video quality isn't much better either. Underclass Hero Video, Pieces Video, We're All To Blame Live, Nothing On My Back Live, R2R 1,2,3,10 ... that's it. I was so disappointed. I was expecting at least some in-studio or other funny footage that I haven't seen before.

Does anyone else have the same feelings?

No, i think its there best.

i think they would be so much better if they just went back to all killer no filler, with just one song like "with me" on it, like blink 182, like 2 serious songs, the rest just fun. it really does seem like they overdid this one, i know where your coming from.

Don't get me wrong, from an artistic point of view this album is great. Deryck did a fantastic job writing these songs. And by saying it's a let-down I don't mean that I dislike it, It's just that I was expecting something less pop-style, which I would have found a lot more entertaining. I guess I will like it better the more I listen like it was when I first listened to the March Of The Dogs single.

Only the pathetic bonus DVD won't get any better that way.

i must admitt i hat pop (KIIL IT!) but they did not make it pop they made it pop/punk/rock and maby alternative but i realy enjoyed it but i must admit its my fav album yet

i know what you mean.
imo theres too many slow songs, but this doesnt mean i dislike them.

ohkay i think the reason sum 41 is such a great band (theyre my favorite) is because they change their musical style with each album. And they mature with each album and get better. They never actually said the albums would sound more like aknf. They said they would take the BEST aspects from all of their albums and combine it. See these soungs wouldnt belong on any of their other albums theyre sort of like a hybrid. Sum 41 isnt a pop band(that would be that gay stuff you see on mtv- THOSE FASCISTS). Neither are they a hardcore punk band. Theyre sumwhere in the middle. And they are REALLY good at what they do with a lot of bands following in their shadow. This album is not a let down. I lean toward chuck and DTLI in my favorites lists. Theres somthing im trying to say here but i dont kno if ur all getting it maybe itll come to me later

yeah i love listening to this album from beginning to end, its like a rollercoaster and it just is so cool, like tells a story almost. and about the dvd, there will be a "The makin' of underclass hero" dvd coming out that will have all the in studio stuff you can handle

When I first listened to the album I also though...'damn, this is too much pop'.
However, after listening to it 2 or 3 times I started to get into the songs.
I must admit that a few songs are exagerated...too much pop and slow songs. But when I listen to Speak Of The Devil, So Long Goodbye, Look At Me, Pull The Curtain...then I think 'damn...that's why I love this band'.
I think that musically the album is great...everytime I listen to a song I find something new, and the backvocals, and those piano notes and stuff...I love them and I think it's so fucking great (although I would like the album to have some real solos too).
About the wrong notes...they're just different, and I don't dislike them.
I must say that I love this album, even though some songs are to too emotional and stuff.
The album has some pop songs, slow songs, and some (what I call) pro songs (like look at me and so long goodbye). I think it's great.

I'm not sure there are "too many" slow songs, so much as they are placed so awkwardly in the CD.

I find myself having to skip tracks just to keep the momentum up.

All of the faster songs I love.... most of the slower ones are not really a let down... but they aren't Pieces or Heart Attack. With Chuck, you didn't really notice Some Say or Slipping Away.... but you definitely notice every song on this CD... and the line up is kind of awkward to listen to.

Get pumped and have fun singing along...and drop it down into some slow song and you gotta skip the track.

I'm sorry to say that the album isn't up to the level that they have set for themselves.

the transition between songs is very awkward and they don't go in any direction with the album, it feels like a bunch of second-rate b-sides that have been in the works for a long time and were rushed to be completed.

But when listening to the album, i get a sense of completion and resolution. idk why i do, its just there... But there is also a sense of lacking that disturbs me alot

no matter what they still make up for it live, and i'm sure they'll play most of the good stuff off the album.

i agree with you but i still think this album is great

Simon wrote:but in other songs it feels awkward and the "wrong" notes

For fuck sake, I studied music and the "wrong" note is a musical concept called accidental as in a note that is not part of the key, it is used for another concept called suspension which is hard to a explain but it is meant to stand out and then fix it's self for a useful harmony effect.

I short, it is not a "wrong" not, it is not a mistake, it is a harmony effect

That's why I wrote "wrong" and not wrong, I know it's supposed to change the mood by stepping out of harmony. I just think it ruins the whole song, that's my feeling and has nothing to do with right or wrong.

in my opinion those wrong note sections just make the song 1000x better because no one does that, its something different.

idk how i really look at the album...i love it.
but i think i just went into this album like it was their first. I think thats what i do with a lot of albums that just "came" out. Think about it...if this album came out by another band and it was their first, that would be fucking amazing. but just because it came out by a different band, it all of the sudden has high expectation. thats why i like just thinking they're a completely new band (although the rest of their stuff is really really good)

and the one thing i like about sum is every album is different, and none of them are a let down. look at a lot of the other bands you listen too. I know theres about 1 album some of my favorite bands have made that i really dont like (like green day's warning, goldfinger's disconnection notice, ect) but sum 41 is just great.

I'll take the "wrong" note over no "wrong" note, anyday (for this song).

To EVERYONE in this thread. Give this album as much time as you've given the others. Whatever you remember doing while listenening to the others eg. jogging, working out, working, partying, whatever, just do the same with this. The others took time, this will too.
And I guarantee you, this album will be as special as the others, or even greater, trust me!

It needs more time in your ears and in your mind, that's all!

As far as this album lacking something, the othes lacked too, but differently. I always thought the others were way to short. I would never skip tracks but would find myself at the end of the album and would have to start it over and remember myself wishing that they had another song or two in there just so that it wouldn't feel so short.

why go so deep in thot. One hearing and i thot this album was kik ass. More listening and theres was always more things i heard. Its like after 20 plays i still have more to hear from one song.

i think its 2nd best album, (AKNF FTW) only let downs are.........Speak of the Devil could have done with another corus, and erm, er......... help me out here guys.

they’ve made a great album, you haven’t realized it yet.