The Wonder Years

The Hum Goes On Forever

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Genre: Pop Punk.
Released: 23/09/2022
Via Hopeless Records

Album Review: The Wonder Years – The Hum Goes On Forever

It’s safe to say that The Wonder Years have come a long way since their inception and the hype surrounding their new album ‘The Hum Goes On Forever’ has hit an all-time high, so I’d be foolish if I didn’t take a peek at what all the noise was about. Here are my thoughts on the new record! 

The opening track ‘Doors I Painted Shut’ gets the album going with an emotionally driven track that is more focused on vocal delivery than anything else. It’s certainly no explosive beginning however it sets the tone for the album brilliantly and flows nicely into the more conventional ‘Wyatt’s Song (Your Name)’. Really capturing a more early 2000’s emo aesthetic, this track stands out from the pack. Emotions running high over a very satisfying instrumental is a recipe for an alternative anthem and this very well could be one. 

As the album progresses, you are treated to a plethora of pop-punk bangers! Everyone loves a bouncy style track and this album is jam-packed with them. Songs like ‘Oldest Daughter’, ‘The Paris Of Nowhere’ and the chaotic ‘Low Tide’ deliver your daily dose of Pop Punk danceability and will no doubt be great additions to the band’s future live shows. These tracks show the progression the band has made over the years while staying true to their roots. 

If you’re looking for those songs that will pull on your heartstrings, this album has plenty of that as well. ‘Cardinals II’ is the first example of such a song and it comes in early so prepare your feelings for the storm. Unsurprisingly ‘Songs About Death’ is far from uplifting but shows the band’s capability of getting darker to give off a new feel that works so well with their already existing sound. Similarly ‘Laura & The Beehive’ really cut deep. An extremely emotional track that is composed of a simplistic yet effective key instrumental that allows the vocals to echo around your head space for a little while. 

‘Old Friends Like Lost Teeth’ kicks off the beginning of the end in a memorable way. The track leans heavily on the iconic pop-punk formula of snappy chord progressions and over-the-top drumming and it does it so well! Saving one of the best tracks for the penultimate song isn’t something you come across a lot but The Wonder Years clearly don’t care about convention. Closing out the album is ‘You’re The Reason I Don’t Want The World To End’ and it’s another emotional one! The acoustic style matched with the subtle harmonies humming over the main vocal track gives the opening of the song a heavenly feel about it. The song picks up the noise as it goes on and allows the lyrics to hit with a bit more oomph. It’s a great end to a really strong album! 

The Wonder Years know what their fans want and have once again honed in on their sound while also showing off their progression. The album as a whole is a really strong entry into their discography and should be received exceptionally well by both old and new fans alike.