Is it possible for a quintessential teenage pop-punk band to fully grow up without losing the charm and appeal of its younger self? That's precisely the magic trick The Young Hasselhoffs have pulled off on their fourth album Life Got In The Way — releasing today on compact disc on Melted/Rum Bar Records.
Nearly a quarter-century has passed since Omaha, Nebraska's The Young Hasselhoffs released their classic debut full-length Win A Date With. They were barely out of high school when that album was written and recorded. Now they're in their 40s. And rather than carrying on like they're still teens, they've made an album that reflects the more serious considerations of adult life. In doing so, they've shattered all notions that pop-punk as a genre is inherently juvenile. Life Got In The Way still sounds like a Young Hasselhoffs album — yet you can hear the progression in craftsmanship and lyrical content that you'd expect from an older, wiser version of the band.
The CD release of Life Got In The Way is a full circle moment for The Young Hasselhoffs. Nearly 25 years ago, Young Phil sent Malibu Lou a hand-written letter along with a cassette tape of the band's recently recorded songs. Before long, Lou had booked the band's first tour, and the songs on that tape became the signature Melted Records release Win A Date With. The band members eventually parted ways in the early 2000s but briefly reunited in 2011 to record their absolutely splendid third album, The Obsolete Man. Threatened legal action over the band's name (yeah, these guys were Hasseled by the Hoff!) halted the album's release for a decade. For a long time it seemed The Young Hasselhoffs would never be heard from again. Luckily, Young Phil was able to convince Matt Stansbury and Jason Baywatch to give it another go. I say "luckily" because those of us who love pop-punk are fortunate to have this band back in our lives. Nearly two years in the making, Life Got In The Way finds The Young Hasselhoffs coming home in spectacular fashion.
Even in their earliest days, The Young Hasselhoffs had more refined pop sensibilities than most of their peers in the pop-punk scene. They were one of the earliest bands to connect the dots between the modern pop-punk sound and the tight harmonies and timeless melodies of doo-wop and early rock and roll. So it's no surprise that Life Got In The Way finds the band leaning into its mastery of melodies and harmonies. Stansbury, now based in Colorado, is no doubt one of the finest songwriters in the pop-punk world. With the songs he has written for this new album, he has inched this band closer to a pure pop sound while still retaining just enough of that punk edge.
Perhaps this is the advantage of writing albums once every ten years, but you can hear the huge forward leap the band took between Get Dumped and The Obsolete Man and again between The Obsolete Man and Life Got In The Way. These new songs won't necessarily clobber you in the head upon first contact, but they'll slowly and surely pull you in with their masterfully-crafted melodies and sophisticated vocal arrangements. Stansbury shows the confidence to experiment with his craft, trying everything from the fully stripped-down "Sweet Matilda" to the almost jazzy "When I'm Gone" to the epic "Pull Me Out of the Scene" (which is practically a pop-punk symphony). But it's the big hooky pop songs that remain his bread and butter. The chorus to "Babydoll" will likely be stuck in my head until the end of time. "Wish You Well" is the kind of song I've been waiting for Green Day to write the past 15 years. "Eugene McCray: Ex-Guitar Hero" is so rousing and anthemic that it practically soars out of your speakers. "Barbara Part 2" is a sequel to a song off of the last album and, true to form, better than the original. The real show-stealer is "Quiet," which features a surprise appearance from Barbara Stansbury on lead vocals. In my book, it's the best tune that Matt Stansbury has ever written. And Barbara's vocal suits the song so perfectly. I've hit the repeat button on this stunner countless times over the past few weeks.
I had the fortune of seeing The Young Hasselhoffs on their 1998 tour. They were still kids; I was a twentysomething whippersnapper. They quickly won over the crowd with their youthful enthusiasm and genuine love for pop music. What a joy it is to be able to sit here in 2022 and write about those friendly kids from Nebraska — now approaching middle age and cementing their position at the head of pop-punk's master class. I'm sure there will be some odd dissenters who will wish this band were still writing songs about pretty girls and teenage romance. But for most fans of The Young Hasselhoffs, Life Got In The Way will be a delightful reminder that your favorite bands can grow up with you and still remain great. Don't get me wrong: I still consider Win a Date With one of the best and most definitive '90s pop-punk albums. But it was merely a precursor to what this band would later achieve. Touching on such topics as marital love, deferred dreams, and compromised ideals, Life Got In The Way is an album this band might have not been ready to make 20 or even 10 years ago. Mom's Basement Records will be releasing a vinyl edition very soon. Pre-orders are now open via the label's online store!
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