In the category ‘why the fuck are we even reviewing this stuff’ comes Too Late To Die Young by a bunch of guys who call themselves Wonderfools. It’s one of those typical releases that sounds so generic it’s almost silent. And what’s worse: it’s mid-tempo rock in the most disgusting radio tradition.

 

So you want to play it safe (literally), that’s fine. Play those poprock songs – and call it punk – with a big fat smile on your face. Sure man. Be sure to include those solos that sound like there’s a catalog of big clichés that you emptied. Go ahead. Include some background vocals, repeating the chorus lines. And, speaking of vocals, sing in the most campy Blink 182 – hence the ‘punk’ label? – tradition. But hey: at least write one song that is even slightly memorable.

 

Wonderfools has done the seemingly impossible: make music that is so generic that it might just annoy majoy label executives so much they’ll never make it to the radio. It’s like listening to air. There’s nothing to hear.