Music Review: Sum 41 - "Screaming Bloody Murder" (2011)

The lead singer of Sum 41 was married to Avril Lavigne, if I remember my pup culture spy news correctly. And they divorced. So, I was hoping this 2011 album called "Screaming Bloody Murder' might be an emotion packed departure from their early work that I was not a fan of. The length of the album is around 48 minutes or so, but with 14 tracks it really felt like it went on forever; not a good forever. It is better than Avril Lavigne's newest album, but I still think she is the better artist.

"Reason To Believe": Crisp, clean, heavy rock beginning that then gives away to classic sounding Sum 41, and then it breaks down into an almost Linkin Park emotional moment with the piano, void of Chester's growl though. Decent opening to the album, I think it pays homage to Sum 41's sound and injects a little extra umph.

"Screaming Bloody Murder": A nice opening that I worried was going to get lost in Sum 41's punk sounding roots as the music sped up, but it remains in the realm of a solid pop-rock song with some edge. The guitars go to work on backing this title, but I was expecting for the singer to bring more chaos vocally to drive the point home.

"Skumf**k": It tried to be a dark, moody rock listen, the enjoyable type, but it lost me as it progressed and changed pace.

"Time For You To Go": A rock song in the vein of something you might get from a band like Jet, only not as interesting. Going through the basic motions of racing rock.

"Jessica Kill": The lyric "my last words of this begin I want you" is cool, but the song is generic and then turns into him speaking babble no one cares about over the rock guitars that teased as if they might go full-on Slayer, but sadly petered out.

"What Am I To Say": Basic rock ballad, love it or leave it, probably the latter with a slim chance of the former, but no hate necessary.

"Holy Image Of Lies": They set the table with pain and then power rock out the angst with shy of scream vocals. The transitions in the song from music piece to piece are not very smooth and then you go into the marching drums and Sum 41 has their Greenday moment.

"Sick Of Everyone": Sounds just like what it sounds like and like everything else on the album, more or less, more.

"Happiness Machine": This song switches the sound up in a less of a mess fashion that some of the other tracks, with guitar riffs, racing drums, and tone changing vocals. Best song on the album thus far, with lyrics that convey emotion, though the song itself doesn't actually make me feel anything, just a decent listen is all.

"Crash": A slow piano based ballad that is executed well, but the singer's voice doesn't stand out in any unique way to really bang this baby home. In fact, as he really gets into the lyrics he kind of drives me out of them. Sum 41 fans will probably dig it quite a bit though.

"Blood In My Eyes": Break out your air guitar and break your neck to the beginning of this song! Then the song goes into arm swinging, slower dramatic, that drop into pop rock chorus, and basic lyrics rhyming way, and day, and then yee-ha back into the cool guitar stuff, oh but only for a brief moment. This song needs to stick it to me with the awesome rock sounds and lay off the rest.

"Baby, You Don't Wanna": La-dee-da-dee-da jerky, jangle, boring. I guess a Sum 41 fan might tap a toe or two, but I have not been won over. Vocals sound like another echo of Greenday.

"Back Where I Belong": Who? What? There's a new song playing? I would believe you if you told me the disc skipped and I was just hearing one of the early songs again. Total zone out time, good thing there is only one song left.

"Exit Song": A simple, sweet note to end the album on, but short and pointless really other than to say goodbye and make one feel like they went on an emotional journey that really wasn't there.