On its sophomore disc, Canadian combo Simple Plan once again delivers a hard-charging mix of pop and punk in the vein of Blink 182 and Good Charlotte. Several tracks on STILL NOT GETTING ANY?, however, find the band expanding its sound to incorporate a more pronounced mainstream rock influence. "Me Against the World" is driven by an energetic rhythm section and burly guitars reminiscent of KISS and Cheap Trick. "Crazy" and "Everytime" are full-on anthemic tracks that lean towards the sounds of Hoobastank. Though the lyrics of many songs still concern themselves with the classic theme of teen angst, the snotty vocal stylings are toned down considerably, giving the disc a more mature and serious edge. At once even catchier and more substantial than Simple Plan's debut, STILL NOT GETTING ANY? shows the band growing in step with its audience.
What the critics say…
Rolling Stone (p.110) - 3 stars out of 5 - "Producer Bob Rock gives the band sinewy sonic muscles on songs such as 'Perfect World' and 'Promise,' and there's hardly a track in the bunch that doesn't sound like a hit."
Entertainment Weekly (p.68) - "Simple Plan haven't lost their sense of humor…" - Grade: B+
Alternative Press (p.141) - "[Their] second disc all but perfects the one before it….Their disinterest in change, at least in regard to their sophomore disc, is actually what makes their album such a triumph." - 4 out of 5
