"Simple Plan" CD by Simple Plan

by Marcel Anders (14.04.2008) The teeny Punks of the late 90s have become grown men, the permanent life on tour has (at least optically) left its obvious marks. Still, on their third album, they sound as if they had has just gone through their breaking of the voice and just survived the first shaving. Like a bunch of youngsters relying on the assistance of such legendary producers, like Max Martin, Dave Fortman (Evanescence) and Danjahands (Timbaland, Justin Timberlake), frankly going for airplay and charts. Because the juvenile Punk-Pop of the early days is only one ingredient between many others and among the eleven songs is used only twice – yet in a very powerful and dynamic way (in "When I´m gone" and "Take my hand"). Dominating instead are excursions into synthetic R&B, yearning ballads, boyband-Pop and HipHop-Pop-crossovers à la Everlast. Everything clean, opulent and euphoric set to scene, with kitschy lyrics about relations and a blinding optimism that almost hurts. The Backstreet Boys with electric guitars.