Bouncing Souls - Hopeless Romantic (1999)

Hopeless Romantic – 2:12
87 – 3:27
Kid – 2:50
Fight to Live – 2:58
Bullying the Jukebox – 3:48
You're So Rad – 1:19
Night on Earth – 4:54
Monday Morning Ant Brigade – 2:24
¡Olé! – 3:04
Undeniable – 2:37
Wish Me Well (You Can Go to Hell) – 2:56
It's Not the Heat, It's the Humanity – 2:14
The Whole Thing – 5:13

Those of you who miss the irreverently hard-rocking sound of the Misfits would do well to hear this album. Mixing loud, power-chord-laden hard rock, punk (circa '77/'78) and outrageously catchy power-pop-tinged melodic hooks, the Bouncing Souls deliver tales of heartache with a defiant smirk. Drums pound, the guitars are terse and the vocals are as youthfully snotty as early Ramones, Replacements or Dead Boys. The sing-along choruses are infectious as sports cheers and the lyrics are sarcastic in a juvenile manner (and that's meant as a compliment--check out "Bullying the Jukebox"). HOPELESS ROMANTIC doesn't break any new ground, but it does remind one how much FUN rock & roll can be.
CMJ (5/3/99, p.27) - "...The intoxicatingly catchy HOPELESS ROMANTIC is the most accessible offering of the quartet's 12-year career. The band leans a little more on its pop sensibilities, offering up plenty of delicious melodies..."
Melody Maker (4/24/99, p.38) - 4 out of 5 stars - "...big phat production and songs worthy of Jonathan Richman or Paul Westerberg at their prime. Sorta classic and really quite a find..."