2008 Woodie Awards
Simple Plan: back for round three
Alex Nagorski
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: Life!
When pop punk band Simple Plan emerged on the scene in 2002 with their breakout hit, I'm Just A Kid, they launched a new emo pop revolution. Along with bands such as Good Charlotte and New Found Glory, Simple Plan was riding the wave of heavy TRL and radio rotation with a fresh sound that fans of both pop and rock could enjoy.
Fast forward to 2008. It has been four years since they have dropped a new record. On Feb. 12, the French Canadian-based quintet released their third full-length album, the self-titled Simple Plan.
Although staying true to the style that generated seven million dollars in record sales worldwide and produced more than a handful of Top 40 singles, Simple Plan knew that they had to come back strong in a new market. Today's music scene is very different from the one they first encountered.
In those early days, the airwaves were dominated by the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC. Against the backdrop, Simple Plan sounded absolutely original. Today, however, these same radio stations play the music of other pop punk bands, such as Fall Out Boy and Boys Like Girls back to back.
To help them stand out in this very different crowd, the band recruited new producers such as Max Martin (Avril Lavigne) and Timbaland protégé, Nate "Danja" Hills, who most recently received recognition as the man behind Britney Spears' comeback single, Gimme More, along with many tracks off of her newest album, Blackout.
Some fans who read about Simple Plan's switch to different producers to create a more contemporary sound were worried that their favorite band would become a corporate sellout. After the lead single When I'm Gone surfaced online, however, fans were able to breathe easy.
By adding a synthesized backbeat, the song takes the band's signature sound and intensifies it. Meanwhile, lead singer Pierre Bouvier still sounds just as whiny and is ready to tackle a new Jonas Brothers generation of angst-filled teens, while keeping the older fans happy.
Fast forward to 2008. It has been four years since they have dropped a new record. On Feb. 12, the French Canadian-based quintet released their third full-length album, the self-titled Simple Plan.
Although staying true to the style that generated seven million dollars in record sales worldwide and produced more than a handful of Top 40 singles, Simple Plan knew that they had to come back strong in a new market. Today's music scene is very different from the one they first encountered.
In those early days, the airwaves were dominated by the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC. Against the backdrop, Simple Plan sounded absolutely original. Today, however, these same radio stations play the music of other pop punk bands, such as Fall Out Boy and Boys Like Girls back to back.
To help them stand out in this very different crowd, the band recruited new producers such as Max Martin (Avril Lavigne) and Timbaland protégé, Nate "Danja" Hills, who most recently received recognition as the man behind Britney Spears' comeback single, Gimme More, along with many tracks off of her newest album, Blackout.
Some fans who read about Simple Plan's switch to different producers to create a more contemporary sound were worried that their favorite band would become a corporate sellout. After the lead single When I'm Gone surfaced online, however, fans were able to breathe easy.
By adding a synthesized backbeat, the song takes the band's signature sound and intensifies it. Meanwhile, lead singer Pierre Bouvier still sounds just as whiny and is ready to tackle a new Jonas Brothers generation of angst-filled teens, while keeping the older fans happy.