The Copyrights - Learn The Hard Way

Reviewed on Apr 29, 2008 by Roel

I love pop-punk. I have always loved it and always will love it as long as there are bands like the Copyrights, Teenage Bottlerocket and Chixdiggit around to entertain me with their take on what four guys from the USA thought was supposed to be rock ‘n roll back in 1976.

To those not familiar with the Copyrights, they’re a pop-punk outfit influenced by bands like Screeching Weasel and other similar precursors. A style the band calls Buzz Pop.

The copyrights have succeeded in accomplishing something that most bands don’t pull off: creating an album that sounds less mature as its predecessor without coming across as weak or a meager extract of former days. Their previous album “Make Sound” sounded more structured, more mature and more thought through. The new album “Learn The Hard Way” is slightly faster, a little shorter and a tad more energetic. Other than that, nothing has really changed: catchy choruses, buzz saw guitars, simplistic structures: it’s all here. Personally I enjoy the new disc for it’s raw enthusiasm and pace a little more than “Make Sound”. Both albums are quality though; something rather commendable due to the fact that there’s less than a year time in between albums. There are hardly any weak tracks to be found on “Learn The Hard Way” and even if you stumble on a song you don’t like too much, it’ll be over in no time. My favorite songs include “57 North”, “Switchblades”, “Shit’s fucked” and “Pulse check”.

The Copyrights latest effort “Learn The Hard Way” is the perfect example of why I simply love pop-punk. The band is at the top of the genre with this release. Those seeking originality within the scene had better skip this one, because that is not the game the Copyrights choose to play. If you like the more traditional approach of pop-punk you can’t go wrong with this release though. Consume!

Album Information

Best Song:57 North
Medium/Type:Full-Length
Released:February 26th, 2008
Record Label:Red Scare

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Tracklisting

  1. Second Hearse Same As The First
  2. 57 North
  3. Charlie Birger Time
  4. Two Left Feet
  5. Headaches
  6. All Your People
  7. Switchblades
  8. She Turns It Up
  9. Solid Connex
  10. Out Of Ideas
  11. Sleepwalker
  12. Shit's Fucked
  13. Pulse Check
  14. On The Way Out

The Copyrights

Album Reviews

Album Review: Learn The Hard WayLearn The Hard Way
Feb 26, 2008