Pretty straightforward pop-punk with a backbone, the Bouncing Souls take slack from no one with their debut The Good, the Bad and the Argyle. Emerging out of the toxic swamps of New Jersey, the Souls take us back to the days of being a mischievous teenager without a care in the world. With songs that deal with the neuroses of daily life and healing a broken heart, a lot of their energy is spent paying tribute to the '80s. With constant references to John Hughes films ("Joe Lies When He Cries" and "These Are the Quotes from Our Favorite '80s Movies") and even a cover of the Strangeloves's "I Want Candy" (which was also covered by
Bow Wow Wow) this album provides the perfect background music for any party atmosphere. ~ Mike DaRonco