On “Meet You There,” the singer addresses a deceased friend, longing for a heavenly reunion. He expects to rebound from a failed relationship, assuring his ex, “I’m gonna be fine”(“When I’m With You”). “Perfect” shares the frustration of a son trying in vain to gain the approval of his father (“It hurts when you disapprove all along … I just want to make you proud”). However …
It abandons hope that their relationship will ever improve. That fatalistic attitude characterizes much of the disc. “I’m Just a Kid” wails about boredom, loneliness, alienation and injustice. Rather than looking for something better, the band just whines about being in a dead-end summer job on “The Worst Day Ever” (“Yesterday was the worst day ever/And tomorrow won’t be better”). The pity party continues on the theologically confused “God Must Hate Me.” A man twice refers to himself as a “d–k” for failing in romance (“Addicted”). Allusions to sex appear on “I Won’t Be There,” “I’d Do Anything” and the greedy “My Christmas List”(“I want a DVD, a big-screen TV … a girl in my bed who knows what to do”). Liner photos show the guys cavorting with women in various stages of undress. “Grow Up” is a pledge to remain impolite and immature forever.
This disc drips with slacker angst as five punkers in their mid-20s act like spoiled middle-schoolers on the waiting list for Neverland. The plan is simple: Steer young fans toward CCM’s Dogwood or Ace Troubleshooter.
