Well, I'm back! I had so much fun putting together my first list that I just can't stay away. I thought it would be fun to rank artists' LP discography from worst to best, and who better to start with than probably my favorite band, the Wonder Years? With 7 full length albums under their belt, it's safe to say they are a mainstay and a powerhouse in modern pop punk. They've built a reputation on real, vulnerable lyrical themes with frantic, precise, and driving instrumental melodies, and it was really fun to dive into their discography one album at a time.
For clarification, I am doing original studio albums only, no rereleases, remasters, etc. I also have lots more of these I'm working on, so stay tuned!
7. Get Stoked On It! (2007)
Everyone has to start somewhere! 2007’s ‘Get Stoked on It’ is a frenetic, chaotic, easycore inspired pop punk album. While it isn’t terrible, it’s so scatterbrained and juvenile at times that it’s hard to really recommend it. It’s also very ‘of its time’, with chuggy guitars, breakdowns, and a razor sharp synth on top of it all. Dan Campbell’s voice sounds solid enough, though the lyrical themes are all over the place. We got songs about Ninjas, pirates, killing Cap’n Crunch(?), and more thrown in there too. It’s a fun listen to see where it all started, but I’m not gonna recommend it past that. Heck, even the group themselves have mostly disavowed the release, for what that’s worth. Also, the album art is an absolute abomination, so there's that.
Standout tracks: Keystone State Dude-Core, We Were Giants, When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong
6. the upsides (2010)
A pretty stark, nearly night and day difference from their debut to their follow up effort, ‘the Upsides.’ Released in 2010, this record finds everyone in the band really stretching their musical wings and putting together the best release possible at the time. Tons of lyrical growth, some extremely memorable melodies, and plenty of that good ol’ pop punk angst. Dan Campbell's relatability lyrically and thematically really started to shine here, and would only grow in subsequent releases. ‘The Upsides’ kicked off a great growth period for the Wonder Years, and although it looks like it’s low on this list, I recommend this release to almost anyone. Lots of good stuff.
Standout tracks: My Last Semester, Logan Circle, Dynamite Shovel, Melrose Diner, Washington Square Park
5. sister cities (2018)
After releasing three critically acclaimed, celebrated releases in a row, ‘Sister Cities’ sees the Wonder Years shift in style just slightly, and unfortunately it doesn’t always pay off. Not to say that there aren’t good tracks here, because there are still good things to glean. It just seems like their switch to a more alt rock style over time kind of came to a head on ‘Sister Cities,’ for better and for worse. It’s still worth a listen, and is probably unfairly compared to what they had been making to this point. Every other record on this list past this point is a bonafide classic, and ‘Sister Cities’ just doesn’t reach that pinnacle.
Standout tracks: It Must Get Lonely, Sister Cities, Heaven’s Gate (Sad & Sober), The Orange Grove
4. Suburbia, I've Given You All And Now I'm Nothing(2011)
‘Suburbia’ was when the Wonder Years went from another pop punk band to powerhouses in the scene. It's Vulnerable, heavy, emotional, and frantic. It takes the foundation laid with the Upsides and just ups the ante. Themes of self worth, mental health, suburban living, and the tolls life on the road take on the human body and mind fill this album, and each song flows to the next with artistry not often found in Emo/Pop Punk music. At the time of its release, it was the most mature record they had made, and showed that they really had staying power in the genre.
Standout tracks: Came Out Swinging, Woke Up Older, Local Man Ruins Everything, My Life as a Pigeon, Coffee Eyes, Don’t Let Me Cave In, Hoodie Weather, And Now I’m Nothing
3. No Closer to Heaven (2015)
In my opinion, ‘NCTH’ is a greatly underrated record. Following up ‘Suburbia’ and even more importantly ‘The Greatest Generation’ was never going to be easy, and I think this record is judged unfairly in that light. They really found an alt rock fringe while keeping their aggressive, punky emo roots. It’s also a deeply mournful and melancholy record at times, which really gives the record a feeling of rawness. Production isn’t my favorite, but there’s a ton of elements being mixed so it is no easy task.
Standout tracks: Cardinals, A Song for Patsy Cline, I Don’t Like Who I Was Then, Cigarettes & Saints, A Song for Ernest Hemingway, Stained Glass Ceilings, Palm Reader
2. the hum goes on forever (2022)
After the mixed reception that Sister Cities got, The Wonder Years would return to the drawing board for four years before releasing their follow up, 2022’s ‘The Hum Goes On Forever.’ Big driving guitar melodies, scream along worthy choruses, and Dan Campbell at his most vulnerable lyrically help make this record their best in years at time of release. This is a masterpiece in the Pop Punk/emo world, and sees the Wonder Years proving they aren’t ready to roll over and wither just yet.
Standout tracks: Doors I Painted Shut, Wyatt’s Song (Your Name), Oldest Daughter, Cardinals II, Lost in the Lights, Low Tide, Old Friends Like Lost Teeth
1. The Greatest Generation (2013)
The Gold standard. Not just for them, but for the genre. This is not your normal pop punk record full of love ballads, home town angst, and cliche vocals. ‘TGG’ is a victory lap for Punk music, with poetic lyrics, a barrage of well laid and mixed melodies, and a hint of nostalgia that is almost hard to put your finger on. It really paints the picture of a band that is at a crossroads between trying to blaze their own path and fighting the invisible forces that stand in their way. Themes of being good enough, mental illness, and questioning the meaning behind it all paint the most distinct and visceral picture of the band yet. And the closing track, my goodness. Perhaps easily the most impactful and well put together closing track a pop punk record has ever seen. They captured magic with this release, and is required listening for emo/pop punk heads of the world.
Standout tracks: LISTEN TO THE WHOLE RECORD
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