No Pads, No Helmets Just Balls

(Atlantic)

There comes a time in a girl's life when she must discard her loyalty to boy bands and pick up something a little more bad-ass. While this may seem a heart-wrenching thing to do, the transition can be made easier when a common thread links the crossover to a new genre of music.

With Simple Plan, a Sublime-like punk group, the link is complete. The boy-band transition is eased through the group's prototypical boy-band constituent of five attractive, 20-something, male band members.

Simple Plan's musical themes are also comparable to those of more familiar pop artists, although the group relays its message with a punk edge instead of pretty lyrics and soothing melodies.

In the song "When I'm With You," the lyrics suggest issues of unrequited love between the singer and his unobtainable lust object. However, instead of requesting the desired to be his girlfriend, as is the issue with a recent 'NSync song, this singer recounts his obsession with the girl in question and recalls her obvious lack of interest.

While the majority of the group's songs are depressing accounts of being in love, being alone and/or screwing up in general, the fast pace and upbeat music negate the deceptively dismal words. The band even utilizes a somewhat religious tone in "God Must Hate Me," a song about being in earthly hell - something college students may relate to.

Simple Plan portrays teen drama at its best and most fun - it makes your seemingly bad day turn into a fun-filled 40 minutes and 10 seconds of bouncing around and attempting to belt out lyrics.