Good Charlotte: “Cardiology” Review
So I've decided to try my hand at a full review again, rather than my “In my car stereo” posts. I think this one is a little better written than my last. Feedback appreciated.
Although not a very recent release, Good Charlotte's fifth album is one I have only recently come to enjoy. I have been a fan of the band for a while now, especially their commercial success ‘The Young and The Hopeless’ and the dance-influenced ‘Good Morning Revival’ albums. Although I listened to this album when it was released, I just couldn't get into it. However, after seeing the band perform live at V Festival this year, specifically after performing this album's single ‘Like It's Her Birthday’, I tried giving it another go and I was much more impressed this time round.
The opening intro track, Introduction to Cardiology, gives us a taste of the title track that appears at the end of the album. More on that later. The first full track, Let The Music Play, jumps straight in with a familiar, but still enjoyable, pop-punk riff complemented with Joel Madden's also familiar but distinctive vocals. Nothing exceptional about this track, but still a good, upbeat, start to the album.
The next track, Counting The Days, is a little more sombre, but has a catchy-as-hell chorus; “we got one, time, time to get this right, two timing, you know it's not my style, three's company, just you and me, we need to figure this one out, four little words are all you said, five minutes later we're in bed...”. It's quite obviously about a couple who are going through their problems, break up, still love each other, and get back together. It's cheesy, but who cares, it's a great pop punk-infused love song that people can relate to — what Good Charlotte do best.
Next, we have a song with some “ooooohs” and “aaaaahs” plus some punk “hey!” shouts. Catchy drumbeat-led verses lead into Madden declaring “...you're my Bette Davis, I'm your Cary Grant...” With more references to The Prohibition and The Great Depression, the 1930's theme of Silver Screen Romance is continued throughout. However, I'm not convinced Madden would fit in very well in this era with a “tattoo on the side of his neck”.
The first single of the album, the aforementioned Like It's Her Birthday, starts with the live crowd pleasing “eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh”, then Madden goes onto explain about his girl going out getting up to no good. There's speculation online that the song is about Benji Madden's ex, Paris Hilton, or Joel Madden's then girlfriend, now-wife, Nicole Ritchie, but who knows? Or cares? There does also seem to be an allusion to the crap which is the Black Eyed Peas' ‘I Gotta Feeling’ when Madden declares, “...it's gonna be a good night, a good good night”, but maybe it's just a coincedence. The solo after the second chorus is actually really good, almost Daft Punk's Aerodynamic-esque. All in all, a good catchy first single and a welcome return from the Madden brothers since their last single, released 2 years previously.
Last Night reminds me of the one-hit-wonder Orson came out with in 2006, ‘No Tomorrow’. Mainly because it has a similar awesome guitar riff and fast-paced drumming. Structurely and musically, I think this song, released as the third single, is also fairly similar to Good Charlotte's own song, “The River” from ‘Good Morning Revival’. Lyrically, the song describes waking up the morning after a heavy night out and not remembering much of a sexual encounter; as questioned by Madden “...Where's my car? Where's my keys? Where's my clothes?...”.
I personally think the weakest track on the album is Sex On The Radio, which was released as the second single. Many critics agree that the chorus is just too cheesy and the song should have been left off the album. The band describe the song being about “all the girls out there who make boys want to start bands and go on tour.”
The album's eighth track is another upbeat, feel-good song. In Alive, Madden proclaims “I've never felt so alive, like I feel right now in this moment, I've never felt so alive, like I feel right here standing next to you...” Again, nothing amazing here, but it's not bad either.
In the poignant Standing Ovation, Madden expresses his love for his children and watching them grow up. He tells them that he isn't always going to be with them — either literally when they have grown up and he is no longer around, or figuratively when he is on tour and away from home — so they should spend every moment they have together.
The same theme continues with Joel Madden's ode to his young daughter with Harlow's Song (Can't Dream Without You). The repeating piano segment sounds hauntingly similar to Rihanna's ‘Unfaithful’. I'm not sure if that's a good thing, though.
The album is broken up with an electronic-driven instrumental track, The Fifth Chamber, before moving onto my favourite track of the album, the current (and presumably, last) single, 1979. Led by an acoustic guitar — with some more of those familiar “oh-oh-ohs” — the song is a joyful dedication to eponymous year. As any Good Charlotte fan will know, the Madden brothers' relationship with their father is a frequent subject of their songs and this song is a narration of their parents personal story during the year of the twins' birth. With references to AC/DC's ‘Highway To Hell’ (which is always a good thing in my book), the Bee Gee's ‘Staying Alive’, The Clash, Blondie and The Ramones, amongst others, if you only listen to one song from this album, make it this one.
The melancholic There She Goes follows with a tale of a girl Madden left behind in Maryland before he became the famous figure he is today. Another typical, catchy Good Charlotte song.
The penultimate song, Right Where I Belong has great instrumentation but I feel the band are just repeating the same lyrical content they have throughout the album. Probably a track that could have been left out.
The final eponymous track Cardiology picks up where the introduction track left off. Throughout we have a heartbeat drumbeat as well the sound of a ventilator. I guess the whole theme of cardiology/the heart fits with all the songs, which are mostly all based around love. In conclusion, I really like this album. I don't think it is GC's best album, nor will it sell millions, but existing fans will like it, espcially those who preferred their older sound in comparison to their experimental dance-rock previous album.
