Disco de Sum 41: “Half Hour of Power [Japan Bonus Tracks]”

This is one of my favorite debut albums but it didn't really move Sum 41 up higher but there 2nd release did so we don't need to worry. This and there 4th release are more punk/metal then there 2nd and 3rd albums but every cd from them is worth the money. This is a very good cd. What I like about this cd is the amount of guitar and drum solos in each song. There are lot's of them and some are almost or a whole song. The drumming for track 7 is cool. This contains some of my favorite Sum 41 songs like Makes No Difference and What We're All About. The vocals aren't as great as there newer releases but it's still good. I recommend any fans of punk/rock/metal to pick up this cd. You'll never put it down.

TRACK RATINGS:

1.Intro-(1:07)-10/10

2.MAchine Gun-(2:29)-10/10

3.What I Believe-(2:49)-9/10

4.T.H.T-(:43)-8/10

5.Makes No Difference-(3:10)-10/10

6.Summer-(2:40)-9/10

7.32 Ways To Die-(1:29)-10/10

8.Second Chance For Max Hedroom-(3:51)-10/10

9.Dave's Possessed Hair/It's What We're All About-(3:47)-10/10

10.Ride the Chariot-(:54)-10/10

11.Another Time Around-(3:22)-10/10

What Sum 41's first album brings to the table is a small collection of pop-punk masterpieces. Three of the songs are instrumental filler (even though they're good), and one of them's sort of a joke (T.H.T.), but this is just flat out fun and it was served as an appetizer for All Killer No Filler, which brought out the best in them.

The album begins with an Iron Maiden-esque instrumental, which quickly slides into Machine Gun, one of the better songs on this short album. After What I Believe, another good song, it gets to Makes No Difference, the hit single from this album. After an incredible drum solo from Steve on 32 Ways To Die, in gets to Second Chance For Max Headroom. This is without a doubt the best song on the album, simply because it adds a hint of ska. The rest of the album is a few more pop-punk songs, and another instrumental, and the brief disc comes to a close.

What's funny about this is that they actually extended Another Time Around from its usual time 3:22 to 6:52, giving us three and a half minutes of silence just so it can get the duration up to half an hour. Also, I'm glad Dave changed his name from Hot Chocolate to Brown Sound. Cuz the name Hot Chocolate - well, it just sucks. Anyways, I'm recommending this to middle schoolers, simply because you'll grow out of it by high school. Or not...

I just bought the new Sum 41 Cd " All Killer No Filler ", which is a great CD but in my opinion " Half Hour of Power " is so much better. Every single song on this CD is great. Starting from an awesome instrumental which reminds me of Ozzy's Iron Man " Grab The Devil..." to a great catchy song " Makes No Difference " to " Another Time Around ." If you already have the new CD..buy this CD...you won't be disapointed. If you looking for some catchy lyrics and awesome guitar riffs....I recomend this CD very much!

I'm going to start off this review by saying: I hate Sum-41. I don't like them. "All Killer, No Filler" was boring pop-punk, and the contagious scene phase has also hit the now black haired Sum-41 kids with "Chuck".

Anyways, this cd is great. After hearing the clips I decided to check it out, and damn, it is the best of their 4 cds. Sounds like good Nofx at some points. In some of the songs his voice even reminds me of Milo Aukerman (Descendents). If you're into new Sum-41 I'm sure you will like this. Although it might sound a little gritty to you, it's definatly worth the money. Even if you hate Sum-41 still check this cd out, you might enjoy it. I did.

Look at all these reviewers, analyzing and comparing Sum 41. First of all its punk, maybe pop-punk, but punk nontheless, do you think the Ramones were trying to write music in need of analysis, do you think Black Flag was trying to were trying to make music you need to break down to get the gist of? NO. Punk, pop punk especially, is simple music, and in the case of Sum 41's "Half Hour of Power", it is simple, catchy, with some incredible hooks. It opens sounding like an old Brittish Iron Maidenish metal song, and the good times roll on from there. Songs like "Makes No Difference", "Summer", and "What I Believe" are radio material, but will never get the play because of the huge musical barrier that MTV has set up. Another great thing about the album is its seperation of humour from the songs. All funny songs are seperated, in there own place, and there are only like two satyrical songs to begin with, the opener, and "Its What We're all About", a Beastie Boys/ Kottonmouth Kings immatation that is just marvelous. Sum 41 is poppy, but they dont need to put on a big immature act like other bands, bands that rhyme with Dink Fun-Maity-Chew, those guys ..., don't even make that comparison.