Good Views, Badnews

Broadway Calls' 2007 record was catchy and fun and hinted at even better things to come -- an especially exciting thing in a pop-punk world in which most bands seemed more concerned with flat irons than, well, the music. Full-length number two does the whole thing all over again, and with the help of in-demand punk producers Jason Livermore and Bill Stevenson at the boards, Broadway Calls have got themselves one of the best pop-punk records of 2009. There is not a dud to be found on Good Views, Bad News; it's a refreshing package of unaffected youthful exuberance and punk urgency that shows Green Day's influence and will make fans still spinning early New Found Glory and Yellowcard very, very happy. Nothing has been compromised in the slightly slicker package, and the guys sing loud and strong throughout, as their hardcore backgrounds would direct. Anthemic tracks ("Tonight's Alive," "The Wake Up Call," and the stomping "The Sundowners") are tough and compelling, and they stack up nicely against the more melodic musings ("Give Up the Ghost") and stately nostalgia ("At the End") elsewhere. You can tell the band's heart and sweat went into each and every word, all of which touch on the "tiny towns" and "basement sounds" that are a core part of their existence. This sincerity mixes with the polished hooks so well that when Ty Vaughn proclaims, "What could be better than this?," it's hard not to agree. ~ Corey Apar