Sum 41 - Does This Look Infected?

Artist – Sum 41
Album – Does This Look Infected?
Released – November 26 2002
Genre –Punk Rock/Punk Pop
Reviewed By – Nigga J

Sum 41’s third album is pretty similar to the first two. This sounds like a bunch of teens that are only in for the good times. It is basically your typical unoriginal pop punk album like a million others filled with three chorders and is aimed at spiked haired fifteen year old skateboard kids.

Its quiet a relief that they left the self pity as lyrically the album is about how the world should change etc. The album is pretty energetic with quiet a few catchy riffs but there’s nothing very original here as this is one of those albums you should strictly listen to only when you’re bored.

The album starts off with Hell Song. It’s an insanely catchy song with a very cool riff and tune. It’s really energetic and I almost was jumping to it. A average punk solo has been added here, but still, you can’t escape the feeling that this has been done somewhere by someone before. It’s followed by Better off Dead (Over My Head). The case is similar here as it’s a nice song, equally catchy and energetic and one you should listen to when you’re bored but you are bombarded by the same feeling.

Then comes My Direction. Quiet frankly, this song is pretty annoying and though it is energetic, it isn’t as catchy as the first two. One can tolerate the vocals on the first two songs, but on this one, they are very irritating. The tune is pretty bland and the song is full of unoriginality unlike the first two where it was very slight. Hopefully, the song is only two minutes long but I found myself skipping this on my second run.

Following My Direction comes the star of the album. This song stopped me from pressing Shift + Delete after My Direction. Still Waiting is THE most catchiest and energetic song on the album and it has a memorable tune. At one part of the song, the vocals are something like that of the previous song but for some reason I didn’t find them annoying here. This song shines!

Other good songs on the album include No Brains which has a nice intro and Thanks for Nothing, which is kind of a rebel anthem and is nearly as catchy as Still Waiting.

The rest of the album is filled with average and unmemorable songs which are good to hear when your tired of complex music and for a change, the band, though highly unoriginal, feels good. There are catchy tunes here and some really cool energy there, the album has its moments but nothing special.

Rating – 1.5/5

Tracklisting -

1. The Hell Song – 3:18
2. Over My Head (Better Off Dead) – 2:29
3. My Direction – 2:02
4. Still Waiting - 2:38
5. A.N.I.C. – 0:37
6. No Brains – 2:46
7. All Messed Up – 2:44
8. Mr. Amsterdam – 2:56
9. Thanks For Nothing – 3:04
10. Hyper-Insomnia-Para-Condrioid – 2:32
11. Billy Spleen – 2:32
12. Hooch – 3:28
13. Reign In Pain (Heavy Metal Jamboree) – 2:55
14. WWVII Parts 1 & 2 – 5:10