Band: Nerf Herder
Album: IV
Genre: Pop Punk
Label: Oglio

Tracks:
1. Oh Me, Oh My
2. Golfshirt (Part 2)
3. High School Reunion
4. WTC #7
5. Dianalee
6. Crocodile
7. (Stand By Your) Manatee
8. Garage Sale
9. Led Zeppelin Rules
10. Dance
11. I’m Not A Loser
12. The Backpack Song

The site of 80 degree temperatures, grills cooking up hamburgers, and of course, baseball can only mean one thing: summer is here. Now, I don’t know about you, but nothing ays summer like pop punk music, Whether it be throwing back to old Blink 182 albums, or spinning All Time Low’s latest, summer has always been about fast, catchy songs with simple chord progressions an few bands relevant today have been doing it as long as Nerf Herder. Since 1990, this band [whose name comes from a Star Wars film] has been covering the world playing their own band of simple, catchy, and definitely a bit nerdy, pop punk and with the release of IV earlier this year, they show no signs of changing anything.

Whenever you approach a pop punk album, you have to keep in mind one thing: this music is rarely, if ever meant to do more than make you move and sing along. This is music about love and life, but not in the “whoa is me,” or, “hard lessons learned,” sense. This is the sound of youth and Nerf Herder caters to it quite well. “Oh Me, Oh My,” the opening track, is a synth laced jam that’s simply fun. The overall feel is much like NoFX, including vocally, but there’s a sense of honesty and geekness here that you don’t find with Fat Mike. It’s nearly impossible to not bop along to the accented off beats and that’s really what this style of music is all about.

Those of us who’ve actually graduated form high school will find a lot of fun in, “High School Reunion,” which is a song that’s about exactly what the title says. The verses are spent asking questions about what all your classmates have been doing since you’ve last seen them and I don’t think anyone can say they haven’t contemplated the questions expressed here. In fact, I found myself making predictions about who in my class would fit the questions stated by Nerf Herder. The walk down memory lane continued with, “Dianalee,” which is another “whatever happened to…” song, but it’s too catchy too mind the repetition of ideas. Musically, it’s one of the best tracks Herder presents on the whole album as no one instruments leads, but rather the whole band seems to come together all while keeping it light and fun.

“Manatee,” is a simple, simple song, but the music makes it an undeniable one. The song is all about, well, being a manatee. Now some would find this very childish and uncreative, and to some degree it is, but at the same time, how many people thought to write a song from the perspective of the sea cow? That’s what I Thought. The silliness continues with, “Led Zeppelin Rules,” which is another track that follows the theme given in the title. IT pokes fun of pop culture in true pop punk fashion and makes enough references that anyone will be unable to help, but too grin along. In fact, the album even closes with a ridiculous song. “The Backpack Song,” is a tale of getting revenge on those who pick on you, but as the song continues we realize it’s about quarreling in the band. It’s another story that you get pulled into solely because of a catchy hook and the great music, but I guess that’s what Nerf Herder does best.

Now, the album isn’t without fault. Many songs, “WTC #7,” “Crocodile,” “Garage Sale,” and, “I’m Not A Loser,” all fall flat. The music isn’t too impressive and the tongue in cheek story telling doesn’t work as well as it does on other tracks. However, regardless of the off tracks, Nerf Herder’s IV is a breath of fresh air in the music scene. There has been a serious lack of real pop punk, especially thus far in 08 and it’s great to see a band that is staying true to their roots. If you need a refresher on what pop punk use to be before hair straighteners and eyeliner, pick this up….now.

*Written By: James Shotwell*
GRADE: 7/10

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James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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