The Bottom Line
Boys Like Girls swing for the fences here and very nearly hit a grand slam. "Love Drunk" is quite possibly the punk pop hit of 2009. Boys Like Girls lean more strongly to the pop end than most of their punkish colleagues. They wear their debt to Jimmy Eat World on their sleeves. All of that said there are elements of "Love Drunk" that are positively glorious. "The Great Escape" was just a taste of what these guys can do.
Pros
- Exhilarating opening
- Gorgeous key change near the end
- The rousing, closing chorus
Cons
- A little too cute in "I used to be love drunk, but now I'm hung over"
Description
- Written by Martin Johnson, Sam Hollander and Dave Katz
- Produced by Brian Howes
- Released June 2009 by Sony
Guide Review - Boys Like Girls - "Love Drunk"
"Love Drunk," the title single from Boys Like Girls' upcoming second album, roars out of the blocks with a huge chiming guitar and drum attack before launching into the instantly catchy tune that wastes no time in getting to the chorus. The line, "I used to be love drunk, but now I'm hung over" is too clever to sound sincere, but it is surrounded by such towering musical moments, we can forgive it to have the overall record. The rest of the lyrics detailing a summer romance gone sour are solid. "Love Drunk" fits into a long line of great September pop songs.
The last minute of "Love Drunk" delivers on all of the soaring, hook-heavy power pop tricks in the book. A brief breakdown leads to the chorus in a new key followed by the closing singalong section. Pop fans across a wide spectrum will be joining in by the end of the song.
Just when it seemed like punk pop bands were fading and running out of ideas, Boys Like Girls roar back threading the needle of instant familiarity without boring their audience. The new album is due in stores September 8, 2009, and, if "Love Drunk" indicates what is to come, Boys Like Girls will be burning up pop radio airwaves for the rest of the year.
