Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer is a great book and I recommend it to all those that are looking for a good adventure. The story is fictional, but the basis is found in a true story. The book tells us about a man, named George Mallory, attempting to climb Mount Everest. The story is placed in the mid 20’s, almost 30 years earlier than the first real climb to the summit of the tallest mountain on earth.

Our hero has problems in his early life because of the lack of money, but he struggles and eventually, Mallory manages to get a scholarship to Cambridge. The story jumps ahead a bit and we see George Mallory as a history teacher and from there on we can read about the climb. The story itself is not very focused on the climbing part, but even so, I found it as a great book because of the true life story it involves, apart from the climbing, as mentioned earlier.

The main part of the story is the struggle of the normal people in the times before the war. This is interesting, but I hoped for a more intriguing story and I was expecting a lot more details about Mallory’s climb. In this aspect, I was disappointed, but you might actually love the way Archer describes the way our hero manages to reach the desire of climbing the mountain and that, I think, was just another metaphor about the climb each of us needs to perform in our lives.

Archer has a very nice writing style and the story is pretty good on the areas it focuses on, so if you like stories about some person’s life, this is probably the book you should purchase in the near future. As far as the actual title of the book goes, I think it basically says enough about the book. I love hearing how people get rich and successful and if you love being motivated in your life, Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer is a great book.

Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer has the merit of not being too long and that makes it easy to read during the lunch break at the office or at night before going to bed. I read it in 4 days and I feel good about reading it because I didn’t feel like I wasted my time. I give it an 4 out of 5.

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Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment is one of the nice novels, written by Steve Harvey. The book seems to be really interesting for all the classes of readers; irrespective of their gender, nationality, religion and the like. Even though this book is dedicated to all women, it definitely seems to be interesting even to all men, as well.

As the title itself suggests the fact that the book is basically written with the writer’s intension, to make the readers aware of the plus points of both men and women as a whole. That is, the women’s strength in relation to the action and the men’s strength with respect to the aspect of thinking. In other words, the author expresses enthusiastically his generalized views about both genders.

Apart from that, he has tried his level best to create a perceivably perfect combination of men and women; from the perspective of women. It is clearly understood through the title and the introductory page itself, which states as, ‘Steve lets women inside the mindset of men’. The author has proved himself to be a good observer, comparer and more than everything else, a nice narrator. Because he takes the reader, deep into the each and every minute aspects of prime concern, which can be noticed to be continuously revolving around the core matter, throughout this book.

In this book, as he describes himself at the outset, he has well described about what men really think about intimacy, relationships, love and commitment. He has also shed light on concepts and questions such as ‘Five questions that every women should ask a man to determine how serious he is’, ‘When to introduce the kids’ and more. The book is rightly seemed to be sometimes direct and sometimes funny, but always truthful. After reading it, everyone probably feel that all women must and should read this novel without fail, if at all they want to identify with how men think, when it comes to the matter of relationships.

The author’s hope is to empower all women with a wide-open look into the minds of men, as directly expressed by the writer itself. Initially, the author talks about the mind set of a man, as the title of the first phase is named. Under this, he talks in detail about the aspect, which drives men towards women. He also made a successful attempt in differentiating the love of men from that of women. Here, he even explains about the significance of the three things, that every man needs, such as cookie, loyalty and support.

In the second phase, the book explains how women can know about why men do anything, ‘what they do’. Also, reveals the aspect of men’s first expectation from women, whom they themselves approach since their first meeting itself. It even helps women in knowing how men distinguish between those women, who are chosen for their lifetime; and those women, who are just used and thrown away after the use.

In the final phase, it also suggests some of the useful tips for women to win over the minds of men. Thus, we can say that Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man acts as a mandatory guide for all women. And like an attractive mirror for all men.

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Comeback or no comeback, Circus (2008) is to date one of Britney Spears’ most significant albums. It is the first album to be released by a Britney that has more or less settled down from the chaotic mess that her life has been since the infamous incident with a particular shaver and her hair. In all honesty, however, it is a commendable effort of an album; in many of the tracks – even the virtually omnipresent Womanizer – Britney’s voice has regained its existence independent of vocoders or synths. That is not to say that the album is free from them – indeed, many of the tracks continue to feature her vocals layered multiple times over underlying synth or duplicated voices. Still, it is a relief to hear Britney singing again, with some toning down of the electronica-style crafting that went into the production of the songs on Blackout.

I will point out, however, that in all honesty, her vocals on some of the tracks sound strangely unlike her. In comparison with In The Zone, her vocals on this album sometimes sound far too clean to be true. This issue becomes especially obvious in the two ballads on the album, Out from Under and My Baby. They are not downright terrible (Out of Under is in fact not too bad), but her vocals do seem rather unusual at times. They seem to have lost a bit of the darker, sultrier yet somewhat vulnerable sexiness that permeates many of the songs on In The Zone – for instance, Everytime or Toxic. But that in no way makes Circus a bad album; it simply means that we’re probably seeing Britney take an entirely different musical direction, and the defining dance and retro-ish sounds of this album seem to point to that.

The best songs on this album are the more upbeat dance tracks such as Womanizer and Kill the Lights. Worth a special mention is Mannequin, which was the song heard in the dance rehearsal video that was leaked onto YouTube before the album’s release. The best thing about this song is the beat and the fact that Britney’s voice takes digital manipulation so well – something about her voice quality distinguishes itself whenever it is given centre-stage, and the drier, cleaner percussion background in Mannequin certainly makes her voice stand out. The bridge and the chorus are especially catchy (“I don’t care / I don’t care / I don’t care …”) and the fact that they are sung in Britney’s distinctly breathy head voice (think Toxic again) makes you want to listen to it even more.

Circus (the title track) is also worth a mention. The production is darker and more sombre than most of the other songs on the album, but retains an essentially dance sound that prevents the song from sounding out-of-place. It also contains a section that consists of nothing but the background synths, the beat, and Britney’s spoken taunts (e.g. “Let me see what you can do”) that one knows will be the part in concerts during which Britney shows off her moves. Parts like these, of course, also remind one of other songs from her pre-crisis albums, e.g. Boys from the self-titled album Britney. Essentially, the song Circus, and indeed the whole album, is like a sonic encapsulation of the darkest times that Britney has ever experienced as a public figure and of the efforts by Britney to reassert her position not just as pop princess (or queen of pop), but also as an individual amidst her conservatorship and frequently unreasonable attacks by the paparazzi.

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Jazz has been experiencing a revival lately. Numerous artists are responsible, but none so much as Michael Bublé. The name is likely to be known even among those who do not ordinarily listen to jazz. Bublé's pop-jazz renditions of the classic standards has reintroduced famous jazz pieces back into the mainstream, and some even bigger than they were back when they first came out.

Call Me Irresponsible (2007) sees a continuation of Michael Bublé's contemporary renditions of jazz classics. Generally, the album is an excellent demonstration of what makes Bublé so popular. The opening track, a cover of Frank Sinatra's famous “The Best Is Yet to Come”, is tastefully performed; Bublé's vocal dynamics, ranging from the soulful opening to the jubilant ending, are skilfully executed. It is evident from the title track - made famous by Frank Sinatra, as well - why Bublé is so popular today: Bublé's smooth, sultry vocals in “Call Me Irresponsible” with its playful lilts portray the bad-boy persona of the song with finesse, but the upbeat and well-structured instrumentation accompanying him ensures that a young audience which grew up on the likes of Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears are not lost on complex rhythmic changes or lengthy improvised solos. Bublé's light-hearted rendition of “I've Got the World On a String” has got just the right swing feel, and is bound to make anyone happy.

The album, however, is not just about upbeat music. Many of the tracks prove that Michael Bublé is a master at sentimental music too. The more pensive and soulful tracks such as “Me and Mrs Jones” and “Always On My Mind” display an expressive and emotional side to Bublé that is seldom heard in his earlier albums. “Me and Mrs Jones” is movingly rendered; Bublé's vocals brim with emotions, and show that he has grasped very well the inner turmoil of the song's persona who is involved in a relationship with a married woman.

“Call Me Irresponsible”, unlike many of Michael Bublé's previous albums, does not contain solely of covers. There are two original songs in the album, “Everything” and “Lost”, both of which Bublé himself had a part in writing. “Everything”, in my opinion, is the better of the two because its feel-good melody and admittedly sweet lyrics are far more memorable and captivating. That is, of course, not to say that “Lost” is bad; in fact, it is well-composed, and has a set of powerfully heartfelt and emotional lyrics.

Towards, the album lapses into quieter and slower music which may or may not be able to hold the attention of an audience accustomed to a fast-paced, hectic life, but that does not mean that the tracks are not worth a listen, of course. The bonus track, a cover of the classic “Love”, is a great song to end the album with not only because it is a familiar tune, but also because Bublé's haplessly-in-love rendition of the song is captivating to listen to and creates a happy ending to the album's musical ups and downs. Overall, Call Me Irresponsible (2007) is a testimony to the talent of Michael Bublé and to his pivotal role in bringing jazz back.

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Since they began in 2004 with their debut album "We all know is falling", Paramore has recently shot up to fame within the pop rock, Paramore never really got the ball rolling. However, with the 2007 release of their second album "Riot!", this respectful band has hit the right spot with their audiences, shooting themselves to some fame. Paramore's music has been noted for it's rare youthful enthusiasm, the main factor which contributed to their explosive music. It is so apt that their choice of title, "Riot!" itself actually means a sudden outburst of energy or emotion.

Let me admit personally that my first impression of the band was not exactly positive, after listening to their single "Misery Business", yet I felt that I would not be doing them justice unless I got the entire album to listen to myself. With an entwining mixture of slow paced (such as "When it rains", "We are broken", "Let the flames begin") and fast paced songs ("For a pessimist, I'm pretty Optimistic", "Born for this", "Misery Business"), I feel that on a general note, I'm impressed with the album as well as the band as a whole.

After my first run through the entire album, I was actually amazed when I found myself subconsciously repeating after their beats, which are simple, yet fits to the mood of their various songs to a T. Despite being what many would consider "simply yet another pop album", "Riot!" actually has some redeeming qualities which distinguishes them from the rest.

With incredible catchy choruses, as well as an interestingly unique set of lyrics, courtesy of their lead singer Hayley Williams and backup vocalist Josh Farro, the songs would dance at the tip of your tongues for some time after listening to most of the songs. Paramore tries to be unique in the way that it tries to mix and match some of the monotonous tunes by having a sort of "roller coaster" tempo in some of their songs, for example "Crushcrushcrush", and it has worked to some extent. Furthermore, Hayley William's versatile vocals is able to cope and adapt to the changes in tempo and mood of the sings accordingly, while still being able to capture the essence and tone of a teenage pop girl.

However, at the same time, their experimenting with this technique has caused some songs(in my personal choice, "Misery Business") to have some difficulties to flow. Yet, I feel that Paramore has already made up for it plus interest with the rest of their tracks. For pop enthusiasts out there looking for something new to sample, "Riot! (2007)" is a gem that gleams slightly brighter than the other albums out there. Injecting old ideas from fresh perspectives, their sounds would be stuck in your mind for ages. Another young prospect to look out for in the near future.

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21 years after the destruction of the Death Star II in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, the New Republic (free and democratic successor of the corrupt and authoritarian Empire) faces a new and fearsome threat - invasion of a species alien to the galaxy. Set in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, The New Jedi Order is a series of 27 books detailing this crisis and the events that unfold after the invasion.

After the collapse of the Empire with the death of Emperor Palpatine and the destruction of the Death Star II, the New Republic was born. This democratic and free society of planetary systems was headed by the heroes of the Rebel Alliance, like Leia Organa. Luke Skywalker then strived to rebuild the Jedi Order, basing a temple on the moon of planet Yavin. After years of hard work, the New Republic prospered and enjoyed peace, safeguarded by the growing ranks of new Jedi Knights. However, this peace was shattered with the discovery of a sudden invasion of this galaxy by an alien warrior race from another galaxy called the Yuuzhan Vong.

This was the first adversity that called upon the new order of Jedi Knights, however, during the first few waves of skirmishes the Jedi Knights were slaughtered. It soon dawned that the Yuuzhan Vong was devoid of the 'Force', an energy field that binds all living organisms in the galaxy, a source of the Jedi Knights' power. The Yuuzhan Vong were formidable foes - their entire society is made up of numerous warrior clans and they see death in battle as honour to their clans. Planet after planet fell to the onslaught, with populations wiped out. Heroes from the old Rebel Alliance like Han Solo, Chewbacca and Wedge Antilles took to arms again and seek to repel the attacks. New heroes were introduced, namely Anakin, Jacen and Jaina Solo (the children of Leia and Han); and Ganner Rhysode, a Jedi Knight.

During the course of the stories, several key characters were killed in battle. Chewbacca, a prolific character from the original six episodes and Han Solo's loyal companion, was killed in battle early in the stages of the invasion. Anakin Solo was also killed in combat; he single-handedly fought off thousands of Yuuzhan Vong warriors to aid the escape of his siblings and friends, and was later consumed by the Force. Ganner Rhysode also martyred himself in battle, holding back wave after wave of enemies to allow the captured Jacen Solo to flee.

This New Jedi Order series of novels was eagerly anticipated by Star Wars fans as it continued the Star Wars saga after the original sexology of movies. Fans gleefully waited to see how the newly-rebuilt Jedi Order would withstand against malicious threats like the Yuuzhan Vong. Each of the books features one, if not numerous, epic battle scenes. You can expect large scale battles for planetary control between the two warring factions - expect starfighter battles, Jedi melee combat and even ground assaults. The battle scenes are described to the usual fantastic Star Wars detail and never fail to leave Star Wars fans like myself craving for more. In particular, the scene which Anakin Solo martyred himself was outstanding.

Despite the abruptness of an out-of-the-blue invasion of an alien species, the plot was intriguing. The Yuuzhan Vong made use various methods of subversion, espionage and brute military might to cripple the New Republic. I respect the authors for taking the time to brainstorm, coming up with such intricate and meticulous details. War was not fought only on the military front with issues like internal conflict and unrest, and this gave a realistic feel of warfare in the series. Towards the end of the series, the novels left me with very uplifting spirits, seeing how the Jedi Knights and other heroes bonded and worked together to repel the threat of the Yuuzhan Vong.

It was a huge pity that key characters of the Star Wars franchise had to die, but still, this added to the 'dark' nature of The New Jedi Order series and this is the very fact that makes this series of novels a very compelling read.

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P.S. I Love You is a book that has drawn a variety of comments. This debut novel by Cecelia Ahern has won over many sentimental readers, drawing rave reviews; it has also drawn flak from critics who think that her work is amateurish.

The story revolves around a couple Holly and Gerry living in Ireland. They lead a happily married life and were madly in love with each other, treasuring each other's companionship. They always joked that Holly would not be able to cope if Gerry departed first, Holly being so dependent on Gerry. The solution was to come up with a 'List' of instructions to teach Holly what exactly to do in the event of that. However, neither of them expected to part so prematurely, when Gerry was diagnosed with brain cancer and shortly passed on.

In the months that followed Gerry's demise, Holly became self-absorbed, brooding at home. She became a depressed wreck, unable to cope with the massive loss of her beloved spouse. Despite her family's and friends' best attempts to console and cheer her up, she remained despondent. It is at this juncture that Holly's mother mentions to her about a parcel addressed to Holly with the word 'List' on it. Reluctantly, Holly agrees to take a look at the parcel and finds a letter from Gerry together with 10 sets of envelopes. It dawned onto her that Gerry, acutely aware of his impending demise, forced himself to pen a whole series of written instructions for her, to help her cope with his departure.

Each of the 10 envelopes is to be opened on the first day of every month, and each letter tasks Holly to do something to help her regain her confidence and step out of the shadow of the tragedy. The types of tasks range from amusing to quirky to touching - Gerry instructs Holly to go on a much-needed vacation with her buddies, to buy a new dress for herself and start dolling up and so on. Holly follows the instructions to the letter, as a form of tribute to her late husband. Where her eccentric family members and best friends failed, Gerry manages to gradually help Holly out of her plight even when death claimed him. Amidst worries that the letters might cause Holly to cling on to the past and exacerbate the situation, Holly actually starts to find her life moving forward and slowly accepts her new lease of life.

This is a romantic tale of loss, hurt and learning to cope with it; it is a very heartwarming story. On one side, we can see how deeply Gerry cared for and understand Holly that he could predict what would happen to her in the event of his death. He forced himself through the draining task of writing the whole set of letters just to make sure that Holly would be alright. Holly is a largely naïve and slightly immature woman, who has a strong bond and dependency on her husband. Reading her struggle to put behind the love they shared and then the love that she lost certainly does pain me at times. Cecelia Ahern does manage to communicate the grief felt by Holly and the reluctance to let go of something so dear.

Critics found Cecelia Ahern's style of writing amateurish, that she does not have sufficient experience to write about something as drastic and somber as death and rehabilitation of grief. I felt that this novel was conflicting as Cecelia Ahern seemed to be using light-hearted language and style which was not appropriate at times, especially during Gerry's death. However, this does not fault the creativity in coming up with such a remarkable plot and storyline. It is a very captivating read; Cecelia Ahern makes you want to continue reading to find out what happens next in Holly's rehabilitation process. At times, the story is absolutely heart-wrenching and embarrassed as I am to say this, but it is difficult to remain dry-eyed after this read.

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American Idol has already spawned so many Idols and created so many seasons. Yet the only Idol that we can fairly call a 'success' is the first American Idol Kelly Clarkson. Winners of the following seasons have faded into oblivion after one or two singles, including the likes of Ruben Studdard. It seems that the trend is showing us that Idol participants who do not go on to win are able to perform to greater success in their careers. Clay Aiken was one, and now Chris Daughtry is proving to be another post-Idol success story.

Being ousted from the semi-finals in the fifth season of American Idol did not stop Chris Daughtry from being hastily signed by RCA Records and 19 Entertainment. He eventually teamed up with his former band, humbly named 'Daughtry', to record a debut rock band album. This debut self-titled album 'Daughtry' recorded phenomenal success within weeks of release in November 2006. In the space of 5 weeks, the album sold 1 million copies and made it to #1 on the Billboard charts on its ninth week. This was the fastest selling album by an American Idol contestant since Kelly Clarkson's 'Thankful'.

Daughtry's distinctively gruff vocals are a perfect front for his band's pop-rock tunes. His throaty, mellow voice however has a surprisingly large vocal range. In songs like 'Over You' we can hear him belting out and maintaining high pitches without much problem. Daughtry's very first single, titled 'It's Not Over', is a remarkable rock track that is catchy yet not preppy. The tune is catchy and it does resemble a decent authentic rock song, unlike most of Simple Plan's songs despite their claims. Although reminiscent of Nickelback, many of Daughtry's songs are mainstream-oriented and are inclined more towards pop-rock than Nickelback's brand of emo-rock. Rock ballads such as 'It Feels Like Tonight' and 'Breakdown' show off Chris Daughtry's crooning side, starting soft and building up to a all-rock yelling climax, and he does a commendable job for a singer on his debut album, with his popular trademark growl.

Despite the pleasant-sounding tracks, you cannot help but observe that majority of Daughtry's tracks sound similar. There was one instance, after listening to the CD on repeat for an hour or so, that I subconsciously mistook 'Over You' for another track. I felt that Daughtry has built his own style of singing and created a distinctive sound for their music, but each song was not unique on its own. The album felt more or less like the songs were produced with reference to a model, before making subtle changes to each of them.

All in all, this record is still something I would recommend to rock fans. Be sure to listen to 'Over You' and 'Home', two of my favourite tracks. 'Chris Daughtry is a man. Daughtry - like Van Halen and Bon Jovi - is a band.' A band that has proven that it is capable of making some pretty damn good music.

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The British singer with the towering, distinctive beehive hairdo brought home the biggest haul from the recent prestigious Grammy Awards 2008. She matched the record previously set by world-class artistes like Alicia Keys and Norah Jones by winning five Grammy Awards - Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album. She is now the only British singer to record as many as five awards in one night.

Amy Jade Winehouse was born in 1983 in London and established her career in the R&B and soul music industry. Her debut album named 'Frank' was released in 2003 in Britain and earned her rave reviews from peers and critics. 'Frank' was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize, the annual prize for the best music album in the United Kingdom. Her sophomore album brought about even more stellar results - six Grammy nominations and five wins, a BRIT Award for Best British Female Artist and two Ivor Novello Awards.

'Back To Black' is a delightful mix of soul, jazz and modern 'pop-py' R&B with, more often than not, dark lyrical content. It is an artistic blend of the evergreen '60s retro and modern-day pop engineered to near perfection by Amy Winehouse and producer Mark Rhonson. Her album has drawn much comparison to Lily Allen and Macy Gray; however, Amy Winehouse's sounds appear darker and more mature, as opposed to Lily Allen's hip-hop and reggae-like style. Her smash single 'Rehab' is a cynical insight into her alcoholic and drug addiction and rehabilitation. 'Rehab', I feel, is actually representative of her transition from her debut to sophomore albums - from Frank's jazzy blues ballads to Back To Black's more commercial and preppy feel. Yet, Winehouse manages to retain that retro groove and vintage style.

She is endowed with a husky, mellow voice that manages to bring out fully that distinctive Amy-Winehouse-retro sound. Her powerful vocals create soulful ballads, transforming her own experiences into powerful heart-wrenching statements. Her album is also laden with playful and cheeky tracks like 'Me And Mr Jones' which is full of profanities. This obvious clash of old-school classy vintage retro and brash, modern pop is what appeals to me the most. She manages to incorporate both successfully, giving her modern songs that popular nostalgic theme.

Evidently, 'Back To Black' is intended for mature audiences. Profanities aside, tracks deal with very mature themes. In 'Just Friends', she croons about trying to break off from an illicit relationship and part of it goes '...the guilt will kill you, if she don't first...' The soulful fusion of Mariah Carey-crooning, Alicia Keys-R&B and Aretha Franklin-retro will guarantee great songs. This album will definitely yank at your heartstrings with the borderline-seductive 'Just Friends' or the somber 'Love Is A Losing Game' coupled with Winehouse's naturally-bleak vocals. This album was rated by her fellow artistes to be worthy of five Grammy Awards. This fact by itself already speaks volumes about the quality of her work.

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The name "Simple Plan" is almost synonymous with the punk rock genre of music. Formed almost a decade ago in 1999, Simple Plan has had major successes world wide. Releasing "No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls" back in 2002 and then "Still not getting any..." in 2004. Both albums achieved double and single platinum in the United States respectively as well as quadruple platinum in Canada. Just recently (a week ago as a matter of fact), they released their 3rd studio album, simply titled "Simple Plan" (no pun intended).

However, the standard of this album falls far behind that of the other 2 albums in my opinion. The most popular song in this album, Your Love is a Lie, as well as I Can Wait Forever remind me of the boy bands of the 1990s (ala Backstreet Boys/Westlife), especially the chorus. Not to mention Take My Hand sounds like an oddly "cheerful" song (S Club 7?) and The End is practically indistinguishable from all the other punk rock songs (Yellowcard, Good Charlotte... take your pick) as do Generation and Time to Say Goodbye (both sound like Bowling for Soup, and the latter is just irritating me by repeating the song title over and over again in the song itself). Save You almost sounds like a boy band singing along to rock music in the background (ie. completely weird).

The only songs in the album which I can bring myself to remotely like are When I'm Gone, Holding On, No Love and What If (ironically the first song and the last 3 songs). Yet, even then, there isn't anything completely unique about these songs that sets them apart from all the other punk rock songs out there, including Simple Plan's own songs from previous albums. In my opinion, the music found in Simple Plan (I'm referring to the album here) simply hasn't evolved much over the years.

In fact, I loved Simple Plan's debut album No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls and Still Not Getting Any... When it comes to the punk rock genre, I've always enjoyed their songs, unfortunately, I can't say the same thing about this new self-titled album of theirs. Honestly, these type of songs were fresh when they first appeared a few years back in their earlier albums, but it's time they injected something new into their songs. I don't know what that secret ingredient is, all I know is that it's missing from this album.

All in all, I expected better from a band of this standard and am pretty disappointed by this album (I'm not alone). Simple Plan's plan for this album was perhaps a little too simple (pun intended this time).

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