A lot of punk rock acts are steadfast, steady in their musical stream, and don’t have much stop-and-go. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but for the most part, the three chords get played smoothly through a speedy delivery, and that’s it. Then there are pop punkers who find a way to mix genres, and you really start to get a little more complex, and that’s where “The Greatest Generation” fits in. The Wonder Years put on a showcase of pop punk, blending elements of indie rock that work well for them. It’s not just steady streams; there are a few moments that just ring anthemic, bringing back a sense of urgency with every chorus.
“The Greatest Generation” is not a one-trick pony, mind you; it’s a collective of 13 songs that drive through a mix of genres, with powerful drumming and a rock-minded approach. I have a hard time labeling this one as pop punk at times, but there is a pop sensibility on tracks like “Passing Through a Screen Door” and “We Could Die Like This”. That’s not to say that the band isn’t pop or punk for that matter, it’s just something more here, and it’s interesting to hear the record all these years later and still rock with it, pop or not.
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